Buy Nothing Day
Now in its 18th year, Buy Nothing Day is celebrated every November by environmentalists, social activists and concerned citizens in over 65 countries around the world. Over the years, Buy Nothing Day (followed by Buy Nothing Christmas) has exploded into a global movement, inspiring the world's citizens to live more simply and buy a whole lot less.
Designed to coincide with Black Friday (which this year falls on Friday, November 27) in the United States, and the unofficial start of the international holiday shopping season (Saturday, November 28), the festival takes many shapes, from relaxed family outings, to free, non-commercial street parties, to politically charged public protests, credit-card cut-ups and pranks and shenanigans of all kinds. Anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending.
Designed to coincide with Black Friday (which this year falls on Friday, November 27) in the United States, and the unofficial start of the international holiday shopping season (Saturday, November 28), the festival takes many shapes, from relaxed family outings, to free, non-commercial street parties, to politically charged public protests, credit-card cut-ups and pranks and shenanigans of all kinds. Anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending.
Buy Nothing Day
A 24 hour moratorium on consumer spending - participate by not participating.
Buy Nothing Day is an informal day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists. Typically celebrated, or not celebrated, the Friday after Thanksgiving in North America and the next day internationally, in 2009 the dates will be November 27 and 28 respectively. It was founded by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently promoted by the Canadian Adbusters magazine.The first Buy Nothing Day was organized in Vancouver in September of 1992 "as a day for society to examine the issue of over-consumption." In 1997, it was moved to the Friday after American Thanksgiving, which is one of the top 10 busiest shopping days in the United States. Outside of North America, Buy Nothing Day is celebrated on the following Saturday. Despite controversies, Adbusters managed to advertise Buy Nothing Day on CNN, but many other major television networks declined to air their ads. Soon, campaigns started appearing in United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway. Participation now includes more than 65 nations.
While critics of the day charge that Buy Nothing Day simply causes participants to buy the next day, Adbusters states that it "isn't just about changing your habits for one day" but "about starting a lasting lifestyle commitment to consuming less and producing less waste."
[via wikipedia.org]
see also: I(nternational) Buy Nothing Day
Buy Nothing Day Video
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Other Adbusters Campaigns
What Would Jesus Buy?
The Shopocalypse is upon us... Who will be $aved?
Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the end of humankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt. (What Would Jesus Buy?)
watch full length documentary instantly on Netflix
watch full length documentary instantly on Netflix
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Other Green and Stress Free Holiday Ideas
Buy Nothing Day in the News
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- It's a bit of a cultish publication, but its culture-jamming activities occasionally find their way into the mainstream, like Buy Nothing Day (now Occupy Xmas) and TV Turnoff Week (now Screen-Free Week), both of which Adbusters played a significant ...
Buy Nothing Day Videos
Volunteer
World Food Programme Feed Bag
What could be better than shopping to help others? This bag lets you do it. You'll feel good about buying this sturdy bag because you'll carry it with the knowledge that you've made a positive contribution to those who are less fortunate.
World Food Programme Feed Bag,Natural,one size
Amazon Price: (as of 02/16/2012)
The FEED bag is a sturdy, reversible bag made out of natural burlap and cotton materials. The design of the bag was inspired by the big bags of food that I have seen being distributed to schools around the world. Besides being a cool bag, it is a tangible way to make a difference in the fight against child hunger. Every FEED bag sold will feed a child for a whole year in school!
Thank you for your support of the FEED project! With your help we will be making a big difference in children's lives around the world, one child at a time. So wear your bag with pride!
Will you participate in Buy Nothing Day?
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sans300
Nov 20, 2011 @ 9:27 am | delete
- Was educative. I did not know about this earlier.
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Tolovaj
Jun 12, 2011 @ 7:53 am | delete
- I am trying to have buy nothing day at least once a week. It takes some planning, but the result is not only seen on environment, my vallet feels better too.
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Brick_House_Fabrics
Dec 26, 2010 @ 5:51 am | delete
- Absolutely- the idea of giving thanks for what one has, and then turning around and shopping 'til one drops has always seemed very odd to me!
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Yourshowman
Dec 8, 2010 @ 8:43 am | delete
- Nice lens
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TimGardine Nov 30, 2010 @ 7:20 am | delete
- This is the first I've heard of buy nothing day. It's a super idea, especially for a natural-born scrooge, such as myself. I will "celebrate" it next year, for sure!
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OneFootPutt
Sep 8, 2010 @ 9:18 pm | delete
- What a great concept. Too bad they do it on the same day as Black Friday. They would get more of a following if they did it off season. But, then what's the point of that.
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ChapelHillFiddler
Nov 30, 2009 @ 8:35 am | delete
- I stayed home on Buy Nothing day until I went out to play music at a local restaurant (where I diidn't have to pay for my dinner)!
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ChapelHillFiddler
Nov 30, 2009 @ 8:35 am | delete
- I've lensrolled this to my "How to Avoid Christmas" lens and featured it there (I had a buy nothing module already) AND I've featured this on my fan-club thank-you lens so - thank you!
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