What can we do about it?

Everyday we are bombarded with instruction and information.
Governments and Media tell us how to behave.
We are spoon fed information about what product we must buy to be happy, how to look to find love, how hard we must work to 'succeed', and how we should accept the way things are.
We now have access to a seemingly limitless amount of information, and we have the opportunity to find out what is really happening in our world.
When we do, the scenario can seem hopeless. We come to realise that there are a small percentage of people in this world who seem to have everything.
This is, of course, at the expense of the many.

The question nags in your mind.
Would you rather be one of the privileged few, or one of the many?
Perhaps if we work harder, we can enjoy the riches of the elite?

Perhaps you can.
But that doesn't change the fact that you will enjoy these privileges at the expense of the many.

Apathy binds us.

Every day I hear people say, 'but there's nothing we can do about it'.
We?
Who?
There are rarely news stories about co-operative ownership of factories in Argentina, or the upraise of the Zapatistas.
Instead we see, war, terrorism, famine, scandal, crime and corruption.

If we believe that corporate media is the only looking glass through which we can view the world, then we are deluding ourselves.

Would we feel apathetic if we were told stories of hope and change?
Of justice, community and solidarity?
Of revolution and radical reform.
Of valuable innovation and creativity?

People HAVE, changed the status quo.
People will continue to improve their lives for the better, in solidarity with one and other.

Ask yourself how differently you would think and feel about the world if this was the stuff of the mass media.

This would be my typical response to the original question.
This is generally followed with, 'yeah but what can I do about it?'.

I hear this everyday.
So, as a response, here are a few ideas:

Campaign on issues that you feel passionate about
Get involved in local media
Raise awareness
Resist I.D
Create community links e.g. social centres
Work towards self sufficiency. e.g. Allotments
Get involved with local environment trading schemes
Become a membership of a co-operative
Co-operative ownership of power generation
Change to a renewable energy supplier
Demand Fair trade (for the time being) encourage suppliers to stock fair trade. Challenge 'unfair trade'
Recycle EVERYTHING you can. Check your local council's recycling policy. Find out where you can recycle old mobile phone
RE -USE as many things as possible.
Try not to use credit or higher finance, as these are usually gained from major corporations.
Choose a bank with an ethical investment policy.
If you have savings/stocks/shares. Make sure they are not being invested into unethical markets.
Try to consume locally sourced food.
Get a bike
exercise more
Be honest
Raise your own awareness of the world by doing your OWN research. Take inspiration from others, check the source.
Debate!
Encourage others.
Question the worth/value of all non essential products.
Consume only what you feel is necessary.
Learn to laugh at ridiculous, competitive advertising. The 'new and improved' product wont improve the quality of your life.
TURN OFF THE T.V!
Denounce tabloids and celebrity culture.
Look into elements of psychology and methods. (e.g. hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming).Understand, in principle how the mind works.
Be aware of subliminal advertising and propaganda. i.e. that which seeks to manipulate your consumer habits, or manufacture your consent.
Highlight vacuous statements and slogans for how ill intended they really are.
Try to buy/wear locally and ethically sourced clothing. Even if it is 'fair trade', ask yourself , how much carbon has been burned to get that product to you?
Find out what the 'ALL SEEING EYE' on the top of the pyramid symbol on the U.S dollar represents! (seriously)
Read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!!
Don't concern yourself with triviality and banality.
Understand the clear distinction between FASHION and STYLE!
Challenge other peoples ideologies.
Try to understand the peaceful concepts of religions.
Draw debate around principle religious ideologies and contradictions of ones own belief systems. e.g. 'god told me to invade Iraq', 'thou shall not kill'.
Complement others on things that are truly worthy and appreciated. Encourage worthwhile sentiment not banal minutia.
Question authority.
Question the concept of property.
Be true to your principles as best you can. Don't feel bad about contradicting yourself every once in a while. ANY ACTION is BETTER then APATHY!
STOP FLYING! W simply DON'T HAVE THE OIL!
Research PEAK OIL and CLIMATE CHANGE.
Use humour and smile in the face of adversity.
Fear NO ONE and NOTHING. Fear is a control system and it is NOT your most resourceful state.
Be aware of misinformation.
Try to understand political/social and economic theories and ideologies.
Study PEOPLES history.
Understand the nature of international finance systems.
When researching, 'JUST FOLLOW THE MONEY!'.
Demand to know where your TAX is going. (pressure your local council for an adequate assessment of council tax spending.). WHERE IS YOUR INCOME TAX GOING? (Ask your M.P).
Try not to give too many personal details about yourself away unless you are totally secure. If your are questioning the validity of your government, assume you are being monitored. This is not the stuff of science fiction.
Write to political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in solidarity. Campaign for Amnesty.
Create something positive.
Keep positive. Tyranny is not acceptable. Empires fall.
Remember above all that with any great advance in communication technology comes revolutionary social change.
Only take pharmaceutical products when absolutely necessary, REMEMBER other forms of medicine are used all over the world and these therapies/practises have been common place for good reason. Doubt about the validity of holistic therapies/medicines are usually propagated by pharmaceutical corporations.
Don't allow yourself to be corrupted.
Is it EVER necessary for the state or any individual to TORTURE of EXECUTE anyone?!
Remember, no one is a lost cause. Think how much your ideology and outlook has changed over the years.
Use peaceful direct action and civil disobedience as methods
Above all, embrace community. Solidarity, co-operation and community are the foundations for a peaceful society.