Vancouverites: Support Media Democracy!

Show up at the B.C. Court of Appeal on Monday morning in support of Adbusters' lawsuit against Canwest Global

10 comments Kono , 12 Feb 2009

McDonald's can go on CBC Newsworld and tell us how great their Big Macs are, but Adbusters can’t buy airtime to point out that 50% of the calories in a Big Mac come from fat. The automobile manufacturers can buy as much time as they want to tell us how sexy their cars are, but Greenpeace is not allowed on to point out that the personal automobile is one of the primary causes of climate change. Every ad on TV glorifies consumption and tells us we can be happy if we buy things, but a Buy Nothing Day TV spot is not allowed on.

This lack of democracy on the public airwaves is what’s at stake in a legal action that’s going to be fought in the B.C. Supreme Court this Monday. Come to the courtroom and join people who are interested in fighting for the right to walk into their local TV station, put some money on the table and buy some airtime for some message that they believe in. Come and meet us there. Let’s fill the courtroom and win this battle for the public airwaves.

The hearing is at 10:00am on Monday, February 16th at the courthouse in downtown Vancouver (800 Smithe St.)

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crap crap crap is there

by wade on February 18 2009, @02:54 pm crap crap crap is there another soon? how did the case go? how can i help free minds and hearts of people!!! ahhh i feel so helpless! lets get out there spread the word we r slaves

We need legislation that

by Anonymous on February 17 2009, @01:32 pm We need legislation that mandates the networks to air content from a wide variety of voices. As it stands now, the network has to make a judgment call as to whether or not to air the spot. If they do, they risk losing a huge advertiser like McDonald's. If there were legislation that forced them to air it, the network wouldn't lose advertisers because they would understand that the network has no say in the matter.

Great Plan, I’m looking

by Darnell on February 16 2009, @11:42 pm Great Plan, I'm looking forward to hearing how this turns out. You've got the support of a Vancouverite in Malaysia.

Thanks very much to all who

by Paul on February 16 2009, @01:52 pm Thanks very much to all who turned up this morning at the Court of Appeal. We appreciate your support. Now we have to wait for the judgement, which may take as long as a couple of months.

“Ultimately if they want

by Anonymous on February 16 2009, @01:17 pm "Ultimately if they want to refuse your business they should have the right to." Under what grounds? Should businesses have an absolute right to refuse someone's business for whatever reason?

Not too far from where I

by Anonymous on February 15 2009, @04:12 pm Not too far from where I live a local grocery store refused to take an order for a birthday cake for a kid named Adolf Hitler. I think they had the right to refuse the service just as much as the nutty parent had the right to name his kid Adolf. While I agree with your message, I also think it's dangerous to tell a private company how to run its business. Ultimately if they want to refuse your business they should have the right to.

Missed the notice even if I

by Le Canard Réincarné on February 13 2009, @10:22 pm Missed the notice even if I live in Vancouver. How did it go? Mainstream medias did not of course cover.

Fight the power I visualize

by Anonymous on February 13 2009, @07:24 pm Fight the power I visualize Victory...That's so whack. i wonder whose lobbying to the judges they should be exposed. Its unlikely you will find due process in any Canadian courtroom...still I hope u approve me wrong. Free speech doesn't exist...Mind your tongue.

Wish I lived in Vancouver

by Arthur on February 13 2009, @12:36 pm Wish I lived in Vancouver

anyone who thinks this court

by kat1986 on February 12 2009, @09:52 pm anyone who thinks this court case is "a little silly" is seriously misinformed and brainwashed by the mainstream media society has shoved down our throats for far too long. it is brave of adbusters (an organization not focused on profits) to stand up to huge corporate strongholds such as CanWest and CBC. I will be carry the torch for you Adbusters and informing and sharing with many others of your battle for (what we apparently already have the right for ) freedom of speech.