Unlike other medium of communication, the internet has a broader reach and is becoming more social as each day passes. New social network sites are popping up like mushrooms whilst some grow at an incredible speed – take a look at how fast Pinterest is growing in terms of its popularity and ever-growing userbase. Ecommerce sites have more social platform where consumers can provide feedback and discuss with other people from across continents. Someone looking to buy a Precor Amt 100i, for instance, may want to search for user feedback on that equipment prior to purchasing it.

Empowered by the internet, consumer nowadays are much more savvy. With a click of button, you can find any info you want in mere seconds. But, as what we always advocate here in Media Resistance, one should be critical of “facts” being presented, even if those info came from a trusted source. Remember, the media is a tool and can be manipulated. We’re not conspiracy theorists here, but we would like people to form their own opinion on things and not just take the news at face value. 

The mainstream media certainly isn’t dead. However we now have many more easily accessible sources that we can access. This of course helps us to make more informed decisions about our lives. Often these can be serious issues such as social justice, corporate responsibility and environmental protection. There are all kinds of other gems of information available on these social sites. Some examples include topics such as: an Omega VRT350HD Demonstration, how to fix a PS3, learning foreign languages and all kinds of other topics.

What I personally like about this sort of “participatory media” is that we now don’t have to rely so much on corporations for our news and information. Things now seem much more democratic. Literally all we need to get involved is our own computer and video camera. That’s it! Whatever you have to say, put it out there. Being an avid Youtube viewer, I know that if just one of your videos goes viral, your voice will be spread to thousands of people.

You may have become so used to hearing and seeing powerful television commercials for just about everything under the sun that you have become almost consciously unaware of their presence. Advertisers are exceedingly clever people and they know exactly how to push all your buttons to get you to want whatever it is that they are promoting. The incredible power of television makes their job so much easier, because when their commercials are aired during a really popular show they know they have a captive audience whom they can exploit at will.

It doesn’t matter what is being hawked during the commercial break, but you can be sure that the companies behind the ads have paid a lot of money that they consider money well spent to have their products or services put before a potential customer base. Take as an example commercials for weight loss diet programs. The advertiser’s job is already partly done because there is a huge need for this kind of product in an ever growing population. People want to lose weight but they need to be told what product to use in order to get it done. So and advertiser can come along and promote Weight Watchers, Medifast, Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem, and a huge number of viewers will be convinced on the spot to sign up right away.

All the advertisers need to do is to make the diet programs appear highly appealing with results that are highly desirable. That means promoting a diet that will help a person lose weight in the easiest way possible while saving them time and allowing them to do all the great things with their new slim bodies that they always wanted to do. It’s really only selling a dream. But that’s all television commercials are created to do. Because if you can create enough desire for a thing in viewers, they will go out and buy it because they have been convinced that they want it and they need it and they must have it!

This is why television advertising is so incredibly powerful. The medium, because it is both visual and aural, is capable of getting its message rooted deep in the subconscious of the viewer so that without realizing why, the viewer will have a nagging desire to have this product or use that service. It should be used with care!

One of the goals of Media Resistance is to show that just because something is in the media doesn’t mean it’s true.

The thing is, behind the media are real people — real people who cut corners, have their own personal agendas, had a rough night at home, or are sub-par employees for whatever reason.  The danger of all of this is that an untrue story or a misplaced “fact” can be propagated not to cause ill will, but simply out of neglect from the employee(s) behind the information.

One example of this is a press release about a hair care line, WEN Hair Care.  The company issued a press release singing the praises of the products (as they would, naturally), and a reporter for a popular online magazine took the press release and published it as fact. 

Unfortunately, a look at online WEN hair care reviews show that the products don’t work so well.  Many frustrated consumers emailed the magazine and stated that they would no longer read the magazine because they didn’t trust the information published.  The reporter for the magazine published an apology and stated that she made an error in publishing the “story” without spending much time researching it.

There’s not an easy solution to solving issues like this.  The only thing you can do is become aware of the problems of the media and not rely on stories that you see published as the ultimate source of the truth.

Simply having the right to protest in public has been a hard fought battle and it is only now, with the Human Rights Act, that we, at last, have this right written into law. And because of the importance of this right to peaceful protest we all have a responsibility to uphold our end of the bargain and not misuse this legislation. It’s true that there are still many other laws that can be used aagainst the protester and it is therefore essential that we stay on the right side of these laws. It is not reasonable to protest against the Monarchy and their insistence at sleeping in ostentatious canopy beds by setting fire to our local furniture store. We as a nation need to be intelligent in the way we protest and not play into the hands of the authorities, some of whom would be only too willing to take away our rights given half the chance.

In the authors opinion we would do well to take the time to study the necessary literature regarding the organisation and participation of peaceful protest and passing on this information to anyone you know who wishes to get involved.

