Consumerism Protests

Buy Nothing Day supporters participate in a variety of ways, the most popular being to buy nothing. Some people cut up their credit cards. More outspoken individuals go to shopping malls and hand out posters that advertise help for people who want to put an end to mounting debt and exorbitant interest rates.

At facebook, the official Buy Nothing Day event created by Adbusters states, “As climate change grows more North Americans in particular are being urged to think about their excessive consumption habits. For one day, let’s stop turning a blind eye and stare this problem dead in the face.”

A majority of Canadians believe that consumerism and the push for economic growth are major factors responsible for climate change according a recently released survey conducted by Environics Research. On November 18, 2010, the CBC reported that Environics Research conducted a study for eight advocacy organizations and unions, and they discovered that 80 percent of those questioned feel the climate is being negatively influenced by economic and social priorities.

Lisa Greaves is the owner of Octopus Books in Ottawa, Canada and she agrees that some things are more important than making a sale. To celebrate Buy Nothing Day on November 26, Greaves will participate by keeping her store closed for the day and she hopes that it will help raise people’s awareness about their consumer habits. In the Metro News, she was quoted, “I think Buy Nothing Day is a really interesting concept and important to think about.” Greaves has marked Buy Nothing Day every year for the last ten years. She also stated, “Think about how hard we have to work to earn money to buy things. Think about how it affects the environment.”

Buy Nothing with Help from The Story of Stuff
The Story of Stuff was created by Annie Leonard. This online video has had over 12 million views and has become one of the most widely viewed environmental-themed short films of all time. This twenty minute film amplifies public discourse on a series of environmental, social and economic concerns that will help people better understand the urgency for reducing consumerism.

Source: _http://www.suite101.com/content/black--friday-vs-buy-nothing-day-a313695