Thursday, February 09, 2012

Black March


Black March
March 1 - 31, 2012

With the continuing campaigns for Internet-censoring litigation such as SOPA and PIPA, and the closure of sites such as Megaupload under allegations of'piracy' and 'conspiracy' the time has come to take a stand against music, film and media companies' lobbyists.

The only way is to hit them where it truly hurts.. Their profit margins.

March 2012 is the end of the 1st quarter in economic reports worldwide.

Do not buy a single record. Do not download a single song, legally or illegally. Do not go to see a single film in cinemas, or download a copy, Do not buy a DVD in the stores. Do not buy a video game. Do not buy a single book or Magazine.

Wait the 4 weeks to buy them in April: see the film later, etc. Holding out for just 4 weeks, maximum, will leave a gaping hole in media and entertainment companies' profits for the 1st quarter, an economic hit which will in turn be observed by governments worldwide as stocks and shares will blip from a large enough loss of incomes. This action can give a statement of intent:

''WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THE MEDIA INDUSTRIES' LOBBYING FOR LEGISLATION WHICH WILL CENSOR THE INTERNET.''



Black March 2012



Some people say that this only works in theory but not in practice. They say that this operation to boycott the music, film and print media industries on March is futile, considering how huge the impact of these industries are on our daily lives. I see their point. Simply put.. You can't download apps for your gadgets. You can't download movies on the web or even watch them on theaters. You can't download songs, old or new. One month without these - It will be very difficult to accomplish. Difficult, but not impossible.

I'm willing to give this a shot. Besides, this will give me the chance to watch the old movies I've collected from highschool. I could organize my playlists and listen to the songs I haven't heard for a month or so, open some books that I've been too lazy to read, and start a new game on my brothers' game consoles.

A month of no downloading anything on the internet or buying of books, games, music and movies.. I can do that. Joining this campaign is a matter of choice. I will join the Black March. The question is.. Will you?

67 comments:

  1. I will cross the bridge when I get there. For sure, my friends in the print media will be affected with this campaign. Thank you for this very alarming post. There are few days to prepare and think for someone's stand.

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    1. Everyone will be affected po, Kuya.. considering how massive the media industries are. It's a choice naman po.. :)

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    2. Hi Leah, just visiting here and reading few comments, it seems like march is on its 26th day…

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  2. kaya ko ba to? eh di mamimili nako ng mga pirated bukas good for one month viewing hehe

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    1. Hahaha! Sige, bumili ka na ng dalawang dosena, Sendo.. hehehe..

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  3. It's no sweat for me to join this campaign. It's taking me ages to change my songs and due to the busy schedule at work, I can't find a single time to watch movies - :) I hope that would help in the process of the campaign.

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  4. Impossible ata. Pano na na ako nito. Nyahaha.

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    1. Hahaha! Natawa naman ako... Eh, pano na? lol.

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  5. Hi Super Lea, Great Post and Great Thoughts!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  6. The wikipedia started it for 1 day ata yon I'm not sure basta nagblock-out sila one time. That works to me. I don't download music, film and download any phone applications. I buy records, I watch concerts and watch film in the cinema or at home. As you said it's a matter of choice. For me "the choice are yours, I'll leave it to you." That was very informative post. Cheers!

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  7. F*ck them! But yeah, i wont buy muna any single application sa ipad ko. I will support this campaign. Thats my promise for Super Leah! Thanks for sharing this. Hope supportahan to ng lahat!

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  8. I'm joining alongside all who make this promise. Those that say it's 'impossible' are the same ones that would cave in on the first temptation to go to a movie, download a game, or buy a cd.

    We can all do this. We have their bottom dollar, and we'll grip that sucker until it makes them bleed.

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  9. :D.
    It's been so long since I last came here :(. But here I am. Did you miss me?

    There was a time when I used to download films, music, TV shows, the whole lot. But recently since I've got busy with uni, started indulging in other activities, I've just not had the time. My little sister always asks me, have you heard this new song etc etc, and I always have to say no, because I haven't been keeping up with the digital aspect of life.

    I have however been writing more letters which is AMAZING, spending my time enjoying life in the best possible way.

    I'd like to join this too!

    Hope you're well Leah!
    :)

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    1. Awww.. I did miss you! :)

      Letters.. You're writing letters? Wow. Send me one! hihi..

      Take care, Nas! :) :) :)

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  10. Thanks for sharing this. It sounds a very tall order though not doing those things that you normally do if not everyday at least once in a week. But if this calls for the agencies/or industry/or media to realize how mean the implications are to many people affected, I think my heart and my support will shine first.

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  11. nice article... hope many will get to know more about ths cause

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  12. I still can't see this happening en-masse enough to actually work like intended, but the initiative sure is good as always!

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  13. great read. hope a lot will support this campaign

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  14. yes a month of no buying these records and other wont hurt a bit if the outcome will wake those greedy companies, why not. Let's support free internet access

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  15. oh! geez!! definitely can join them!! gow!! =D

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  16. kayang kaya ko to hehehe

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  17. I guess I can join this one, too. It would be an opportunity for me to take my own pictures and use them in my blog posts.

    But it'll be sadddd. pero i think i can get through this.

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  18. A month of no downloading anything on the internet or buying of books, games, music and movies? I can do that too!
    Will I support Black March? Definitely I will!

    Let's fight and fight for our right!

