Pink drill bits: Oil services firm pinkwashes fracking despite industry links to cancer

| WTF News |

The oilfield services firm Baker Hughes will revive its pinkwashing campaign with 1,000 pink drill bits as part of the company’s support campaign for Susan G. Komen breast cancer charity. The move comes as opposition to fracking has reached significant levels amid increasing evidence of toxicity and links to cancer.

Press Release
Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE: BHI) announced today that for the second consecutive year, it will contribute USD 100,000 to support Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, in its efforts to end breast cancer forever. Martin Craighead, chairman and chief executive officer of Baker Hughes, will present a check to Nancy G. Brinker, chair of global strategy and founder of Susan G. Komen, just prior to the final Pittsburgh Steelers National Football League “pink-out game” on Sunday, October 26, 2014, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
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Last October, during National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Baker Hughes distributed 500 pink drill bits to customers as part of its “Doing Our Bit for the Cure” campaign. This year, the company will paint and distribute a total of 1,000 pink drill bits worldwide. The pink bits serve as a reminder of the importance of supporting research, treatment, screening, and education to help find the cures for this disease, which claims a life every 60 seconds.

The blog Fuel Fix noted the packaging details of the visual campaign aimed at boosting public relations.

fuelfix.com
Each steel bit — weighing 85 to 260 pounds — is painted by hand at the company’s drill bit manufacturing facility in The Woodlands and then shipped to the drill site in a pink-topped container containing information packets with breast health facts, including breast cancer risk factors and screening tips.

The hope is that the roughneck who cracks open that container learns a little more about the disease that afflicts 200,000 women per year.

The campaign started almost by accident. A customer asked for a custom-made pink bit, not related to breast cancer awareness, but employees who liked the finished product pitched the idea to use it as a breast cancer awareness tool.

| WTF News |