Buy Nothing Day 2004 - 11/26/04 - Plans?

[Buttsex Avocado]

Just curious if others have plans for Buy Nothing Day, 2004. Here in Portland we're busy organzing something, not sure exactly what yet, but we've got a board up and are discussing final details.

Anyone else doing anything cool?

Here's a place for info on the day: http://www.adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/

Also, I just love the idea of the Whirl-Mart Ritual Resistence

http://www.thevacuumcleaner.co.uk/whirlvid.html

:twisted:

[Sandwichman]

Damn you Buttsex Avocado invading your Portland crap on this board!





Where do I sign up.

Jason

[helitack]

OK, so if nobody buys anything from me on the 26th, I dont make my daily commission, are you going to feed my kids? Just a comment, I dont sel things for a living and I dont have kids, but reality does bite, doesn't it?

[samtzu]

Rob? Rob? Is this you? You clean up real nice...

[sputnik]

At first I thought BND was a cool idea, but all it really does is postpone the inevitable. You must buy things in order to survive. BND does not change this fact. What needs to happen is a change in buying habits. A true reduce, reuse and recycle spirit must invade the daily lives of everyone.

Something else to think about. If the goal of the movement is to reduce the profits of large corporations, then you should buy something. You should go to their early morning sales and buy up every one of their loss leaders and nothing else. Get those DVD players for $25 and then leave the store. They are counting on you hanging around and picking up a bunch of other things to make their sales day.

[sputnik]

If you really want this to be a true BND, then start at home.

At midnight turn off all utility service to your home. Arrange to have cable TV, telephone and newspapers stopped for the day. Do not drive your car. Only walking and biking are allowed. Only drink rain water, or some other naturally obtained water. Eat only home grown produce. Good luck in getting your landlord or mortgage company to allow you not to pay for this day. Same goes for insurance and any other monthly recurring payments.

It's much harder than it appears.

[Buttsex Avocado]

Off the top of my head. If people choose, on the biggest shopping day of the year, to focus on something else, it's a good thing. And perhaps it puts off more than the inevitable, if there is education of the people who don't shop. Perhaps your famliy will get to be together, not shopping.

anyway, more on this at Adbusters. Got to turn this sucker off. and go drink some rainwater.

[Rob the Wop]

Make toys.

2Gyrls.

Santa presents.

Portland.

[Simply Joel]

OK, so if nobody buys anything from me on the 26th, I dont make my daily commission, are you going to feed my kids? Just a comment, I dont sel things for a living and I dont have kids, but reality does bite, doesn't it?

a day standing in the pooring rain beats a day laying flat in a dry pine box.

on subject, i think a well-planned in advance set of days where no "consumer discretion" buying occurs... that is to say, yes you pay your utilities, mortgage, even auto payment... yet you don't go out to dinner, the grocery store, you simply don't spend money unless absolutely required... then the next day return to your regular habits... of course, over time, it may become a habit to spend less discretionary money.

now, if say one day per month was identified, the same date every month for 12 months, and more and more people participated... you may, i repeat MAY have an impact... evolving into a movement.

of course, it may not. i do know getting a notice a couple of days before doesn't allow me sufficient planning time. but, hey that is just me.

[gigglesnort]

Personally, most days of my life are no buying days, except for the essentials (food, shelter, water). There is virtue in being dirt poor!

[samtzu]

Personally, most days of my life are no buying days, except for the essentials (food, shelter, water). There is virtue in being dirt poor!

Yup...

[tonytohono]

You have to be crazy going out shopping on that day to begin with. No one needs to tell me not to buy on the day... But that has nothing to do with protest. It has to do with avoiding the traffic, the lines, the zoo..

That is just common sense.

[gigglesnort]

Trash day here today, and me can is not even one-third full (and that's with three kids).

[AntiM]

I'm posting some of my excess stuff on the local FreeCycle site.

I have tons of excess baggage ...

