November 18, 2003

November 28 - Buy Nothing Day

The newest issue of 'Adbusters' magazine is well worth a read through for anyone interested in opinions about intellectual oppression and dissent.

The magazine in general kicks ass. This month's issue is all about:

    There’s a hole in your head. But don’t worry . . .
    Underneath the mega media mergers a grassroots movement has taken root. Some people call it “mental environmentalism,” or “media democracy,” but whatever you call it, the push to put democracy back into the media is about to surface. Two catalytic events – in Madison, Wisconsin, and Geneva, Switzerland – represent the initial salvos in this emerging battle. And Adbusters will be there, holding the Media Carta. We want access to our airwaves, and a new human right enshrined: the Right to Communicate.

One story in particular is especially interesting. Adbusters has for years been trying to air their anti-consumerism commercials. But of course, they have not been allowed to do so because the media organizations who have the broadcasting channels, do not favor having an anti-tv, or anti-purchase or pro-dissent message communicated. They are not concerned about the response of the viewers, but of their other, more lucrative sponsors. THE MAIN MESSAGE: The media needs democratization, where freedom is speech is honored and everyone has a right to use all channels of proclamation for their message.

By the way, November 28 is Buy Nothing Day. Wake Up, Breathe, Buy Nothing.