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Junk Mail- Just Say No

Efforts to reduce junk mail are gaining momentum. Legislators in nine states have proposed bills to let consumers just say "no" to junk. All of the bills are similar in flavor to the national Do Not Call registry, which lets you choose not to receive phone calls from telemarketers. More...

Upcoming Events >>

TV Turnoff Week

April 21-27th, 2008

Millions of people all over the world have participated in TV-Turnoff Week since it began in 1995. Turning off the television gives us a chance to think, read, create, and do; to connect with our families and engage in our communities. For your organizer's kit or to download "Six Easy Steps" visit www.tvturnoff.org.

Consciously Consuming media involves critically reading and questioning standard media, seeking out the independent press and the blogoshere, and acting to support the free press.

Unplug

Junk mail, spam, infomercials, and gratuitous violence: Is this what our forefathers meant by freedom of the press? Where do we draw the line between free and intrusive, entertaining and offensive, informative and manipulative? Why have infomercials and reality TV become synonymous with American culture? Originally, the media was intended to be a voice of the people, as well as a tool to keep government and business in check. Currently, reality television and infomercials increasingly make up what we see on TV, and news programming often supports the status quo consumer lifestyle, with entertainment and business news pushing the globalization agenda.

Many conscious consumers decide to reduce or eliminate TV viewing altogether, and educate others about the detrimental effects of too much TV. For some great resources on the "whys" of rethinking your relationship with your television, visit Turn Off Your TV, and read some of the books/articles suggested.

The media, big business, and the government are now intertwined. Currently, five media conglomerates control a majority TV, cable, radio, publishing, music, and the Internet, according to Freepress. Having spent nearly $100 million on lobbying in the last 4 years, these companies carry a lot of influence in Washington.

Consciously Consuming media involves offsetting standard U.S. media with the independent press and the blogoshere, and acting to support the free press. We encourage you to visit our favorite environmental news site, Grist, subscribe to the Conscious Consuming blog, and check out the Utne Reader:

For over 20 years, Utne has functioned as a guide to the alternative and independent press. That's because we've created our own library, which takes in 1,500 magazines, newsletters, journals, weeklies, zines, and other lively dispatches from the cultural front; the sorts of cutting-edge publications you won't find at the average bookstore or newsstand. Our editors glean this material for compelling, delightfully written stories, interviews, and cultural criticism, then edit and reprint the most essential. Instead of buying dozens of magazines to find a few good articles, you can buy one packed with the best of the best.

Take Action:

Take action on a legislative level with the media watchdog group Freepress, and join others, like the folks at Adbusters, who want to reclaim the mental environment.