Genocide vs. Gadgets
I’ve never seen gadget hype reach the levels that have been achieved by the iPhone. And I’ve never been so caught up in it myself. After visiting eyesondarfur.org I’ve decided that I’m giving my iPhone budget to Amnesty International: $50 a month over the next year.
In the culture jamming spirit I spliced an iPhone ad into one of the arresting images from the book Darfur: Twenty Years of War and Genocide in Sudan. I’m not anti-iPhone in particular: I just want to remind folks (especially myself) that there are more important things to focus on than the gadgets being thrust in your face.
If you have the luxury of a budget for consumer electronics, why not consider putting just a percentage of it toward something like an anti-genocide campaign?
[image: The Kalma Camp, Darfur, by Pep Bonet/Panos Pictures and the iPhone by Apple Inc. Used without permission: Please don't sue me.]
[...] rare these days. For now perhaps I will just note that this book was one of the primary reasons for not getting an iPhone. One less Blackberry that has to die in a desk [...]
Man, I got to agree with you here. All these gadgets are incredible time and money sinks. After you buy one, you’ve only started to spend money. I’d love for someone to do a consciousness-raising commercial that says: “For $500, you could…”
I’m down with the idea of commenting productively on things that you find disturbing in popular culture by doing something like this.