International Buy Nothing Day Protests

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 12:39 PM

I confess, I succumbed to the need to do something about the mess that is my office. I bought some brackets and boards and put up a nice-sized set of shelves and put lots of books up (there used to be two small book cases actually standing on the back of my desk against the wall--it worked for books but truncated my work space). Now I have more books out (it's a pleasure to see so many old friends up there!) and more work space.

We have several sewing projects left over from last year that will be hopefully finished this year over the holidays. We made some necessary and discretionary purchases during the year that they knew in advance would count toward "early christmas" gifts (a mother/daughter trip last summer that was worth every penny) and a computer for the kids (they contributed a large chunk of change toward that purchase by putting stuff in a garage sale, and the proceeds went to the purchase).

They know it won't be a christmas with tons of stuff, but heck, my daughter still has a bag of things on the floor in her room from LAST year that she still hasn't done anything with. Why waste money on gifts that never get used and are barely acknowledged? Some of this came from distant relatives who had to guess at what she might like, others just haven't been needed yet. But this year we're going to use more money on the things we do together (meals, movies, museums) and less on the stuff under the tree.

SRS

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 12:08 PM

Well, this time last year there had been a great start to holiday shopping on Thanksgiving weekend, and it turned out to be the worst retail season in years. So caveat emptor, eh?

Managed to avoid buying anything on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. But we will be buying groceries and gas this week, like we always do. But no Christmas shopping. We always give food gifts, so the only stores to see our business in this season is the grocery store and our local food coop. We buy tins for giving the food from our local Goodwill store, which always has a ton of them out this time of year. So again, we aren't supporting the big conspicuous consumption retail industry, nor are we supporting the fundamentalist Christians who try and shove their religion down the world's throat every year round about this time, by equating capitalism with godliness.

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 08:16 PM

Not sure how the name Black Friday fits. Golden Friday is a much more accurate description. Just heard on the radio that Walmart set a one day record for retail sales this day-after-Thanksgiving. 1 1/2 Billion dollars. That is Billion with a "B".

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 07:23 PM

Such a protest is a worthwhile statement. If people in general bought mainly what they actually need....and then spent moderately on other things that make them happy...things would improve considerably. As it is, people buy all kinds of stuff that they don't need, and which doesn't make them very happy for very long, and their behaviour is indicative of a serious psychological illness, pandered to by incessant advertising.

I found the average person in Cuba, where there is no advertising and much less stuff to buy, to be far healthier and happier (and more mature) psychologically, and far more relaxed than the average North American is. And far more independent and self-sufficient too. Their lack of commercial advertising is a blessing. It does not stop them from thoroughly enjoying life and looking good while they do it.

I stopped watching TV 15 or more years ago, because I was fed up with the advertising and didn't want to pay to have my time completely wasted.

- LH

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: Peg
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 07:10 PM

I find the ridiculous amounts of money spent at this time of year to be disgusting. Lots of spoiled children ripping open hundreds of dollars, or thousands even, worthof stuff only to be upset they did   not get some specific trinket, or they grow bored with it all in a matter of days...I saw on the news, some people actualy getting into physical confrontations (shoving etc.) because they did not get the last toy or DVD player on the sale shelf...one couple near Albany were arrested when their five-year old called police aftre being left home alone by them, as they both went shopping on Black Friday...

Gifts should be special because they have been chosen or made with love and thoughtfulness, not because they're trendy or expensive. When you shower people with gifts, they come to expect more and more. My sister's kid (8 years old) gets everything he wants and never says thank you and acts entitled to having his own way 24-7. He's the only "child" at family gatherings now so of course everyone indulges the little sh*t.

I have done the handmade gift thing more than once...I think I shall do it again this year with some lovely decorated Christmas cookies. Mind you, they aren't cheap to make! But they tend to be warmly appreciated because many people do not have time or inclination to bake at the holidays...

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 04:02 PM

As someone who is "unemployed" let me say that almost every day is now "Buy Nothing Day"

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: open mike
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 02:07 PM

if this is what it takes to discourage people
from participating in the lemming mad rush to
buy buy buy consume consume consume...well, then
good. If people could MAKE presents to share on
christmas that would mean so much more than just
shelling out dough for mass produced plastic wrapped
objects...I hope this movement helps some folks
to make that shift...

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 01:03 PM

Actually, there has been a shift. I think it was the News Hour I was listening to last night where they were saying that the day after Thanksgiving now amounts to 10% of the sales, that the week prior to christmas itself now takes in 25% of the gross for holiday shopping.

I had to buy a bag of ice on my way to a friend's house for our traditional day-after-Thanksgiving-Thanksgiving dinner. If I'd known about this spending boycott I'd have used my own icemaker and a few ice trays to generate enough to take over. Oh, well. . . maybe I can avoid doing any shopping today instead. Just like we shift Thanksgiving, we can shift that observance as well. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 10:55 AM

Well, quite a few people miss the point of the protest, which is to make us all more aware of our own conspicuous consumption on "the biggest shopping day of the year" in the US retail industry.

And how and which products we consume that are produced in sweatshops, so we can "get a deal" on our Christmas giving...

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 09:56 AM

Although I never *realised* I was participating until now, I have indeed been doing my part lo, these many years. In addition to the fact that it is unspeakably nauseating & obnoxious to be expected by the Economic Powers That Be to jump directly into the Ersatz Joys of the Holiday Season ere the turkey is even properly put away, who *wants* to go to the mall after cooking for, feeding & cleaning up after 2 dozen people???

Here in New England, Mother Nature was kind enough to send us a faulously wet, misty, windy, blustery day, so *I* duly stayed in my pajamas!

Hohoho,

D.

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 09:30 AM

It seems that people can't quite get their heads around what a world would be like without 24/7 exploitative capitalism, because they perceive it as threatening their very survival.

I'm guessing Bee-dubya-ell might have been able to make those purchases on Wednesday, knowing that winter is an inevitability, no?

RangerSteve, I highly doubt that the people who put the Adbusters poster next to their cash register were supporters of the day. My guess is, it was a cynical response to it.

It never ceases to amaze me how virulent the attack is on ANYONE or ANY IDEAS that challenge the complacent status quo of exploitative capitalism, especially by people who otherwise view themselves as progressive. And that everyone is so cowed and intimidated by those plutocrats ruling the country, that they live with their blinders on 24/7, and refuse to take the time to think and dream about what alternative economies might look and feel like.

That is a pretty savage hopelessness. And those in power count on on everyone maintaining that grim view of the future.

Whatever happened to our visions for our children's children? We can't afford it maybe, because we're too busy working to give ourselves what we want and need to make our lives a bit easier and more comfortable, with no thought for what that means for our grandchildren?

So, since this idea is so bad, I suppose the best response to it is to shout it down, consume away, shop til you drop, take care of you and yours, screw the rest, you've got troubles of your own?

It'll never work, so go back to the somnabulist state, vote every couple of years, and I'm sure everything will be JUST FINE.

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: RangerSteve
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 06:40 AM

I first heard of this yesterday. I was in a store in Vermont. There was a poster for Adbusters right next to the cash register. They gladly took my money. Pardon me while I don't take this too seriously.

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 02:32 PM

As much as I despise rampant comsumerism, I had to go buy a new axe handle today so I can chop some firewood so I don't freeze my ass off! I also bought some antifreeze so the engines in our ten-year-old cars won't self-destruct. I am truly sorry if my need for an above-freezing environment and transportation that actually moves conflicts with someone else's ideals. I would have waited until tomorrow, but it wouldn't have done much good because I would have cracked engine blocks and acute hypothermia.

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 10:27 AM

Interesting that you can't even donate to this cause today--they mean it when the say "buy nothing" today--not even a donation to them! Good ads. I was impressed by one tv and print ad many years ago about the dangers of feeding overfed bureaucrats. I wonder if it's related?

SRS

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: mack/misophist
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 09:44 AM

Dear Mr Hammond,

Do you remember where the word 'boycott' comes from? All things start small. Some grow, some don't.

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 02:53 PM

Ya well, whatever... you care more than I do... wanna cookie for it or something?

Like it matters in the grand scheme of things...

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 02:23 PM

Your sadly predictable scorn isn't a particularly valid means of critique though Clinton. It makes it easy to dismiss your opinion, because you are so blindly reactionary, that you rarely can express your opinion without shoving your foot in your mouth first.

I'm not surpirsed you oppose the international anti-capitalist movement. Just bemused by your inability to form a cogent and coherent argument as to why you oppose it. Could it be because you can't dream or imagine life in a post-capitalist society? We will get there you know, despite the clods who keep trying to drag us back to a romanticized medieval feudal state in capitalist authoritarian clothes.

All economic, political, and social systems die, change, and are transformed Clinton. We are living in an era when those systems are changing rapidly, albeit at different paces in different parts of the world. What we will look like on the other side of these transformations is anyone's guess, but at least I know which side I'm on, and it isn't the conservative traditionalists.

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 02:11 PM

Sounds like a pretty wanker thing to do...

"anti-consumerist action"

Oh please... get a life... your hobby is laughable...

Subject: RE: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 01:35 PM

Oops! This should have been in the BS section. Also, here is the link to the webpage with the full feature article:

http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=366532&group=webcast

And a link to Adbusters 'Buy Nothing Day' website:

http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd/

Subject: International Buy Nothing Day Protests
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 01:28 PM

Our family has participated in this for the past 5 years. Anyone else here ever participated in it?

From IndyMedia.org:

International Buy Nothing Day To Be Celebrated In 55 Countries

In observance of what may very well be the most important holiday of the year for the anti-capitalist movement, people in at least 55 countries will celebrate "International Buy Nothing Day" this weekend. Begun in 1993 by the founders of Adbusters, the concept has taken root in diverse communities and manifested in multiple ways in cities throughout the world. In Europe, International Buy Nothing Day (BND) is celebrated the last Saturday in November (the 29th) while in the United States and Canada the event has coincided with the day after Thanksgiving. The latter date was chosen in response to the fact that the last Friday of November has become, due to intentional marketing strategies, the "biggest shopping day of the year" in the United States. BND was conceived as a protest against the religion of consumerism, and the multiple ways in which the imperative to shop is implicated in systematic violence throughout the world. In its positive aspects, BND is a celebration of life, community and local autonomy.

Meanwhile, a group of "anarcho-situationists" from Montreal have decried Buy Nothing Day as a "misplaced...notion of consumer empowerment." Seeking to raise the bar on anti-consumerist action, they have called for Steal Something Day, to be held Friday, Saturday and everyday.