Disclaimer: This review is based only on the first episode. The first episode is often a pilot and is not always representative of the series. It often takes 6 or more episodes to work the kinks out of a show.
NON-SPOILER SUMMARY
This show discusses ways in which the public is being ripped off or lied to by marketing hype, by well-meaning charities, misguided health advice, and other similar topics. The show is well researched (references to back up arguments are provided on the show or web site). This show does not waste your time, several topics are covered in one episode instead of the usual 1/2 hour per topic.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
In the first episode:
1) Adam describes how the De Beers cartel controls almost all of the world-wide diamond market, how their advertising campaigns led to the now widely accepted idea of a diamond engagement ring (including force feeding the idea of spending two month's pay on the ring - money that a new family needs for other things), and that diamonds are a poor investment because of the huge mark-ups by De Beers and Jewelers. The show suggests that if you want an engagement ring, you should use a cheaper stone, like a sapphire (I would suggest semi-precious stones instead - De Beers controls a large percentage of the Sapphire, Emerald, and Ruby market as well).
2) Tom's shoes (buy a pair and Tom's will donate a pair) is an example of charity gone wrong. Donating money to relief charities allows local decisions about what is needed (we in industrialized countries often donate the wrong things). In fact, donating items overseas that can be made locally depresses the local income. (not on the show: Economists say donating money pumps the local economy and often adds three times the donation to the local economy).
3) Donation of clothing, blankets, and other items overseas usually doesn't provide what is needed. It is better to donate used items locally. Relief organizations at the location know what is needed and donating money to these organizations is much more effective.
4) Canned food drives for food pantries are usually not very efficient. Donated food is often either expired, unhealthful, or is not what the people eat. Donating money to a food pantry (I would add homeless shelters) allows the pantry to purchase better food at wholesale prices. An example on the show is a pantry buying three cases of vegetables for $1.00, much less than supermarket prices.
Personal anecdote: when I lived in a homeless shelter, most of the donated food was sugary, and it made several of us sick. Also, one of the pantry workers remarked that they had to throw away a lot of canned food, because it was expired. The one or two year expiration dates on canned food are arbitrary - canned food does not spoil unless the can is damaged (the can is rusty or the button has popped). Except for fresh foods and baby formula, expiration dates usually give less than half of the time until food spoils.
5) Giving blood after a disaster can be helpful, but when people wait for a disaster then too much blood is donated and a lot of it spoils before it can be used. The show uses the example that after September 11, 2001, a huge number of people nationwide donated blood and 300,000 units of the blood spoiled). It is better to donate blood on a regular basis. (personal addition: After a local disaster, donating blood locally is useful. Blood banks usually run low toward the end of the year, so donating in November and December can be very helpful).
6) Adam also makes remarks about GMO vegetables not being unhealthy, but pesticide residue is unhealthy.
This is my biggest quibble with the show. The agricultural subjects are not well covered and I hope the show actually covers them in a future episode.
My personal research shows that the GMOs vegetables are tested to assure that they not toxic for humans, but the common corn (maize) and soybean GMOs lead to high levels of pesticide and herbicide residues in the resulting food. Part of the reason for high chemical residue is inappropriate farming practices. Since most of the feed in the US for cattle, swine, and chickens is GMO corn and soybeans, the residual chemicals concentrate in the meat - the levels are much higher than in the vegetables. Furthermore, the way GMO seed is sold reduces the variety and hybrid vigor of crops, opening the door for future agricultural disasters.
NON-SPOILER SUMMARY
This show discusses ways in which the public is being ripped off or lied to by marketing hype, by well-meaning charities, misguided health advice, and other similar topics. The show is well researched (references to back up arguments are provided on the show or web site). This show does not waste your time, several topics are covered in one episode instead of the usual 1/2 hour per topic.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
In the first episode:
1) Adam describes how the De Beers cartel controls almost all of the world-wide diamond market, how their advertising campaigns led to the now widely accepted idea of a diamond engagement ring (including force feeding the idea of spending two month's pay on the ring - money that a new family needs for other things), and that diamonds are a poor investment because of the huge mark-ups by De Beers and Jewelers. The show suggests that if you want an engagement ring, you should use a cheaper stone, like a sapphire (I would suggest semi-precious stones instead - De Beers controls a large percentage of the Sapphire, Emerald, and Ruby market as well).
2) Tom's shoes (buy a pair and Tom's will donate a pair) is an example of charity gone wrong. Donating money to relief charities allows local decisions about what is needed (we in industrialized countries often donate the wrong things). In fact, donating items overseas that can be made locally depresses the local income. (not on the show: Economists say donating money pumps the local economy and often adds three times the donation to the local economy).
3) Donation of clothing, blankets, and other items overseas usually doesn't provide what is needed. It is better to donate used items locally. Relief organizations at the location know what is needed and donating money to these organizations is much more effective.
4) Canned food drives for food pantries are usually not very efficient. Donated food is often either expired, unhealthful, or is not what the people eat. Donating money to a food pantry (I would add homeless shelters) allows the pantry to purchase better food at wholesale prices. An example on the show is a pantry buying three cases of vegetables for $1.00, much less than supermarket prices.
Personal anecdote: when I lived in a homeless shelter, most of the donated food was sugary, and it made several of us sick. Also, one of the pantry workers remarked that they had to throw away a lot of canned food, because it was expired. The one or two year expiration dates on canned food are arbitrary - canned food does not spoil unless the can is damaged (the can is rusty or the button has popped). Except for fresh foods and baby formula, expiration dates usually give less than half of the time until food spoils.
5) Giving blood after a disaster can be helpful, but when people wait for a disaster then too much blood is donated and a lot of it spoils before it can be used. The show uses the example that after September 11, 2001, a huge number of people nationwide donated blood and 300,000 units of the blood spoiled). It is better to donate blood on a regular basis. (personal addition: After a local disaster, donating blood locally is useful. Blood banks usually run low toward the end of the year, so donating in November and December can be very helpful).
6) Adam also makes remarks about GMO vegetables not being unhealthy, but pesticide residue is unhealthy.
This is my biggest quibble with the show. The agricultural subjects are not well covered and I hope the show actually covers them in a future episode.
My personal research shows that the GMOs vegetables are tested to assure that they not toxic for humans, but the common corn (maize) and soybean GMOs lead to high levels of pesticide and herbicide residues in the resulting food. Part of the reason for high chemical residue is inappropriate farming practices. Since most of the feed in the US for cattle, swine, and chickens is GMO corn and soybeans, the residual chemicals concentrate in the meat - the levels are much higher than in the vegetables. Furthermore, the way GMO seed is sold reduces the variety and hybrid vigor of crops, opening the door for future agricultural disasters.