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September 30, 2005

Customer Service Watch: Apple Straightens Up Its Act

Some of you might remember my personal run-in with Apple. I downloaded an iPod update that Apple sent me and it rendered my iPod unusable. Turns out I wasn't alone. Many more iPod users ran into the same problem and tried to find help on Apple's user forums...to no avail. I even tried to start a petition but that was quickly quashed by forum moderators. But that was then...

Turns out new iPod Nano users have some beefs of their own. PaidContent reports that a frustrated Nano user -- Matthew Peterson -- created a site called www.flawedmusicplayer.com to collect complaints about flaws in the Nano and Apple's apparent indifference. The site caught Apple's attention right quick! They plan to offer replacement screens for cracked Nanos.

It would appear that consumer activism is alive and well.

Posted by Jason at 10:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 28, 2005

Five Minutes With: Jonathan Kozol

A passionate interview with Jonathan Kozol, author of Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America. Kozol talks about the destructive nature of race segregation in the U.S school system and the need for young activists to forego the trappings of corporate America to engage in social justice.

A powerful reminder of why I chose my own profession and of what still needs to be done.

Thanks to CampusProgress.org and Lip Magazine for the heads up.

Posted by Jason at 9:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 19, 2005

Samurai Surfers

A little inspiration to start off your week.

I just found this article/video on Frontline's Rough Cut. It's the story of "El Doctor" a Puerto Rican surfer-cum-activist who took on the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps were violating U.S clean water laws by dumping harbour dredge in a live reef near El Doctor's favourite surfing spot. A nice example of how the little guy can make a big difference.

Posted by Jason at 11:07 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 15, 2005

This Hybrid Car Brought to You by the Sierra Club

Wired magazine reports that Ford's new 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid made its debut at the Sierra Club's National Environmental Convention and Expo. This product endorsement is part of the Sierra Club's I Will Evolve campaign. The goal of the campaign is to promote environmentally sustainable automotive technology. Other manufacturers of hybrid vehicles such as Toyota and Honda, were also invited to participate.

In many ways, this endorsement is more than just an endorsement: it's a marketing partnership with serious implications. For Ford, they get instant credibility for a new product line and direct access to environmentally-conscious early adopters. As for the Sierra Club, I fear the move could be much more complicated. On the one hand, they position themselves as the environmental conscience for the automotive industry. On the other, keeping such close quarters with a corporation could bring the Sierra Club's reputation as an arms-length environmental organization into question. I suppose in these environmentally desperate times, the strategy of "keeping your friends close and your enemies closer" is a good one. Either way this is a bold move and could mark the beginning of a new era in eco-marketing.

Posted by Jason at 10:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 7, 2005

Keith Olbermann Keeps It Real

Thought I should also add this link to the uprising of criticism concerning Katrina and the U.S Administration's anemic response. A little different spin than Kanye and much more concise.

Read it here.

Note: Olbermann made his critique days ago.

Posted by Jason at 12:01 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 6, 2005

Kanye West Keeping It Real

Well...it looks like I need to give credit where credit is due. A month ago I dissed Kanye West's lyrics to Diamonds From Sierra Leone.

As many of you know, Kanye went "off-script" during a televised fundraiser for victims of hurricane Katrina. It wasn't the most eloquent speech but the point was made. What's beautiful about West's protest is his understanding of the sound byte. "George Bush doesn't care about Black people." If people didn't grasp this after hundreds of Black Floridians were denied the vote in 2000, they do now.

Well done, Kanye!

Check the video here.

Posted by Jason at 10:35 PM | TrackBack

September 2, 2005

Please give what you can

Posted by Jason at 9:31 AM