Buy Nothing Day

Is consumer greed killing the planet?

The last Saturday in November is one of the busiest shopping days of the year and traditionally signals the start of a month-long frenzy of conspicuous consumption in the build-up to Christmas. Coincidentally, it's also Buy Nothing Day in the UK, which encourages people to do the exact opposite and spend a day without spending instead.

The aim of Buy Nothing Day is to highlight the global environmental and social impact of consumerism. There is enough for all of our needs, but the unequal distribution of global wealth means that 20 per cent of the world's population consume 80 percent of its resources. The hidden costs of consumerism in richer countries include poor working conditions and environmental degradation in poorer Southern economies where most consumer goods are made.

Buy Nothing Day has captured the imagination of many people dissatisfied with the excesses of consumer culture and blossomed into a global phenomenon. Each November thousands of people abandon their cash and credit cards for 24 hours and seek out other pleasures that money simply cannot buy.

Stepping off the consumer treadmill for a day allows consumers to think about the origins of the products they buy and consider the impact of their choices on their environment. This opportunity to reflect on what is really important encourages them to develop more sustainable ways to meet their needs such as reusing, recycling, or better still, not buying so much stuff in the first place.

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Participate By Not Participating

Anyone can take part in Buy Nothing Day. Even doing nothing is doing something. If you are concerned about the issues and want to do something beyond simply staying at home, Adbusters is a good place to start looking for ideas.

Here are some of the things other people have organised:

  • In Montreal, school students organised a 'swap shop' where people could exchange their unwanted goods.
  • In St Helier, a trio of doctors distributed fake prescriptions to people afflicted by the 'affluenza' virus.
  • In Glasgow, activists organised a bike ride followed by free food and a movie screening.
  • In Kyoto, a kimono-clad 'Zenta Claus' meditated in front of a department store, while elves passed out Buy Nothing soup
  • In Bristol, sofas were set up in Broadmead shopping centre and free food was distributed to weary shoppers.
  • In New York, the Reverend Billy and his Stop Shopping Gospel Choir entertained the crowds in Times Square.
  • In London, the Space Hijackers gave out free tea and cucumber sandwiches outside Starbucks.

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Buy Nothing Christmas

Christmas is traditionally a time for giving, but it's starting to get a little out of hand. Consumer spending in the UK continues to rise each year as people strive to outdo the previous year's excesses. Increased spending means greater amounts of waste and spells disaster for the environment as more and more goods are shipped from faraway countries to be sold in shops in Jersey and the UK.

This Christmas, why not do something different and give a gift that really shows you care? Make a pact with your family or friends to avoid the shops altogether and spend some precious time together instead.

The Adbusters website has a 'Christmas Gift Exemption Voucher' for download to exempt you and your friends from exchanging gifts.

If buying nothing at all feels too strange or too mean and you are still determined to give something, you could offer childcare or a back massage instead. Alternatively, Oxfam Unwrapped, Good Gifts and Great Gifts all promote alternative gifts you can buy on someone's behalf for those who really need them. For less than a tenner you can make a genuine difference to someone's quality of life this Christmas.

You can find other ethical and sustainable gift ideas on the Centre for Alternative Technology and Green Gardener websites.

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