[no subject]

[xdaydreamx@gmx.net]

[: hacktivism :]

I'm picking up a thread that was dropped a little while ago, 
concerning the "hungersite" and similar projects. I agree that 
the whole idea of clicking away world hunger is a bit perverse, 
especially when those paying for the cups of rice are 
corporations which as a whole surely play a part in creating 
hunger in the first place. But then it is a bit too easy to 
dismiss efforts such as those of the hungersite as complicity. 

Let me expand:In a democracy what counts most are votes. In a 
capitalist democracy what counts most is money. Corporations 
want our money and advertising is their way of luring it out 
of our pockets. Most advertising is bland, cost huge amounts 
of money (which goes into the pockets of corporate 
advertisers) and twists our world to conform with corporate 
views (e.g. every woman should want to look like claudia 
schiffer etc.). We are alway told to use our vote wisely 
"because every vote counts". Well what is so bad about using 
what REALLY counts in a capitalist democracy, our purchasing 
power? People have got to wake up to the fact that they wield 
an enormous amount of power and if only they can direct 
corporations to do what they want corporations will have to do 
it. Just as they try to make us dependent on them, they are 
dependent on us. If there is a way to morally force corporations 
to put money where hungry mouths are then I say we do it. Of 
course there is a lot more we can do - as hacktivists. But the 
man in the street isn't up for hacktivist stuff. A little 
nudge in the right direction from efforts such as the hungersite 
might make him do something useful nevertheless. The 
hungersite is therefore a mainstream project (see the 
overwhelming coverage it got in the media) that may not be what 
we really want, but it is a lot better than nothing.

On a different, more (h)activist note: 
The "Economist" magazine is looking to 
bring out a "Pocket Internet" guide for all its economically 
minded readers this coming January. They are asking for readers 
to submit sites they believe are of interest. 
Having read the economist a few times I felt qualified to do 
so ;-) Wouldn't it be nice if our "econimist-reading" friends 
found some quality sites. I'm sure you have a few in mind.
Visit the site (http://www.economist.com/links) and spread 
the word.

jjf



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