Buy Nothing Day: participate by not participating
By Nicole Unis
Lance Writer
November 26, 2008
 Friday, Nov. 28 is Buy Nothing Day. Buy Nothing Day is a simple concept. The day began as a protest against consumerism and globalization, and now, thanks to the Internet, it is an international event. It is a sort of detox from consumerism, a vacation from shopping. All that the event asks of people is that they spend one day without spending, to take a stand against global consumerism.
Buy Nothing Day is not encouraging consumers to stay away from local shops or eateries, but to question the products that we, the rich westerners, buy. It asks us to pay attention to what we consume, who produces it and how, and what harmful effects this may have on both developing countries and the environment. It also encourages consumers to shop and eat locally.
It is also a statement against the saturation of corporate shops and restaurants that dominate North American industry.
Buy Nothing Day is important environmentally. Let us not forget that a major mantra of the environmental movement is to consume less, but also to be conscious of the ways in which what we consume affects the environment.
Products that are produced in one place must be shipped all over the world and the means of production may be harmful to the environment, and packaging is not only wasteful but oftentimes toxic.
Buying nothing for a whole day may seem challenging. It is difficult, especially as a student, to imagine going through a day without at least purchasing some food. But if you get through it you may have a sense of lightness afterwards, like it was a detoxification process that rid you of some of your consumerist desires.
At the least it may teach you to be mindful of what and how you consume, and it may even encourage you to continue consuming less, even after Buy Nothing Day.
Visit www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd to learn more about Buy Nothing Day and how you can participate.
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