'Tis the Season for Buy Nothing Day
Attention weary shoppers, in case you missed the announcement amidst the blaring of popstar-re-made Xmas carols, TODAY is Buy Nothing Day.
Join your fellow citizens as a non-consumer for the day and enjoy the finer things in life... friends, family, a meal at home and a warm old sweater.
Ideas for non-mall activities (should anyone actually be stumped): Start on the holiday cards, watch a movie at home with friends, clean up that apartment in case the parents drop in for the holidays or join Optative Theatre Laboratories in their BND celebrations as they turn their creative demonstrating attention to the not-so-socially-conscious American Apparel.
Comments (10)
I'll celebrate by not buying what the Buy Nothing guys are selling.
Seriously. If you want to take money out of the system the only way to do it is to take a wad of cash and burn it. Not so easy that way, is it? But that's the only guarantee your actions will have a demonstrable effect on the economy.
I think you have to look at the value of creating a social consciousness about the issue.. not just an event at face value. People may still buy plenty today, but have a renewed sense of awareness.. instead of just being sucked deeper into consumer-void.
364 days = Buy everything
1 day = Buy nothing
Day before Buy Nothing Day = stock up on groceries, movies, wine, crappy American Apparel t-shirts.
Result:
"Social consciousness"? "Renewed sense of awareness"?
One would think that a writer, as wordsmith, would choose some that actual mean something.
The actual date is more significant in the US. Today is "Black Friday" when the Christmas buying season begins. Maybe our buy nothing day should be on Boxing Day or something.
That's exactly what i said in my comment, x. That one day, in a literal sense, is hugely significant, but it serves as a reminder which helps create a general consciousness of the problem year round.
Michael, re-evaluating the date sounds ilke a good idea. The 26th might be more appropriate, though i think fear of being trampled to death for leftover garbage almost fulfills that role anyhow.
Damn. I went out and bought some new fiction at Chapters today. Oh well, that will help me buy less in future weeks.
I actually like the idea of a "Buy Nothing Christmas". Cook a good meal for family and friends, perform an act of kindness or charity, chill out, relax, and turn this annual retail orgy on its ear.
I'm not sure if this was the original place it started, but in Italy they protest against high prices. Which has some sense.
In America - comprised Canada to some extent (alas more and more similar to the USA) - it had different if not opposite sense.
It's against 'spending craze' - especially credit card addicted spending.
So it's more to 'save your soul and wallet' - less against 'commerce'.
You should make as well a day without hamburgers or 'junk food', or without cola/soda. That would be more appropriate...
:))
Ah darn. Now I had to wreck the whole spirit of non-consumerism by writing about sample sales. At least it's saving money ;) It's really sad but so many people go beyond their means when it comes to gifts. Did you know that there is a peak of suicides in January due to debt? I agree with Nancy, Christmas should be about family, friends, charity giving and eating good food.
Now there's a good idea Matt.
I should have run that by the 3 guys i ran into on the corner of Bathurst & Bloor who wanted to know where they could find a McDonalds. When I told them that it went out of business/shut down around there, they seemed lost, like they'd starve to death. Looking around, every other shop is a great, and cheap, spot to eat on Bloor. So sad.
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