Adbusters

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Brand America Flag – Larger (variation)

Adbusters is a Canadian political magazine, founded by Kalle Lasn and Bill Schmalz that is published in Vancouver, British Columbia by the Media Foundation (see below).

It is an activist magazine, devoted to numerous political and social causes, many of which are anti-consumerism or anti-capitalist in nature. Adbusters is particularly well-known for their "culture jamming" campaigns, and the magazine often features photographs of politically-motivated billboard or advertisement vandalism sent in by readers. The magazine also founded Buy Nothing Day, a yearly event held on the day after American Thanksgiving (traditionally one of the largest shopping days of the year) in which citizens are encouraged not to buy anything. They are also one of the sponsors of TV-Turnoff Week.

As of 2004, the organization has begun selling shoes with their black spot "anti-logo". They say the project is an experiment in "anti-capitalism": Each shoe comes with a share of stock in the company, allowing owners to vote on the website on new ventures and what to do with profits.

On September 13, 2004, Adbusters filed a lawsuit against six major Canadian television broadcasters (including CanWest Global, Bell Globemedia, CHUM Ltd., and the CBC) for refusing to air Adbusters videos in the television commercial spots that Adbusters attempted to purchase. Most broadcasters refused the commercials for reasons based on business principles. The lawsuit claims that Adbusters' freedom of expression was unjustly limited by the refusals. There has been talk that if Adbusters wins in Canadian court, they will file similar lawsuits against major U.S. broadcasters that also refused the advertisements. It is, however, unlikely that they will be successful, as both the Canadian and American Constitutions only restrict the government from infringing upon freedom of speech, not private individuals and groups.

Adbusters has affiliation with sister organisations such as L'association Résistance à l'Agression Publicitaire in France, Adbusters Norge in Norway, Adbusters Sverige in Sweden and Culture Jammers in Japan.

Mandate

Adbusters is at essence an ecological magazine, examining the relationship between people and the environment, both the material environment and the mental environment. They see it as not just enough to bring the world back to health in the standard environmental way, but also they quest to bring the rest of our environment back to a place where we are no longer bombarded by advertising in every direction you look and consumerism in every direction you turn

The mission of the Adbusters Media Foundation can also be identified with organizations such as Indymedia, Downhill Battle and CNUK. It also holds some common beliefs with Creative Commons Free Culture, and even PETA.

Criticisms

Critics of Adbusters magazine claim that it is similar to the advertisements and consumerism that it attacks.

See also

• Infodiversity

External links

• Official website
• Blackspot Sneaker - Adbusters's first shoe
• Interview with Kalle Lasn - Founder of Adbusters
• CNN interview with Kalle Lasn
• Mindfucked: Kalle Lasn on toxic culture, mental environmentalism, and running shoes
• New World Thinking: Unbrand America - Interview with Tim Walker, Campaign Manager for Adbusters by Xan Phillips