Charlene Mifsud, coordinator, Prolife Awareness in Schools, Gift of Life, Mosta
Right or wrong message? (2)
It is our understanding that Vodafone's campaign was not meant to promote sex among youth. Regardless, their campaign was not very well thought out and may have backfired.
It would have been easier to understand this strategy if the condoms were given out by a company marketing contraceptives.
However, many are still pondering about the possible link between mobile telephony and contraception. It is disheartening to find that in order to entice more customers, certain companies make use of such appalling strategies without perhaps taking into account the more serious implications that may be at play.
By giving out free condoms, can one not also be promoting the idea that a person's sexual life has very little worth and can in fact be easily used and thrown away? Youth are constantly being bombarded by messages in the media suggesting that sex is a mere recreational event of little consequence to relationships.
These messages obscure concepts related to the value of relationships, sexual health and the dignity of individuals. As previous articles have already pointed out, there is an undeniable link between contraception and further abortions - statistics on this have been issued by pro-abortion organisations rather than pro-life movements, which lead to the enhanced credibility of such results.
Human sexuality is built upon relationships, communication and emotions and not only on physical contact. Providing condoms as part of a promotional gimmick only targets the physical feature of human sexuality and so this may transmit the wrong message, this being that the other characteristics are less important.
For the above reasons, I believe that it would have been wiser and of greater societal value if Vodafone had embarked on a different strategy altogether, promoting positive relationships through, for example, communication - an enterprise which can be maintained through the use of the products and services offered by the same company.
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Gerry Cowie
Oct 14th 2009, 20:04
You have to hand it to Gift of Life for doing their research.
For anybody to suggest that the value of human life from conception to natural death is a solely religious issue insult grossly those of no religion who still respect life.
The point being made is simple - a company which is about mobile phones has no real business giving out condoms. There is no link. However at the end of the day this was Vodafone publicising Vodafone.
The writer of the letter comes across with a very constructive and factual message. Pity that it was not seen as such by some bloggers below!
What is wrong with Gift Of Life being involved in schools? They have as much right to put across their message as any other group. So what are people worried about? Why do they want to suppress a sensible viewpoint? Just what are people like Mark Grima afraid of?
DVella should note that sexual activity is in fact avoidable. One can choose not to get involved! Contraceptives do have their downside, "my dear" - they can break!
E Inglott may be surprised to learn many other studies give different resultsand opinions!
Mark Grima
Oct 14th 2009, 16:57
This letter once again demonstrates the neurotic view of sex held by the Catholic Church and and their pressure groups (e.g. Gift of Life). Am very concerned also to read this persons title (Coordinator, Awareness in Schools). I hope these people are not given a free ride to enter schools to indoctrinate children. The Church's (and Gift of Life's) position against condoms AND abortion is ridiculous. If they advocated condom use to reduce un-wanted pregnacy, I might have a modicum of respect for them. As things stand, I have zero.
Joseph Calleja
Oct 14th 2009, 16:08
If, like you say the Vodafone campaign backfired all they have to do is give a 2 euro discount and they are back in business. As far as the use of contraceptives you can argue all you want, but it is a fact that they do help prevent unwanted pregnancies. Unfortunately this is a very permissive society, it's the sign of the times all over the world. I think that sex education is the best preventative and please, don't ask todays teens to abstain from sex, because you will be kidding yourself. You are anti abortion and yet you are against using contraceptives, can't have it both ways.
S. Calleja
Oct 14th 2009, 11:15
The whole point is that the mobile company in question got free PR by exploiting the controversy. Cheers for the marketing team.
DVella
Oct 14th 2009, 11:07
My dear you're missing the point completely, the whole exercise was merely a misunderstood marketing campaign but the wave of hysterical protests it sparked off was totally beyond the pale. Sexual activity in places like a University campus is unavoidable, just as it was when I was a student there almost twenty years ago and all the more so today with the increased numbers and multinational/cultural mix of students. The issue is that those who think that the absence of condom machines actually has any effect on the rate or frequency of sexual activity then they really need to get out more and get a life!! Now would we rather allow this activity to happen with a higher risk of the spread of STD's and a higher risk of unwanted pregnancies or would we rather put the facilities in place which can help reduce the risk . . .
E. Inglott
Oct 14th 2009, 10:38
Interestingly, a reasearch report by the American Guttmacher Institute, specified not only that a legal ban on abortion doesn't help at all in reducing abortion rates, it also brought out that that the Netherlands has a low rate of 10 abortions per 1000 women whereas the global average is 29 abortions per 1000 women. In the Netherlands apparently people generally use two forms of contraception. In this light I don't see why we should make such a fuss about handing out condoms and use of contraceptives in general.
For the news item about the report, see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8305217.stm