March 23, 2010

Interesting article on India's skin-whitening industry. The Indian whitening cream market is expanding at a rate of 18% a year. The figure is estimated to rise to about 25% this year, and the market will be worth an all-time high of $432 million. The sale of whitening creams are surpassing the sales of Coca-cola and tea. This phenomenon is being referred to as the "Snow White syndrome" in India.

There is a demand in India for brides and grooms with fair complexions. It is believed that this demand is fueled by India's reality TV shows, where being fair-skinned, lovely, and handsome means instant stardom. The assumption is that the lighter the skin, the more attractive you are. Bollywood actors and stars are even endorsing skin-lightening products and are the brand ambassadors for these products.

A recent study by Hindustan Unilever (one of the makers of skin-lightening cream) found that men in southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala are big purchasers of these creams. For example, this past year Tamil Nadu had the highest number of sales for Narayanan, a cream from Unilever. Another report in the daily Economic Times found that sale of these creams were high in tribal-dominated states. Experts say there is demand for these creams because of the tendency to discriminate against a person based on their skin color -- this discrimination is still widespread across rural India.

Doctors worry about the effect of these creams on people's skin, especially since many of these creams contain steroids. However, doctors' concerns are often overlooked by the public. The head of the dermatology department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences said, "Very few know that many of these creams contain steroids. Whatever doctors say will always be a drop in the ocean, as advertisements flooding the market have a far larger impact on the minds of people." (Full Story)

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Aung San Suu Kyi says she opposes her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), participating in the upcoming elections in Myanamar because of their unjust laws. She said the NLD should "not even think" of taking part in the election. Myanmar's leaders have said they will hold elections this year -- the first time in two decades. However no date has been set. Just in time for this fair, democratic election, Myanmar recently enacted election laws which prevent people with criminal charges from being a member of a political party or voting. The laws also ban civil servants and members of religious orders from joining political parties. This is most likely in response to the fact that Buddhist monks were the driving force behind the anti-junta protests in 2007. Protesting Buddhist monks continue to be a thorn in the military junta's side. The election laws have been criticized internationally, and the U.S. had said the laws were a setback for political dialogue in the country.

Because of the new election laws, Aung San Suu Kyi cannot take part in the elections. In addition to Ms. Suu Kyi, many of the top NLD leaders will not be able to participate because they have been jailed on political charges. The NLD won the last elections in 1990, but they were never allowed to take power and Ms. Suu Kyi has been detained in some form for the past two decades.

Ms. Suu Kyi said she would allow the NLD to make their own decision despite her opposition. Her lawyer said on her behalf, "She will never accept registration under unjust laws, but her personal opinion is not to give orders nor instructions to the NLD." The NLD are planning on meeting next week to decide whether to participate in the elections. (Full Story)