Happy Buy Nothing Day

In the retail world, the day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday. It is the busiest shopping day of the year, and many brave souls venture out on this day to shop until they drop and take advantage of the crazy sales. Consumerism at its best. 

Well, actually, it is consumerism at its worst even with someone getting trampled to death in order to consume consume consume and that is why there is also a movement that calls it 'Buy Nothing Day'. People all over the world, including a Reverend Billy I mentioned a few days ago, come together to protest Black Friday by buying nothing. The purpose of Buy Nothing Day is to:

Provide a moment of pause in the production-consumption routine ... Buy Nothing Day is a holiday, a street party to celebrate sustainable lifestyles, a break from the shop-till-you drop culture ... to stop and think about what and how much we buy effects the environment, our own well-being and people in developing countries.

Buy Nothing Day takes many forms. For some, they go all out and make sure to not purchase anything and go out in the streets and protest/encourage others to do the same. Others use it as an opportunity to bring to light the unfair practices of multi-national corporations that destroy the environment, violate human and animals rights, are involved in corruption and only have profits in mind. They do this by boycotting these stores and lend their support to small and local businesses. They support businesses that have good business practices that "recognize the social benefit of eco-businesses and Fair Trade". 

However, there has been talk that by buying nothing, it is having an negative effect on the already suffering economy. In response to that, Sarah Terkes of Buy Nothing Day put it best:

However, despite the title, I don’t see it as a “Forcing you to Buy Completely Nothing” day. I see it as a “Please Take Time Out from Buying Things You Don’t Need and THINK” day.

On this day, please think about all the things you have bought over the years that required resource-intensive manufacturing which will just end up in landfill one day. What a waste!

And If you do feel strongly adverse to the idea of buying nothing, then there is no need to boycott spending completely - and of course, nobody can stop you from doing this, anyway. Why not buy locally, from small businesses (preferably engaged in ethical practises)?

Basically - if you need or want to shop on this day, try to do it thoughtfully.

So, on this day, take a moment and think about your purchases. When shopping, shop responsibly. Buy local. Buy green. Buy consciously. Buy Fair Trade.