“Today, humanity faces a stark choice: save the planet and ditch capitalism, or save capitalism and ditch the planet.”
– Fawzi Ibrahim,Capitalism versus Planet Earth (Muswell Press, London, 2012)
Tomorrow is Black Friday in the U.S. (and apparently we Canucks are now following our neighbour’s bad example). Black Friday is aptly named, I think, because people have been killed in the rush to get into stores early to save money on a gadget or two. If that isn’t an indictment of our consumer society, I don’t know what is.
Here’s a video – banned from MTV and other networks – from the folks at Adbusters (whose co-founder Kalle Lasn and senior editor Micah White first dreamed up the idea that lead to the Occupy movement). Thanks to Katherine who blogs over at FeistyRedHair for the link:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=E_jpG6kv6Pw]
*
Go to Adbusters for ideas about how to creatively disrupt the consumer orgy of Black Friday.
Here’s Kalle Lasn On CNN talking about the Buy Nothing campaign. Unfortunately, the interviewer’s responses represents the vast majority of North Americans right now:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dtNiiatDkGk]
To listen to an interview with Kalle Lasn on CBC radio’s As It Happens from November 2011, click here.
This is a great AD! thanks for posting!
You’re welcome, Chrissy! Thanks for dropping by 🙂
I don’t think the CNN interviewer was into the spirit of Buy Nothing Day. Kinda highlights the mentality quite well and why we are where we are.
Yes, exactly. She just doesn’t get it!
I may be wrong (as I often am) but I believe it’s unAmerican to even suggest that one shouldn’t shop (which, if true, is part of the problem).
Nevertheless: great ad! We need more like that. And as for the upcoming yuletide festival: I’ll feel less guilty this year being an ‘antisocial’ scrooge. Humbug! Humbug! 😀
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJX8coNc2J8
Love is good, P, it’s the “buying stuff” part of Christmas we need to lose :). And thanks for the Blackadder share!
Agreed and agreed, and sorry, I looked but couldn’t find part 2… I love Bladder’s Kweznus Carol, it’s a classic: dammit, I might just have to, um, buy it.
AAAAaargh!
Excellent. You use a quotation from Fawzi Ibrahim: “Today, humanity faces a stark choice: save the planet and ditch capitalism, or save capitalism and ditch the planet.”
Could you include the fact it comes from his recent book: Capitalism versus Planet Earth’ published by Muswell Press, London, 2012.
Happy to do that, Mr. Ibrahim.
Would that happen to be the book Capitalism versus Planet Earth: An Irreconcilable Conflict‘, Mr Ibrahim? (Oh no–I just bought something else! Dummkopf!) D’oh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCcYRJTHj2g