    Yeah!

    Sulong!

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  19. i'm 50/50 on this matter... ;( kasi they're also fighting for their rights. I understand their issues too laki din ng lugi nila e, they are the first victims i don't think boycotting them will do any good its like adding insult to injury, just my 2 cents. there are two sides in every coin sana lang we can come up with a better option that will benefit both sides..

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    1. Well, they will have loses po talaga. Imagine, a month na walang kita (that is, if everybody joins).. but we have to think long term. Kasi baka kung maipasa na nang tuluyan tong legislation, tayo din pong lahat ang maaapektuhan.. Internet censorship and worse, no more file-sharing? Pero yes, I agree na sana nga po ay makahanap tayo ng mas magandang option. Though I honestly think we're running out of time..

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  20. It's just a month. I'm on it! :)

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  21. naku!! mahaba habang pag iisip toh!!
    hahaha :) pero sa ikauunlad ng free knowledge!! why not!! nyahaha

    >> I will indeed join this campaign.. yay (fingers cross)

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  22. I don't download .i don't buy movies(husband does).but I will try to stop my husband from buying dvd tapes on March ,iyan ay kung mapigilan ko yun.

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  23. naku, stress to the max ito for one whole month for me

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  24. Honestly? I can't. Esp the new epi but I will try. I can campaign and give this a go.

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  25. mmmm... good question! back to basics this March! (not sure if I'm ready though!)

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  26. I can't....lalo na sa mga tulad namin OFW. Baka madami mabaliw...hehe

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  27. you don't have to worry about me... I don't buy anything... well, except maybe for computer parts... but it's true, the people should control the internet... not the other way around...

    sana, mag-join ang google sa black march na yan... grabe ang magiging epekto kapag nagsearch ka ng music at movies tapos walang lalabas na result... O_o

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    1. I dunno kung sasali ang Google. If ever nga, mas malaki talaga ang epekto, considering na Google Search is one of the most-used search engine in the world..

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  28. Di ko kaya yan.

    pero ill think of it :)

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  29. kaya ko naman to madami akong pwedeng gawin without downloading anything. dami kong nakaimbak na books, movies na pwede ulitin panuorin. hehehe

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  30. Give it what they want. And they will realize later the consequences. It's better to sacrifice that to suffer the consequence. Everything will turn okay at the long run.

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  31. I am also willing to take this thing a shot.

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  32. Hmmm, pwde best effort :p

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  33. Maybe it's time people focus on doing fun offline activities rather than going online to watch, read and purchase things to read and watch.

    For us, I think we have enough books and movies to last us till April. In fact, re-watching movies we loved might be a good idea :)

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    1. I agree. There are lots of good stuff outside the web world, too.. like old, smelly books. :D I love reading books, not the downloaded kind. Old books smell.. and they are memory-triggers. :)

      This will give us the time to appreciate things we often set aside, because we're busy with internet games and downloads and such.

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  34. Oks lang sakin! Gorabels!

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  35. I agree, I hope that this campaign will work!

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  36. kaya yan! More than one month pa nga ako walang nadownload or nabili hehehehe

    :))

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  37. Impossible for me to do it pero pipilitin ko. ^^

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  38. It seems very difficult to do this. But I'll just try, or maybe by now I'll start buying pirated CD's. lol!

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    1. Hahaha! Go ahead.. Make sure you have enough! lol..

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  39. SOPA is getting worse every day and I'm joining this crusade.

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  40. Gagawin ko yan wag lang makakalimutan pero di ko kasi madalas gawin ang mga yan maliban sa manood ng movie. pero kaya for 1 month.

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  41. i think I can go for it. I have too many books to read and like you, it takes me ages to update my playlist. The things I constantly download on the internet are TV series but most of them are in season break. The only problem is, there are two movies coming up that I can't miss. Well, it will test my self-restraint. Wish me luck. :)

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  42. I will definitely go for it. I just read an article about the SOPA/PIPA topic again. I think it'll be the perfect time for students to skip movies for the meantime as March is the end of the school year anyway.

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    1. I agree. Take time to read books and focus on schoolwork, instead of spending hours in the movies and internet downloads..

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  43. The problem is, only a few people understand exactly the effects of this legislation. Only few will participate and only few truly cares. I'm not really into buying anything except books. Goodluck to all of us.

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  44. being the pessimist that i am, i'm sort of doubting that enough people will participate to make this work. :| it's worth a try, though! :D

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    1. True that. But well.. what are we gonna lose if we join the campaign? Nothing, really.. So why not join, right? :D

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  45. well I am supporting the against SOPA movement in many other ways, but to totally black-out my websites are not necessary... what ever happens, business as-usual :) walang kinalaman mga advertisers ko hahaha

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    1. Hmm. The campaign states that you refrain from downloading anything from the internet.. or buying/reading books online or even watching movies on theaters. Wala naman talagang kinalaman yung ads sa site mo. hehe.. And it's not saying that you close down you website for a month.. lol..

      Anyway, it's a choice. :)

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  46. embarrassing yeah, but this is the first time I let myself be aware of this SOPA issue and It's a big thing! 0_0 I'll decide on what to do after I research on it more. Thanks Miss Leah! :)

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  47. nice and smart sharing Leah..:)

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  48. it's high time we bloggers need to unite and make a stand against anything that would in any way suppress our freedom of expression.

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