[theCryptofishist]

No plans, but I am a supporter and have been for some years.
I have come to hate those news stories that tell us the state of the economy based on the sales at those big chains on the day after Turkey day, and even more those bizarre undertones of "If you're a good American you'll buy more, on credit, and help your Country's economy." Especially when you get to the fact that a lot of the stuff we're talking about is useless junk.
Does anyone remember Willie Brown's "Open for Business" responce to the 9/11 bombings? Embarissing.
Rob's right--make something.
I believe that we are always better off making a more meaningfull life. Spending the day in a thoughtful way, whether or not you do something formally commerating Buy Nothing Day will, IMHO, leave you richer on multiple levels.
Oh, and pick up the occasional copy of Adbuster's Magazine.
Now that I think of it, I probably will spend money; I'm working so there's a good chance for my morning Latte and my lunch. I rarely pack.

[Simply Joel]

i must endorse the "make something" campaign.

there is a lot of benefit (internal & external) in giving something you actually spent time making.

now, all i need are an electric and reduction kilns

[samtzu]

I'm making leather stuff this year... simple leather stuff. If I could afford a good, used, leather sewing machine, I'd be making more complicated stuff.

[theCryptofishist]

i must endorse the "make something" campaign.

there is a lot of benefit (internal & external) in giving something you actually spent time making.

now, all i need are an electric and reduction kilns

Ever thought of making your own kiln? (Not that I"m going that way glasswise.)

[Simply Joel]

i must endorse the "make something" campaign.

there is a lot of benefit (internal & external) in giving something you actually spent time making.

now, all i need are an electric and reduction kilns

Ever thought of making your own kiln? (Not that I"m going that way glasswise.)

for the reduction kiln, yes, but you still have to buy the brick...

i have a welder friend to make the frame... and burners, just less cash than what is required.

give me 12 months, the studio will be functional.

[phoenix13]

Let's see... for Buy Nothing day I plan on celebrating my birthday.

Well, that's namely because my birthday is 26.November. :wink:

[theCryptofishist]

i must endorse the "make something" campaign.

there is a lot of benefit (internal & external) in giving something you actually spent time making.

now, all i need are an electric and reduction kilns

Ever thought of making your own kiln? (Not that I"m going that way glasswise.)

for the reduction kiln, yes, but you still have to buy the brick...

i have a welder friend to make the frame... and burners, just less cash than what is required.

give me 12 months, the studio will be functional.

Sweet. I have a friend who has sold pottery on Telegraph avenue in Berkeley for close to 30 years now.

[MoisturePup]

I cannot believe this. PBS is showing a special on Thanksgiving is our day for giving thanks for all we've got, and "for making plans on how to get more." He's referring to shopping.

BAH.

F-christmas. F-thanksgiving. F-this shit.

[theCryptofishist]

I cannot believe this. PBS is showing a special on Thanksgiving is our day for giving thanks for all we've got, and "for making plans on how to get more." He's referring to shopping.

BAH.

F-christmas. F-thanksgiving. F-this shit.

Dang, shopping. Can't we steal more from the Indians?

[phoenix13]

I cannot believe this. PBS is showing a special on Thanksgiving is our day for giving thanks for all we've got, and "for making plans on how to get more." He's referring to shopping.

BAH.

F-christmas. F-thanksgiving. F-this shit.

Dang, shopping. Can't we steal more from the Indians?

*laughs*

I don't think there is much more that could be stolen from the indians. I guess we could steal their casinos...

But that's just sick. There are certain reasons that I have come to detest the holidays. And the biggest reason of all is because it's all about getting more. That and the false sincerity because it's the only time of year that people think they should be nice to each other.

But I digress.

Well, I guess there's a reason why they say, "'Tis the season." :wink:

[theCryptofishist]

I cannot believe this. PBS is showing a special on Thanksgiving is our day for giving thanks for all we've got, and "for making plans on how to get more." He's referring to shopping.

BAH.

F-christmas. F-thanksgiving. F-this shit.

Dang, shopping. Can't we steal more from the Indians?

*laughs*

I don't think there is much more that could be stolen from the indians. I guess we could steal their casinos...

