Don't Dexter Samid Fraser Institute Columnist CAN you imagine a day without spending? The Adbusters Media Foundation invited you to try just that on Nov. 27, the day they declared Buy Nothing Day. Even though it implored us not to buy anything, ir is sill trying co sell us some- thing underneath that simple message. But that message is not worth purchasing. Buy Nothing Day is meant to focus our attention on our role as consumers. [t entices us to live a simpler, less expen- - sive lite. Implicic in this mes- sage is a view that our society consumes too much and that the economic freedem and prosperity we enjoy is driving us towards social and environ- mental oblivion. The Vancouver-bared Adbusters Media Foundation describes itself as a non-profit society whose mission “is to transform our commercial media culture and direct it toward ecological and social awareness.” It believes that mass media and business culture “con- stantly urges us to consume more and more, yet we know thar our planet cannot survive a fy this message this onslaught, with regards to pollution, biodiversity, resource depletion and climate change.” An article in a recent issue of its magazine equated being a consumer with being a member of a cult. According to Adbusters, “A long time ago, without even realizing it, you were recruited into a cult... we have been recruited into roles and behaviors we did not con- sciously choose.” In Adbusters’ view, most of consumer spending is wasteful and driven purely by advertising generated impuls- es. But in the real world, pur- chasing decisions are based on consumption needs, individual preferences, and voluntary transactions. Sen el a DEN -= lay spa SUPER(C/SPA SPECIALS WHY NOT GIVE SOMEONE A GIFT Motsturizing Factals - O, Marine 50 + Collagen ‘60 Thalgomarine *40 « Pompelt Spa Bath - % br. - Relaxation & rejuvenation! Great for the skin and soul Locatep aT Fiexrss WortD AN THE INTERNATIONAL PLAZA CERTIFICATE FOR CHRISTMAS? 60 mins. "20 = Salt Glow - '40 15 min, exfoliation 45 min. massage 983-8103 PET PRO} ECT 1999 DOG LI Under the Dog Tax a owners are required Licence statement in - must be supplied for ty of north vancouver ck & CENCES ind Regulation Bylaw, dog to purchase an annual Dog early January 1999. spayed and neutered dogs. City of North Vancouver € CArL Off yous communtlyg Adbusters’ anti-growth and anti-technology message for the benefit of the environ- ment runs contrary to history and logic. When the incentives are present in saciety to encourage innovation, wealth creation, and trade, evervone benetits. Even though Adbusters claims to be an advocate of environmental and social awareness, it ignores the fact that only as income rises above some minimum level are people then able to turn their attention to environnien- tal problems. Consumption is not an indicator of environmental qualin. Simply put, countries that are able to consume more goods and services because of higher incomes are also able to afford a better environ- ment. Basic environmental concerns such as access to clean drinking water and clean air often remain unattainable in poorer countries. Not because their citizens are high consumers, but rather for the opposite reason — a lack of purchasing power. Restricting, economic free- dom will only frustrate these environmenta: goals, as tech- nological progress will be reduced along with people’s incomes. Higher purchasing power allows citizens to con- sume more of all goods, including higher environmen- tal quality. At the same time, techno- logical progress enables com- panies to use resources More efficiently, Recent studies have shown that within North America many environmental indicators have improved over time even as income has grown. The trouble with the mes- sage implicit in Buy Nothing Day is not its call fora sim- pler, less expensive lite. It is the blatant disregard for reali- ty that this slick enviro-mar- keting foundation promotes thar is of concern, In a free society, business exists by satis fring customers, not by initiating new cult members. The environment is helped by rising incomes, not being destroyed by Western con- sumerism, A final example of Adbusters’ misperceptions comes from the founder of this group when he states, “I came from Estonia where you were not allowed to speak up against the government. Here I was in North America, and See No-Sale page 10 i PERSONAL INJURY Free Initial Consultation Douglas W. 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