For this reason, the media needs to be cautious about what they report. Domestically, this may mean a fluff piece about refrigerator reviews could be subject to editorial review if – for example – it recommends a product from Frigidaire when a major sponsor is Samsung.

When Samsung pays thousands of dollars to promote their fridge freezer during a new program, they are not going to be thrilled to see their advertisement followed immediately by a glowing referral for their competitors’ products. Clearly, the news channel may be encourage to play it safe and recommend the Samsung in their refrigerator review, even if true independent analysis may not support that claim.

Of course, sometimes it is good that the media is subject to advertiser pressure. Take, as an example, the recent incident between Rush Limbaugh and the law student regarding contraception.  No matter what their politics, everyone agrees that Rushes comments were unacceptable.

Does he have the right to make them? Yes, of course, the first amendment is sacred.  However, the public has the ability to threaten advertisers who support offensive programming with boycotts. If he truly feels his statements are worth suffering financially for, he is of course entitled to stand by them; but, the collective outrage of the public is a good carrot for encouraging ethical behavior amongst broadcasters of his type.

The media can be influenced by advertisers and the public alike. This means we should take that into account when analyzing what they have to say to us, but overall it is not a bad thing.

In Scandinavia acres of land have already been devoted to wind farms. These are areas devoted to wind turbines that generate carbon free energy. This is energy that is not made from burning fossil fuels that release carbon into the atmosphere. The turbines do not cause acid rain or mercury pollution. They make an area less dependent on foreign exports of oil and natural gas. Who would complain about such ’green’ initiatives?

And yet in parts of the UK where sites for wind farms have been proposed residents have been protesting. The media has taken up these stories and give a certain amount of credence to unsceintific notions that wind turbines are somehow bad the health. This is incredible when it is considered how much worse it is for people’s heatlh to be living next to oil and coal burning power stations. Surely no one would rather live next to a nuclear power station than a wind farm? It is obvious media manipulation that these fringe sentiments find there way into the mass media and are given credence as representing the majority opinion.

At the same time the media conveniently buries some stories that don’t suit monied interests. A good example of this is the NiMH battery that was developed in Japan and was used to make electric vehicles. Electric vehicles unlike the current hybrid vehicles on the market do not use an internal combustion engine. They are totally powered by nickel battery and are capable of going 100,000 miles without a change of battery. This technology was bought up by GM along with the patents for the NiMH battery. No other company has been allowed to use this superior green technology. As a result the car industry has bought itself a few more years of market dominance until the patents expire. This is surely significant news and yet no major media outlet has chosen to make anything of the story.

It is time people boycott the mass media until it stops being the lackey of big business interests. Until we do the fate of the planet is very much in the money orientated hands of the few. We must do more to correct the media bias against the green movement.

The media since the 1980s has been very keen to promote business as a career option. Prior to Margret Thatcher in the UK very few people got involved in the stock exchange. Few people thought the world of share trading, merchant banking and other financial services was very glamorous or exciting. Then there was a boom on both sides of the Atlantic generated by privatization and deregulation. People on Thread Needle Street in the UK and Wall Street in America started making unbelievable sums of money.

Money no longer became a dirty word in the UK. Thatcherism split the country between those who unashamedly flaunted their new found wealth and everyone else resented them and were more than slightly jealous. This was the age of the yuppy. It was also at this time that the President’s advisors started to be bankers and others in the financial sector. In one famous Youtube clip there is Don Regan formerly CEO of Merril Lynch whispering to President Reagan to hurry things up. See above. Ever since, big corporations brokerage companies, derivatives trading firms have been telling US Presidents to ’speed it up’.

In the UK 90% of those who attend Eton Boys School go into merchant banking.

The result on both sides of the Atlantic is a brain drain from manufacturing industries. Our brightest are no longer working on semi conductor applications, better car designs, or generally improving our manufacturing base. Instead we rely more and more on the financial services sector. Even the media couldn’t put a positive spin on the 2008 financial collapse. They just conveniently forgot to tell us the full extent of the duplicity, immorality and illegality.

It is time the media started talking about the benefits of a career in manufacturing or the Japanese, Koreans and Germans who take the market share entirely away from the English speaking countries.

Since its inception as a tourist area, Koh Samui has developed quickly. It now has excellent infrastructure which includes an extensive paved road system, modern and well equipped hospitals, supermarkets, an airport and even a decompression chamber for divers. It is this developed state combined with cheap prices for food and drink, year round sunshine and lots of beaches that gives Koh Samui its winning formula.

Koh Samui Beaches

The most popular beaches on Koh Samui are Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut. Chaweng has the longest beach and the biggest urban area. Here you will find many resorts, hotels, bars and restaurants. There’s live music, strip shows and bars where ladies are looking for customers. Lamai is more of the same but slightly smaller. Lamai also has a couple of good night clubs and two places showing Muay Thai fights.