Well, our governator would make special deals so they could build more. Yeah, I voted for casinos a few years back. I'm sorry it turned out the way it did.

[samtzu]

I cannot believe this. PBS is showing a special on Thanksgiving is our day for giving thanks for all we've got, and "for making plans on how to get more." He's referring to shopping.

BAH.

F-christmas. F-thanksgiving. F-this shit.

Dang, shopping. Can't we steal more from the Indians?

*laughs*

I don't think there is much more that could be stolen from the indians. I guess we could steal their casinos...

But that's just sick. There are certain reasons that I have come to detest the holidays. And the biggest reason of all is because it's all about getting more. That and the false sincerity because it's the only time of year that people think they should be nice to each other.

But I digress.

Well, I guess there's a reason why they say, "'Tis the season."

I agree... the holidays have been hijacked by the greedy: it's up to the people who care about other people to steal them back. SantaCon is a great way to do it... and so is just ignoring all the commercial bullshit and doing what you know is right towards those you care about... and anyone else who happens to cross your path. It takes a revolution of thinking not to get sucked into other people's paradigms...

[tonytohono]

I am Northern California Indian and I can tell you that the entire casino thing is totally fucked up. Everyone is jousting for position and trying to keep other people (who are directly relatives) from being added to the tribal role. And our tribe is relatively sane.

There are others up north that are splitting and digging up ancestors to do DNA testing accusing mothers of having slept around 80 years ago.

Pretty screwy that's for sure.

Anyway, I agree about the holidays. It's just a commercial enterprise now. They're even doing it to Halloween now. Hey, we can make money on that, LET'S DO IT!!!

[Buttsex Avocado]

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2004 18:03:26 -0800
From: Jam Admin <[email protected]>
Subject: [Portland] ADBUSTERS: BND 3 days away
To: [email protected]
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Jammers,

In just 3 days, millions of people around the world will take the
pledge to opt out of consumer culture. For 24 hours: "We pause. We
make a small choice not to shop. We shrink our footprint and gain some
calm. We say to McDonald's, Nike, Walmart, Exxon and the rest: enough
is enough. We build a movement to rethink our unsustainable course."

More than 3,500 jammers have joined JammerGroups in over 100 cities
worldwide -- from Toronto (130 jammers) to London (128 jammers) to
Melbourne (60 jammers). It's not too late to invite more friends to
join your city, just visit:
<http://www.adbusters.org/jammergroups/recommend/>

In Vancouver, we're holding a shopaholics anonymous. In New York,
we're singing the 10 commandments of the Church of Stop Shopping. In
Los Angeles, we're broadcasting spoof ads and BND info over low-power
FM radio. In Portland, we're hoping to shut down the city's largest
mall.

What's happening in your city? We would love to hear your plans:
<[email protected]>
On BND, remember to bring a camera to capture the action. Highlights
from around the world will go up on the site:
<http://adbusters.org>

In the next few days, let's work to spread the Buy Nothing Day message.
BND posters are available to download. A printer, some tape and a few
friends is all you need: <http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/>.

Only 3 days to go.

Happy jamming,

Tim, Hilary and Paul

[phoenix13]

I agree... the holidays have been hijacked by the greedy: it's up to the people who care about other people to steal them back. SantaCon is a great way to do it... and so is just ignoring all the commercial bullshit and doing what you know is right towards those you care about... and anyone else who happens to cross your path. It takes a revolution of thinking not to get sucked into other people's paradigms...

And revolution always starts out small. I hope that it's thee small steps that will bring more to light.

And to the Cryptofishist:
I voted for them as well. I know that a lot of fucked up things have happened in relation to Native American casinos. I don't understand why resist it. Reservations are sovereign territory. They are not governed under state or national law; or so my understanding goes. I don't quite understand how the state has a right to legislate reservation rights...

But perhaps that's my misunderstanding.

[Sandwichman]

"Portland shutdown of the largest mall"


I have not heard anything about this in the alternative press I wonder what the scoop is.

Jason