The first Buy Nothing Day was organized in Mexico in September 1992 “as a day for society to examine the issue of over-consumption.” 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. Participation now includes more than 65 nations.
Buy Nothing Day San Diego! Click for larger image.
From AdBsuters
You’ve been sleeping on the streets for two months pleading peacefully for a new spirit in economics. And just as your camps are raided, your eyes pepper sprayed and your head’s knocked in, another group of people are preparing to camp-out. Only these people aren’t here to support occupy Wall Street, they’re here to secure their spot in line for a Black Friday bargain at Super Target and Macy’s.
Occupy gave the world a new way of thinking about the fat cats and financial pirates on Wall Street. Now lets give them a new way of thinking about the holidays, about our own consumption habits. Lets’ use the coming 2oth annual Buy Nothing Day to launch an all-out offensive to unseat the corporate kings on the holiday throne.
This year’s Black Friday will be the first campaign of the holiday season where we set the tone for a new type of holiday culminating with #OCCUPYXMAS. As the global protests of the 99% against corporate greed and casino capitalism continues, lets take the opportunity to hit the empire where it really hurts…the wallet.
On Nov 25/26th we escape the mayhem and unease of the biggest shopping day in North America and put the breaks on rabid consumerism for 24 hours. Flash mobs, consumer fasts, mall sit-ins, community events, credit card-ups, whirly-marts and jams, jams, jams! We don’t camp on the sidewalk for a reduced price tag on a flat screen TV or psycho-killer video game. Instead, we occupy the very paradigm that is fueling our eco, social and political decline.
Historically, Buy Nothing Day has been about fasting from hyper consumerism – a break from the cash register and reflecting on how dependent we really are on conspicuous consumption. On this 2oth anniversary of Buy Nothing Day, we take it to the next level, marrying it with the message of occupy…
We #OCCUPYXMAS.
Shenanigans begin November 25!
For information about San Diego actions see the flier above.
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Or maybe go to the swap meet and buy a used item that would make a nice gift.
I’ve been thinking about an another alternative…Occupy Barter Street. A flash market where people come together to barter for Xmas presents…no cash transactions. Maybe this could be tested on one of the weekends in December. I’m not sure about the legal details. Is there freedom to barter in this city? Can prepared food be bartered without a permit? For example a fresh-cooked burger traded for a sheater cap. If you barter a homemade craft item, is the crafter still on the hook for sales tax?
Of course, the first casualty won’t be the corporate titans, but rather the employees who are amongst the “99%” when they’re laid off. Kind of masochistic isn’t it?
What an amazing community you are! A great pleasure to find you here on my computer this morning – a lovely sunny morning in Brooklyn NY.
Our Buy Nothing Day activities have been energetic. https://picasaweb.google.com/113316147515043232398/20111125NewYorkOCCUPYWALLSTREET#slideshow/5679112752601914626
Zuccotti Sq is still energized but a little empty compared to before last Tuesday. But on through the winter!
Revolujah! —-Rev Billy
Welcome to the OB Rag, Reverend Billy.