Adbusters Media Foundation

Adbusters is, and I quote, " a global network of activists, artists, writers, pranksters, students, educators, and entrepreneurs who want to advance the new social activist movement of the information age. Our aim is to topple existing power structures and forge a major shift in the way we live in the 21st century." No, don't run away, come back. It's really more fun than it sounds. Adbusters is in the business (non-profit business) of attempting to open your eyes and mind and encouraging you to see the deceptions going on around you. Life across the globe is voluntarily and constantly responding to messages that are handed down to it: buy this, you need that, shop here, eat this, wear this, ignore that, applaud this or suffer the consequences. And whether you want to admit it or not, you're responding in ways not of your own choosing. This is not conspiracy theory, it's an encouragement to look at what's in front of you in new and unexpected ways. And instead of just acknowledging that there are more ways to look at something, and then moving on, it's asking you to think about why you just walk away and leave it for others to worry over. You know that the famous American designer tee you're wearing was actually made in a sweatshop in China, where they have no idea what the logo means anyway and could care less. You know the quality is no better than any other, similar garment. So you paid three times as much for it why? You've heard that the food industry is cruel and inefficient and contributes to poor health and a poor environment. It doesn't encourage you to change your diet. Why? You went to the store and selected brand Y from a range of brands X, Y and Z. Why? Is your first answer really the complete answer, or are you maybe thinking about what you've been told you should think? Nobody's trying to give anyone a guilt trip, because some of the forces which influence your thinking are extremely powerful, subtle and invasive. Adbusters is asking you to rethink some of your fundamental assumptions, that's all. And if you do, and you get the relevance of the message, then Adbusters will happily sell you a pair of boots made from recycled car tires. Ethically manufactured and sold only by independent retailers, they're not Nike but how much do you care?