Buy Nothing Day
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Buy Nothing Day is an informal day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists. It was founded by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently promoted by the Canadian Adbusters magazine. Participants refrain from purchasing anything for 24 hours in a concentrated display of consumer power. The event is intended to raise awareness of what some see as the wasteful consumption habits of First World countries. Activists may also participate in culture jamming activities like the Whirl-Mart and other forms of radical expression. It is also used to protest materialism and bandwagon appeals.
In the United States and Canada, supporters demonstrate on the day after American Thanksgiving. This day, often called "Black Friday," is one of the busiest shopping days of the year (although this is not so in Canada, the date remains there to synchronize events). In other countries the demonstrations occur a day later.
The anarcho-punk band, Chumbawamba, recorded a song on their 2004 album, "Un", entitled "Buy Nothing Day". It is about a man who, amid his consumerism and longing to own all the things he wants, is stated at one point to have literally contracted the illness Affluenza, inducing emotional depression and physical illness. After losing all his money on debts to buy more things that he is told he needs, he ends up deciding he does not need to buy anymore and sets himself this goal, to never venture into the high street again. The song ends with a white noise cut and an American radio presenter speaking the words "November 23 is Buy Nothing Day" [Although for Thanksgivings 2004 and '05 (the year the song was recorded and the year after, respectively, and most practically for the song's end sequence to work) this is not strictly accurate, giving that this would be the day before and two days before the "traditional" Buy Nothing Day on each of those years respectively. In the UK, where the record was produced, these dates are even more incorrect, since worldwide BND is celebrated one day later again]
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[edit] Criticisms
Because participants of Buy Nothing Day continue to consume items (such as food, gasoline, poster board) they must have then purchased these items on a previous day. In other words, protestors consumed items on "Buy Nothing Day" and bought them another, making the idea of buying nothing one day a purely technical distinction. Advocates[name a specific person/group] argue that the event is still valid as it is meant to make people aware of their buying habits and their global impacts.
More fundamental concerns about the event are similar to criticisms concerning other protestors of free trade and consumerism. Economists (Milton Friedman, Walter Williams, and many others) argue that free trade, by definition, is mutually beneficial and thus encourages peace and global understanding.
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Yee-Guan Wong. "Why I'm not buying it — Zombie Walk against mass consumerism leaves me dazed", NOW Magazine, 2005-12-01. — Wong reports on the Buy Nothing Day protests in Toronto in 2005 and opines that when it comes to Buy Nothing Day "don't always listen to the folks trying to sell it to you".
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Buy Nothing Day site through the Adbusters Media Foundation
- Buy Nothing Day - UK
- I(nternational) Buy Nothing Day" - information and support for your BND
- http://www.bnd.nu/
- "Buy Nothing Day" in Poland
- A similar initiative called "Buy Nothing Christmas"
- The song "Buy Nothing At All" by Joel Kroeker (2MB)
- The Reverend Billy and The Church of the Stop Shopping
- The Church of The Immaculate Consumption
- Buy Nothing Day in Germany
- Buy Nothing Day creator Ted Dave
