If you're in Novi, MI or around the Twelve Oaks Mall you can join me in celebrating Buy Nothing Day! Here's the basic info:
Where: Twelve Oaks Mall (we'll decide where to meet closer to the day).
When: Friday, November 28th, early in the morning- around 6 am.
Why: To protest consumerism and corporate greed. With the economy falling apart people are buying less, but there is more pressure than ever being put on consumers to buy crap they don't need. Let's get together and remind people that money will NOT buy them happiness (and that consumerism leads to social inequality and environmental destruction).
What to bring: Zombie costumes! Fliers! Signs! You can make things that say "Buy Nothing Day," "You Are Not What You Buy," and "End Consumerism and Live for FREE!" or what have you. Look at adbusters.org for information, inspiration, and hope. Oh yeah, and don't forget to bring friends, family, and strangers who want to help out.
RSVP by commenting, emailing me, calling me, or showing up at my door for tea and anti-consumerism discussion. Anyone and everyone is invited... if you don't know me PLEASE send a message so I can make sure you get the info about where to meet!
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
How to Fight Foreclosure
Hello!
I just watched a report on a woman in California who's home was foreclosed recently, and she responded in the most badass way possible- by chaining herself to her house. While she knows that eventually she will be removed, this is one easy way to stand up and say that you will not leave without a fight. I urge every person facing a foreclosure to continue to live in your home or chain yourself to your home... anything to exercise the power you have and deny the power that the banks have. I urge people to make these actions in order to support each other. No one is alone in having their homes foreclosed.
What is sad and scary is the more extreme actions which have been employed by victims of foreclosure. People have been committing suicide as an extreme way of protesting the banks. The idea is "I will not leave my home alive." I am definitely not advocating this. But if people are killing themselves out of desperation, what other things can each of us do to support each other? We cannot allow a few wealthy individuals to break us down in order to make even more money. This does not need to happen, and these people do not deserve what is happening to them. So think about it... I'll think about it. I cannot stand aside while this happens just because I'm lucky enough to have a secure place to live right now.
Watch the report here: http://www.cbs8.com/ (look for "Woman Chains Herself to Foreclosed Home)
Read here: http://www.wowowow.com/post/california-woman-chains-herself-home-prevent-bank-taking-it-video-130833
I just watched a report on a woman in California who's home was foreclosed recently, and she responded in the most badass way possible- by chaining herself to her house. While she knows that eventually she will be removed, this is one easy way to stand up and say that you will not leave without a fight. I urge every person facing a foreclosure to continue to live in your home or chain yourself to your home... anything to exercise the power you have and deny the power that the banks have. I urge people to make these actions in order to support each other. No one is alone in having their homes foreclosed.
What is sad and scary is the more extreme actions which have been employed by victims of foreclosure. People have been committing suicide as an extreme way of protesting the banks. The idea is "I will not leave my home alive." I am definitely not advocating this. But if people are killing themselves out of desperation, what other things can each of us do to support each other? We cannot allow a few wealthy individuals to break us down in order to make even more money. This does not need to happen, and these people do not deserve what is happening to them. So think about it... I'll think about it. I cannot stand aside while this happens just because I'm lucky enough to have a secure place to live right now.
Watch the report here: http://www.cbs8.com/ (look for "Woman Chains Herself to Foreclosed Home)
Read here: http://www.wowowow.com/post/california-woman-chains-herself-home-prevent-bank-taking-it-video-130833
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Organic Food
I want to start this off by saying that I am supportive of organic farming. It is important to reduce our use of harmful chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides, which end up causing worse problems than they solve. I would prefer these chemicals were not used as frequently or at all. Luckily, we have a market based solely on organic food. Should be perfect for me, right?
So I decided to attend a lecture at MSU entitled "Who owns organic?" presented by Phil Howard. I have often wondered who owns the companies which products are sold in places like the East Lansing Food Co-op. I learned that originally, food cooperatives were privately or employee owned and operated on their own terms. As they gained popularity, market demands shifted and many organic producers sold their companies to larger corporations. The organic food movement is continuing to be purchased and thus controlled by major corporations. Walmart, commonly thought of as one of the least socially conscious companies, started selling organic products. Other large grocery stores followed suit. At the same time, companies such as Hershey's and General Mills purchased small scale organic food farms, took these labels and started mass producing products which are organic based on the FDA requirements. Often, the ownership is hidden (did you know Kashi is owned by Kellogg?) so consumers are unaware of where these products are actually coming from. The corporations doing this are able to make a lot of money by selling products to people who are led to believe what they are buying is "more natural" and "pesticide free." I didn't know this, but apparently pesticides are completely ok according to the FDA requirements for organic food.
