White is right, the delusion of white lies - Editorial

23 August 2013 06:30 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The Daily Mirror in its Editorial yesterday and on several other occasions spotlighted the subtle and sophisticated strategies through which rich and powerful countries are continuing to plunder the remaining wealth and resources of third world countries like Sri Lanka.

Earlier the imperial colonial powers did it through their military forces and battleships. Now they are doing it through what is known as economic neo-colonialism and the armies for these strategic operations comprise mainly the multi-million dollar trans-national corporations (TNCs).

The TNCs are operating in vital areas such as health, food and milk, agriculture and industries. On Thursday a widely-viewed international TV channel focused on how some TNCs were promoting the “white is right and white is might” misconception literally and otherwise. The TNCs are making billions of dollars annually by encouraging or hoodwinking hundreds of millions of people in third world countries, mainly India and Nigeria to make their black or brown skin white. For this purpose they are told to buy many creams, lotions and other substances, some of which are now found to be acidic or toxic.

While the TNCs are taking advantage of the centuries long dilution that white people are more civilised than black or brown skin people, millions in the third world also suffer from some misconception that being black or brown skin is a curse or a negative factor that needs to change even at a high cost or sometimes at a risk of some major disease.

This epidemic of white is right or white is beautiful appears to have hit the younger generations in Sri Lanka also. On August 6 the Daily Mirror featured an article headlined "Whitening Creams; Check before using them”. It was another case of what the enlightened Reggie Siriwardena described as “pompous artifacts of colonised generations”. It may be only skin deep or have only face value but there are undercurrents of the rich white world’s continuing agenda for domination and plunder and the third world’s shocking and shameful slavery to white ways and values despite clearcut evidence that the west to a large degree is hypocritical, self-righteous and deceptive. The Daily Mirror article said, a study by researchers Chalani Rubesinghe and Hemantha Withanage had conclusively proven that some of the whitening creams found in the local market, including both foreign and local products contained mercury, which is a toxic element for people. We as the people of a country in the tropical belt have more Melanin than European and other people who are fair in complexion. Melanin is a skin-darkening pigment located on skin cells and it is also a protective agent. Our skin is made in a way to resist harmful rays from the sun and that protection process is carried out due to the presence of Melanin, according to Dr. Varuna Gunathilake, Head of the National Centre for Medical Toxicology and Poison Information of the National Hospital. He warned that excessive use of Mercury would stop the formation of Melanin. When no more Melanin is formed, the skin gets fair apparently but people are not aware of the short-term and long-term effects it could have on the human body. He said skin irritation, skin burning and neurological symptoms were among the harmful effects of mercury in creams.

Young people who are being skinned alive literally by this get white epidemic and have been mislead by the white lies of the foreign and local promoters, could get more information from the Medical Toxicology Centre of the National Hospital on the hotline 0112686143.

In a multitude of areas ranging from medicinal drugs food and milk and agro-chemicals to whitening of the skin we often act as jackasses though we are supposed to be having a 90 percent literacy rate. Perhaps the modern era of technology is training specially young people to press buttons instead of thinking. That may be one reason why we are allowing TNCs to use, abuse, misuse and dupe us at a heavy cost to ourselves and our country.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

White is right, the delusion of white lies - Editorial

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

New Visa procedure implemented

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

MIRROR CRICKET

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

TODAY'S HEADLINES

United States and SL Navy collaborate in CARAT 2024 exercise in Trincomalee

Upcountry estate workers stage a token strike

People have already selected Ranil for Presidency: Prasanna

Construction work for India-funded 10,000 housing units commenced

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations