Behind the current financial crisis, a much more ominous crisis looms: we are running out of nature… fish, forests, fresh water, minerals, soil. What are we going to do when supplies of these vital resources run low?
There’s only one way to avoid the collapse of this human experiment of ours on Planet Earth: we have to consume less.
It will take a massive mind shift. You can start the ball rolling by buying nothing on November 28th. Then celebrate Christmas differently this year, and make a New Year’s resolution to change your lifestyle in 2009.
Adbusters produced a video a few years ago that they have been trying to air on major television networks. MTV, for example, stated that the ad "goes further than we are willing to accept on our channels". Take a minute to watch their short TV ad below:
Buy Nothing Day was created by Adbusters, a global network of people who are working to change the way meaning is produced in our society. For more information visit adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd
I don't think adbusters was confused. I think making Buy Nothing Day on black friday was their point.
ReplyDeleteOn a day where everyone rushes out to spend money they're telling you to stay home, its the consumerist mentality that makes people spend money on things they don't need because it's on sale and they're trying to make people realize they don't have to buy something you normally wouldn't have because you can get it cheaper.
It's like they're telling you not to buy anything on boxing day.
I'm a media student and we we're just learning about Buy Nothing Day and culture jamming and I think it's a great idea. People need to realize that the reason so many people are in debt is because their spending all their money on material things to make themselves feel good. Here's an idea, take a cue from adbusters and save your money so you can pay off your credit cards!
Overthrow the system!
ReplyDeleteOnce we stop bowing to the demands and pressures of the corporate agenda, we will be free! The last step to true socialism is capitalism, and once everyone realizes the system is flawed, we can break free!
So stop spending money propping up these regimes: support your local farmer when you buy food, and buy from co-operatives and collectives when you need material goods! When we finally stop to think, and overcome the need to have more and more, we won't have to worry about bailouts or rescuing companies on the brink of destruction.
Stepping beyond just not buying things for a day, we need to seriously think about the state of the economy and how things are not set up to benefit the worker. Immediate changes will not solve anything, but will destroy our economy; however, by calling for gradual changes to socialism, we will build a stable economy where it can only be as strong as the contributors themselves.
Thank you, that is all. This is the view of a political science student studying Marxism.
I honestly don't feel like getting into this argument anymore, because I'm sick of all the neo-cons on TV praising bailouts and stimulus packages.
If you read global headlines, you'll see a more severe problem.. and saving your $ by not shopping for a day will have no affect on the global picture.. instead it'll reduce consumer debt, which had drastically built up over the past decade..
ReplyDeleteCanadian stats are tiny compared to number of people affected elsewhere.. Within China, 10,000+ factories have shutdown within past month.. 2-3 million jobs already lost.. another 2-3 million jobs to be lost between now and christmas. Most of these people received only ~$200 per month, but that money brought food to their tables.. In 2009, China expects 6 million university graduates to enter the workforce.. and likelihood of their employment is grim.
Consumer purchases will have a very small affect on this situation.. it is mostly influenced by debt, loan defaults, high risk investments, and corporate mismanagement.