The term "organic" is losing its meaning as it gains momentum as a movement. Because the people profiting off of organic products are major corporations, they have more power over regulations. They have more money, which makes it much easier to be influential in our government. It is in these companies' interest to keep regulations to a minimum and manipulate consumers' interpretations of what organic means. Thus, labels and advertising are used to promote an image of a small farm and more natural products. The word natural is meaningless as far as labeling. "All natural" could be put on anything, from organic tomatoes to a box of Kraft Mac N' Cheese. Kraft won't do the second because the corporations benefit more by continuing to foster the misinterpretation consumers have. The label of organic doesn't mean much. The regulations are not strict or strictly enforced. Organic is much more effective as a marketing scheme than as a term to inform consumers about their food's production.
So anyone reading this who is about to give up on eating since it is all so corrupt, take this positive note. The major corporations are feeling and responding to demands to offer more organic products. The percentage of products being sold as organic has tripled since 1998. Maybe this is going in a good direction. And some familiar organic companies are still independently or cooperatively owned, such as Eden, Amy's Kitchen, Clif Bar, and Newman's Own Organics. These companies have stood their ground and refuse to sell to a major corporation (though they are faced with countless offers). Hopefully their protest will not be in vain.
So I decided to attend a lecture at MSU entitled "Who owns organic?" presented by Phil Howard. I have often wondered who owns the companies which products are sold in places like the East Lansing Food Co-op. I learned that originally, food cooperatives were privately or employee owned and operated on their own terms. As they gained popularity, market demands shifted and many organic producers sold their companies to larger corporations. The organic food movement is continuing to be purchased and thus controlled by major corporations. Walmart, commonly thought of as one of the least socially conscious companies, started selling organic products. Other large grocery stores followed suit. At the same time, companies such as Hershey's and General Mills purchased small scale organic food farms, took these labels and started mass producing products which are organic based on the FDA requirements. Often, the ownership is hidden (did you know Kashi is owned by Kellogg?) so consumers are unaware of where these products are actually coming from. The corporations doing this are able to make a lot of money by selling products to people who are led to believe what they are buying is "more natural" and "pesticide free." I didn't know this, but apparently pesticides are completely ok according to the FDA requirements for organic food.
The term "organic" is losing its meaning as it gains momentum as a movement. Because the people profiting off of organic products are major corporations, they have more power over regulations. They have more money, which makes it much easier to be influential in our government. It is in these companies' interest to keep regulations to a minimum and manipulate consumers' interpretations of what organic means. Thus, labels and advertising are used to promote an image of a small farm and more natural products. The word natural is meaningless as far as labeling. "All natural" could be put on anything, from organic tomatoes to a box of Kraft Mac N' Cheese. Kraft won't do the second because the corporations benefit more by continuing to foster the misinterpretation consumers have. The label of organic doesn't mean much. The regulations are not strict or strictly enforced. Organic is much more effective as a marketing scheme than as a term to inform consumers about their food's production.
So anyone reading this who is about to give up on eating since it is all so corrupt, take this positive note. The major corporations are feeling and responding to demands to offer more organic products. The percentage of products being sold as organic has tripled since 1998. Maybe this is going in a good direction. And some familiar organic companies are still independently or cooperatively owned, such as Eden, Amy's Kitchen, Clif Bar, and Newman's Own Organics. These companies have stood their ground and refuse to sell to a major corporation (though they are faced with countless offers). Hopefully their protest will not be in vain.
Monday, September 15, 2008
healthcare
After watching Sicko I was convinced that universal healthcare was the way to go. The man speaking at this Baltimore protest (above) makes me feel the same way. This is conflicting for me, since it gives our government more power. I think first our government needs to work for the people (aka the CARE part of healthcare). Then maybe we can work on the health aspect. One thing the speaker in the film mentioned is that we have public schools, and thus we should be able to have public healthcare too. But this does not address the problems that public schools have. Schools both vary in quality depending upon their location and the socioeconomic status (which is comparative to race). Doctors and hospitals would be provided in the same ways. Not that keeping healthcare the way it is now is better, seeing as it is all run on money via insurance companies. Universal healthcare will improve things now for most people, but will it continue to improve for all people?
This is just an idea I was considering. Maybe I'm way off... feel free to tell me how you feel!
