In market economies, publicity is legal and public relations efforts by companies are respectable. But it is not wise to implicate humanitarian organizations and those that stand up for the natural environment in campaigns that go against the ethical conduct code by which they abide. In exchange for money, some companies camouflage image campaigns while they sell toxic products, pollutants or chemicals that provoke addiction and are the cause of deathly diseases.
The ends do not justify the means and business people should remain alert for these “campaigns” that people without qualms offer to them. These campaigns have the opposite effect. Different NGOs have the text that we distributed so that our readers witnessed the siege to which humanitarian organizations are submitted. Many polluting and dangerous industries that try to appear as lambs who offer help to humanitarian projects request the help of NGOs to help clean up their image.
“Dear friends; us, a group of business people, have created an ambitious project in which we have not been stingy with technical devices or economic support; that is why we have become part of the speech of anyone in the business of oil and oil-derived products, installation industries, alternative energy sources and the natural environment in general.
We have contacted some companies and we have agreed that, for every click that any user in any part of the world makes on their banners, specific humanitarian organizations and NGOs will receive one euro… We have considered your association as one of the first ones to benefit from these economic benefits.
We only need your consent, the account number in which to deposit and the projects that this money will fund.
Logically, on your part, you will have to disseminate this project not only amongst your partners and followers, but also amongst people who are sensitive in those subjects, this project…; is about a very comfortable way of making money to subsidize certain projects that, without these funds, would be impossible to do.
Logically, only one click for each user will be counted each week… the more people who know about this project, the better; these funds depend on the number of people who are familiar with this web page; thus the importance of spreading this message.”
No. Serious NGOs do not want to confuse public opinion and those who cannot raise funds in an ethical way should quit.

José Carlos García Fajardo
Emeritus Profesor of Contemporary Social and Political Thought. CCS Director
fajardoccs@solidarios.org.es
Translated by Carlos Miguélez