Courtesy AdbustersFor twenty years, the people behind Buy Nothing Day have been pleading with consumers to avoid the frenzy inherent in “Black Friday,” the no-holds-barred shop-o-rama that comes the day after Thanksgiving. This year, they’re ramping things up and calling for an all-out Wildcat Strike against the “capitalist consumption machine.” Socialists, you say? No, just worried people who want to take a stand in the face of “crises of ecology, psychology, and faith.”
Dearest readers, I’ll let them say it themselves—give this a look, and visit the Buy Nothing Day site to learn more:
This year we’re calling for a wildcat general strike. On November 27/28 we’re asking tens of millions of people around the world to bring the capitalist consumption machine to a grinding – if only momentary – halt. We want you to shut off your lights, your televisions and other nonessential appliances. We want you to park your car, turn off your phones and log off your computer for the day. We’re calling for a Ramadan-like fast. From sunrise to sunset, we abstain en masse. Not only from shopping but from all the temptations of our five-planet lifestyles.
Instead we’ll feed our spirits and minds with a feast of subversive activities: pranks, shenanigans, credit card cut-ups, bicycle swarms, mall invasions and all manner of culture jams and creative détournements … and some of us will take things even further with sit-ins, demonstrations, passive resistance and acts of nonviolent defiance, anarchy and civil disobedience. If we can create a big enough ruckus on November 27/28, then we may be able to catalyze what the Situationists tried to set in motion half a century ago: a chain reaction of refusal against consumer capitalism … a sudden, unexpected moment of truth … the first ever global revolution.
So think about it—and at the very least, I encourage you to rein in your shopping this holiday season. Here’s an interesting look at the role of products and packaging in our current climate crisis; when all is said and done, they can be tied to 44 percent of our greenhouse-gas emissions. In the words of Santa’s seamstress, “Yikes.”
Ask Umbra on engagement rings, straws, and napkins
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Ask Umbra’s video advice on making your own club soda
Comments
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AmandaD Posted 3:28 pm
23 Nov 2009
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dtrom4 Posted 8:24 am
24 Nov 2009
I mean, good on ya' for raising awareness and trying to make a difference, but I wouldn't get my hopes up for this making a big difference as an end in itself.
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2349 Posted 12:38 pm
24 Nov 2009
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Terrigail Posted 2:41 am
25 Nov 2009
I am pleased to have this site with which I may interact with others and share different ideas. While I have been a member here for the past 3 years this is only the 2nd time I have posted a comment. I suppose I am guilty of thinking: "But I am just one person! Who really cares what I think?" I have since discovered that there are a great many persons who feel just like I do! Thank you for the opportunity to make "MY" voice heard, Grist! I am grateful.
The idea of a "Buy Nothing Day" is a fabulous idea! I must say I have to agree with the comment by AMANDAD. "BLACK FRIDAY" has to be the utmost
example of chaos and selfish consumerism possible!
The "very day" after our nation has gathered together to give "THANKS"
for the abundance of all that we "do" have and celebrate our love for family, friends and our fellow man...we rush out to the stores, long lists in hand with our elbows stuck out ready to do bodily harm to anyone
that might come between us and our bargains! And for what?
Do you actually "remember" what you received last Christmas? Do you still have it?
DTROM4 commented that GRIST was sending the wrong message by getting "all up in arms" regarding Earth Day. I must also agree with DTROM4 that "Earth Day" is just "one" day. However, I see the point GRIST is trying to make. If we can just make other people aware of their "own" impact on the earth, for even "one day", maybe we can get them to think that they could also make a small difference by changing something in their own lives for 2 or even 3 days.There is great strenght in numbers!
We need to start with the children. The economy being what it is at present it was recently necessary that my older son, his pregnant wife and
their 2 young boys have come to live with myself and my husband. We enjoyed 14 months of "retirement" together. With the addition of a new grandaughter our household now numbers 7 persons. I knew I had made a real difference when I heard the 4 year old grandson in my kitchen yelling: "O.K! Who threw the eggshells in the trash! You all "know" it goes in the compost bin!" Sometimes we must settle for making one small difference at a time.
As DTROM4 has said, any attempt we might make to not consume "anything" on Black Friday will not accomplish a great deal as man will do what he is accustomed to do.
Perhaps, what we might do is to designate a "different day" to encourage others to join in a "BUY NOTHING DAY". I don't really think it would matter if you would have to purchase items you might need the "day before" or the "day after" the "Buy Nothing Day". You know the retailers "will" make their money one day or another as we all need "stuff".
BUT, It "will" send a big message to retailers that indeed, it is "US" that have the power! We do not "have to buy anything" for just one day.
And it might make them realize they need to listen to us.
Thank you all for listening to my "one" voice.
Terrigail
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Zain Posted 1:07 pm
28 Nov 2009
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human power Posted 7:20 pm
29 Nov 2009
It is interesting to note that strictly observant Jews often "buy nothing, use nothing (mechanical, anyway)" on a weekly basis. Good on them and good on all who do their part to heal a wounded biosphere.
Happy Solstice to all.
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darbydog Posted 6:13 am
02 Dec 2009
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