Bophut is more sophisticated. There are no sex workers and the original Chinese wooden fisherman’s homes have been converted into cool bars, cafes and restaurants. The beach at Bophut is free of traffic because there is no beach road.

Maenam is the backpacker area of Koh Samui. It is located on the north coast next to Bophut. It has a convenient port for catching a boat to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. The long beach at Maenam is not great for swimming but has plenty of tree cover and also great accommodation deals.

The south and west coasts of Koh Samui have some beaches that are quiet and less developed such as Laem Set, Lipa Noi, Baan Bang Kao and Taling Ngam. These beaches have few bars and don’t attract the nightlife crowd. Rather couples, pensioners and package tourists often use the hotels on these beaches.

In general prices for Koh Samui accommodation starts at about $30 a night and goes up to $1,000 a night in the high season for private pool villas. There are also private villas to rent, often at knock down prices. Hilton has a resort in Taling Ngam called the Conrad Koh Samui. Marriot and Amari also have resorts on Koh Samui.

Things to do in Koh Samui

There are plenty of gyms around the island. Some of the luxury hotels have their own fitness centers. There are also places like the Kamalaya on Laem Set that specialize in holistic treatments such as yoga, Pilates, tai chi and meditation.

Less spiritual pursuits include diving, golf, go kart racing and canopy zip lines. There is also a tiger show, a butterfly garden and an aquarium to visit. For those looking for Thai culture there are a number of temples or Wats on Koh Samui. These include the famous 12 meter high golden Buddha at Bang Rak and Wat Khunaram that houses a 30 year old mummified monk.

In short there is plenty to see and do in Koh Samui. There’s also a jazz festival and marathon in September.

Koh Samui – the Final Word

People either love or hate Koh Samui. It has exciting nightlife and plenty to do but many people are put off by the seedy nature of Chaweng and Lamai. The island has great facilities and amenities but tends to put its prices up too often. The taxi drivers never go on the meter and are immune to negotiation. Parts of the island feel over developed and nature has suffered as a consequence. The backpackers that used to stay on Koh Samui have long since moved onto cheaper islands. For all these negative points, Koh Samui is still a paradise island that people visit over and over again.

Bamboo charcoal is made by heating bamboo to a high temperature in an enclosed space like a kiln. There are a number of amazing properties to bamboo charcoal to make it a very useful thing to use in the home and garden. Bamboo charcoal soap is also an incredible product that is much better than normal soap.

Bamboo Charcoal

Bamboo charcoal has a very high ratio of weight to surface area; more so than normal charcoal. As a result, bamboo charcoal is highly absorbent. In countries such as Japan, Korea and China bamboo charcoal is used in the home to absorb bad smells from the air. You can buy 100 yen bamboo charcoal in packs in Japan for this purpose.

The absorbency of bamboo charcoal also means that it is great for lowering the humidity in a room. It is a much cheaper alternative to controlling humidity in a room than using the air-con or a dehumidifier. Also in the bathroom and kitchen bamboo charcoal can be used to reduce moisture levels and stop mold.

Bamboo and bamboo charcoal are both helpful to improve the hygiene standard of a home since they are both antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-fungal. Having bamboo charcoal around the house can protect the inhabitants.

Scientists have discovered that bamboo charcoal emits negative ions. These are thought to counteract the positive ions emitted by electrical equipment such as washing machines, computers and televisions. They are also believed to improve human spirits. That is why people feel happy when viewing a waterfall or visiting a beach. It is the movement of water and that breaks down molecules into negative ions.

Another discovery is that bamboo charcoal emits far infrared rays. These are also known as the ‘rays of life’ because they help speed up damaged tissue recovery, lower high blood pressure and treat serious diseases such as cancer.

Finally, bamboo charcoal can be used as both a fertilizer and pesticide. It is natural and organic and increases yields of crops without poisoning nature.

Bamboo Charcoal Soap

It is possible to produce soap with bamboo charcoal. In Korea they have found a way to double the surface area to weight ratio of bamboo charcoal to 1 to 1,200 and combine the resulting ‘activated bamboo charcoal’ with glycerin to produce a superior soap.

The amazing thing about bamboo charcoal soap is that it removes dirt particles from the very bottom of the pores of the skin much better than normal soap. It also doesn’t leave a residue layer on skin after ablution like normal soap. This means that after washing with bamboo charcoal soap the natural oils generated by the body are able to moisturize the newly washed pores. It is for this reason that bamboo charcoal soap is ideal for people with acne.

Since bamboo charcoal soap removes dirt more effectively it can remove the bags under the eyes which are caused by dirt building up in the sensitive skin under the eyes.

Conclusion

Bamboo takes only 6 to 7 years to reach full height and it doesn’t require pesticides or fertilizer to grow. In short bamboo is great for the home, for the skin and for nature. That is amazing.