-Stephanie
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
LHC is alive!
copyright CERN. this foto has nothing to do w. LHC experiments, it's just amazing!how exciting is today! it was the first run of CERN's (European Center for Nuclear Research) Large Haldron Collider (LHC). so the LHC sends hydrogen protons at near light speed through two underground tunnels that measure 17 miles total. the protons smash into one another immulating the moments after the big bang. cool!
this first run of the LHC was just a tester and it will be awhile before protons are sent colliding into one another. scientists hope to sight the Higg particle (formerly called the "God particle"), which would aid in explaining why the universe has mass. also, Professor Etzion, one of 6,000 scientists who worked to make the LHC a reality, will be looking out for "zee star." He hypothesizes that Z* is a force carrier allowing some particles to escape to other dimensions. if this turns out to be the case, he says it will help explain why gravity is a weak force (side note: gravity a weak force? this i do not know anything about, maybe the next blog post...). these other dimensions are too small for us to notice or prove as of right now (side note: there is string theory & i'm not sure if Prof. Etzion's theory goes along &/or is influence by this TOE).
there is also the possibility of creating dark matter & black holes in this new wonder machine. have no fear, though. if black holes are successfully produced, they impose little danger. it's highly unlikely that black holes will be made, but if so, they would evaporate in nano-nano seconds.
correct me or tell me how amazing you think this stuff is too! or just let me know i'm a dork. comments, comments.
w. <3
kaitlyn
sources (sorry, i'm a bad person & too lazy to properly cite. i'm not trying to plagerize, i just wanted to share. these articles are great) :
NPR article
ScienceDaily article
CERN homepage (they have awesome LHC & education sections!)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
is it fair trade?
I am constantly fighting with myself over how I, as a consumer, can be socially responsible. The idea of giving money to a corporation which abuses and exploits their workers makes me feel sick. However, it feels at times that all products offered at affordable prices have this down-side. And I know that I am not alone in feeling this consumer's guilt. It is all around me.
In response to the increased awareness of their exploitation, corporations have responded with a solution! Fair trade options allow consumers to feel less guilty for just a little extra money. At least the farmers growing fair trade produce are making better that bare-minimum wages, right? And it is easy to pay extra when your money is going to a good cause. But in reality, a lot of that extra money can end up going right to the corporation. In this respect, "fair trade" is just another marketing scheme. Side note- Some good-hearted companies don't charge more for fair trade. Woo!
Additionally, fair trade takes away the autonomy of the farmers. Corporations and fair trade regulations control what crops a fair trade farmer grows. This gives even more power in the markets to business owners in the US. Fair trade thus encourages a relationship between farmers and shop-owners based on power and control. While it may be working now, this unequal power is what caused the problems fair trade is designed to fix.
Fair trade has good intentions. Major corporations do not. Because fair trade is being used as a tool by major corporations to avoid being accused of exploitation, it will continue to benefit these companies more than the farmers. I think that the only way to truly change things comes from breaking apart the larger corporations. The process through which products go through should be much more visible to consumers. But the responsibility is hardly the consumers, and major corporations and government officials need to recognize their role in unfair working conditions in order for any real change to take place.
In response to the increased awareness of their exploitation, corporations have responded with a solution! Fair trade options allow consumers to feel less guilty for just a little extra money. At least the farmers growing fair trade produce are making better that bare-minimum wages, right? And it is easy to pay extra when your money is going to a good cause. But in reality, a lot of that extra money can end up going right to the corporation. In this respect, "fair trade" is just another marketing scheme. Side note- Some good-hearted companies don't charge more for fair trade. Woo!
Additionally, fair trade takes away the autonomy of the farmers. Corporations and fair trade regulations control what crops a fair trade farmer grows. This gives even more power in the markets to business owners in the US. Fair trade thus encourages a relationship between farmers and shop-owners based on power and control. While it may be working now, this unequal power is what caused the problems fair trade is designed to fix.
Fair trade has good intentions. Major corporations do not. Because fair trade is being used as a tool by major corporations to avoid being accused of exploitation, it will continue to benefit these companies more than the farmers. I think that the only way to truly change things comes from breaking apart the larger corporations. The process through which products go through should be much more visible to consumers. But the responsibility is hardly the consumers, and major corporations and government officials need to recognize their role in unfair working conditions in order for any real change to take place.
rant, skip if you please
this is the 5th or so night that my house's fire alarm has gone off. everyone is getting frustrated, understandably. it's this huge, abrasive system of formalities & communication is insignificant. what i really want to point out is that it is illegal to tamper or cover your fire alarms... in your own house. maybe i want to burn to the ground or maybe i don't want the city or state's help. it seems absurd that the legal system is forcing "safety." there is nothing personal or caring about it and i hardly feel like my well being & "the better good" is the interest of anyone, much less some huge system. just really, who's well being & interests are tied up in this way of doing things?
i appreciate my housemates dealing with the situation and looking out for each other. that much i am glad for.
i appreciate my housemates dealing with the situation and looking out for each other. that much i am glad for.
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