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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: consumerism

consumerism stories: 11 news summaries
NYC MAYORAL ELECTION

 Bloomberg's Challenger: 
 Upstart Anti-Shopping Rev 


Sep 8, 09 2:03 PM CDT
(Newser) - Even supporters of the Rev. Billy Tallen don’t think he’s got much of a shot at beating Michael Bloomberg in this year’s election. But like any crusader, the “theater refugee” will tell you it’s not about winning, reports Good. “The reason we said yes... More »

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New York City • Michael Bloomberg • mayor • political activism • consumerism • Green Party • Election 2010 • Reverend Billy • Bill Tallen • mayoral race

(Newser) - Americans are embracing the no-frills attitude necessitated by the recession, USA Today reports. One-third say they are spending less and plan to keep up the practice as their “new, normal” way of living, according to a study. A whopping 47% of Americans say they have all they need,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
United States • consumer goods • recession • consumerism • happiness • possessions • conspicuous consumption • things

 Grandparents Face 
 Bitter Foe: Other 
 Grandparents 

Jealousy games amount to big consumer spending

May 14, 09 12:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - Baby boomers are joining the ranks of grandparents, and as usual, they want to be the best—which includes outranking other grandparents in their mutual grandchildren's affections. The competition is so fierce that it's an economic stimulus unto itself: 42% of gift spending is by grandparents, the Boston Globe... More »

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baby boomer • big gifts • competition • grandparents • consumerism

opinion

 Gleeful Brown 
 Is Acting Like a 
 Drunk Dowager 

Brits' PM 'swanks' and 'preens,' but the economy is his fault

Nov 25, 08 10:56 AM CST
(Newser) - Gordon Brown, "known as a gloomy old nail-biting misery-guts," has turned into the life of the party ever since the economic downturn hit Britain, writes Boris Johnson in the Telegraph. Deeming that the swooning market and plummeting home prices demand action, he's gleefully launched measures that will incur... More »

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London • government spending • Gordon Brown • government • consumerism • Britain • economic stimulus package • Boris Johnson • financial crisis

opinion

Pixar's Lovable Robot Has
Important Lessons For Us

Wall-E warns about our over-consumption

Jul 11, 08 11:06 AM CDT
(Newser) - Yes, Wall-E has environmental themes, but its main point is a moral one, writes Michael Gerson in the Washington Post. Not simply a critique of capitalism, as some conservatives have suggested, the movie sets its satirical sights on our self-imprisoning culture of consumption—and the snacking, reclining consumers in the... More »

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Earth • Pixar • consumption • robot • consumerism • computer animation • Wall-E

 Easter Defies Madison Avenue 

Religious holiday's originis too wild to tame into commercialism

Mar 23, 08 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - Christmas’ religious meaning is lost in a sea of advertising, parties, and major retail dollars, but Easter has resisted becoming a “consumerist nightmare”—and that’s because its Christian origins demand serious thought, writes James Martin in Slate. While “the Christmas story is easily reduced to pablum,... More »

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advertising • Christianity • religion • Easter • consumerism • holiday • Christmas • commercialism • Jesus Christ • resurrection

Teens' Public Orgies Rattle Chilean Mores

Sexcapades reflect consumer-driven, apolitical youth culture

Mar 20, 08 3:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - Can 100 teenagers performing oral sex on one another in a public park not be a political statement? That's one of the questions the sight of horny, apolitical, bisexual Chilean teenagers are prompting among their appalled, mostly Catholic compatriots, Newsweek reports from a country still haunted by General Pinochet's repressive... More »

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Latin America • Chile • homosexuality • sexuality • Catholicism • sexual behavior • Augusto Pinochet • consumerism • bisexual • heterosexual • teenager • Pokemones • ponceo

Tiaras Go to Your Head

Headpieces take top honors as status symbols

Dec 18, 07 12:00 PM CST
(Newser) - Tiaras are this year's must-have adornment, with price tags that start at $9.99 and top out north of $400,000, the AP reports. Hello Kitty wore hers to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and girly girls of all ages—especially those with money to burn—find that the trend... More »

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style • consumerism • jewelry • tiaras

Cutting Back on E-Consumerism

PC World's Grant Gross joins activist online group

Dec 17, 07 12:10 PM CST
(Newser) - While many Americans spend big bucks online, some are using the Internet to tone down their consumerism. PC World's Grant Gross has joined a national group called the Compact, which encourages members to swear off buying new stuff whenever possible and stick to local products. It's a step "beyond... More »

MORE ABOUT:
recycling • eBay • consumerism • e waste

Chavez Slams Quinceañera Implants

Venezuelan prez
hates popular sweet-15 gift of enlargements

Sep 26, 07 1:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hugo Chavez has aimed his anti-consumerist wrath at one of Venezuela’s bustiest trends. In a record eight-hour TV address Sunday, the barn-storming president assaulted his countrymen for giving breast implants as presents to girls celebrating their quinceañeras, the traditional 15th-birthday coming-of-age party.   More »

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Venezuela • breast implants • Barbie • consumerism • quinceaneras • Bolivarism • advertisements • Hugo Chávez

Starbucks to Get First Sip of Russian Market

Legal hurdles cleared, coffee giant aims at other US brands

Aug 30, 07 2:34 PM CDT
(Newser) - Starbucks will finally open its first Russian store next month, the Seattle Times reports, but the coffee giant will need a jolt of caffeine to achieve the brand recognition of Western rivals who've been in the market for years. Traditionally tea drinkers, Russians have warmed up to domestic coffee purveyors,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Russia • Starbucks • McDonald's • coffee • Moscow • Soviet Union • St. Petersburg • consumerism

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