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Buy Nothing Day (BND) is an
international day of protest
against consumerism
observed by social activists. Typically celebrated the
Friday after American Thanksgiving in North America and the following day
internationally, in 2009 the dates are November 27 and
28 respectively.[1]
It was founded by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently
promoted by Adbusters magazine, based in Canada.
The first Buy Nothing Day was organized in Vancouver in September 1992 "as a day for
society to examine the issue of over-consumption."[2]
In 1997, it was moved to the Friday after American Thanksgiving,
also called "Black Friday", which is one of
the 10 busiest shopping days in the United States. Outside North America and
Israel, Buy Nothing Day is the
following Saturday. Adbusters was denied advertising time
by major television networks except by CNN, which was the only one to air their ads.[3] Soon,
campaigns started appearing in the United States, the United Kingdom,
Israel, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, the Netherlands, France, and Norway. Participation now includes more than 65
nations.[2]
Activities
Various gatherings, shenanigans, and forms of protest have been
used on Buy Nothing Day to draw attention to the perceived problem
of over-consumption:
- Credit card cut up: Participants stand in a shopping mall,
shopping center, or store with a pair of scissors and a poster that
advertises help for people who want to put an end to mounting debt
and extortionate interest rates with one simple cut.
- Free, non-commercial street parties
- Sit-ins
- Zombie Walk: Participant ‘zombies’ wander
around shopping malls or other consumer havens with a blank stare
and marvel at the expressionless faces of the shoppers (their
fellow zombies). When asked what they are doing participants
describe Buy Nothing Day and explain its foundational
principles.
- Whirl-mart: Participants silently steer their shopping carts
around a shopping mall or store in a long, baffling conga line
without putting anything in the carts or actually making any
purchases.
- Public protests
- Wildcat General Strike: A strategy used for the 2009 Buy
Nothing Day where participants not only do not buy anything for
twenty-four hours but also keep their lights, televisions,
computers and other non-essential appliances turned off, their cars
parked, and their phones turned off or unplugged from sunrise to
sunset.[1]
- Buy Nothing Day hike: Rather than celebrating consumerism by
shopping, participants celebrate the earth and nature.[4]
- Buy Nothing Critical Mass: As the monthly Critical
Mass bike ride often falls on this day or near, rides in some
cities acknowledge and celebrate Buy Nothing Day.l
Criticism
While critics of the day charge that Buy Nothing Day simply
causes participants to buy the next day,[5]
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."[2]
Buy Nothing Day has been criticized by some groups as a
consumer-oriented empowerment activity that is insulting to
those who simply cannot afford to buy anything at all, and that all
successful boycotts in the past have been held until
there was a gain, not planned for a single day. A group in Montreal promoted "Steal
Something Day" as an alternative.[6] In
their words, "The geniuses at Adbusters have managed to create the
perfect feel-good, liberal,
middle-class activist non-happening. A day when the more money you
make, the more influence you have (like every other day). A day
which, by definition, is insulting to the millions of people
worldwide who are too poor or marginalized to be considered
'consumers'."
Paradox
For many working people in the West who cannot afford housing,
health care affordable food and the basic necessities of life
everyday is buy nothing day. Adbusters promotes buy nothing day in
order to take the focus off of consumerism. The movement neglects
to consider that widespread poverty makes the concept irrelevant
since an ordinary person who isn't middle class and who is 'just
getting by' cannot afford to own anything. Despite the absurdity of
buy nothing day and the positive power of markets to make a
difference in everyday lives "buy nothing day" has continued.
See also
References
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