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Buy Nothing Day

unconsumer | 15.11.2003 01:29 | Culture | Sheffield

Saturday November 29th is Buy Nothing Day and a good time for fun for anti-consumer action everywhere. Here are some of the ideas from a new UK site  http://www.buynothingday.co.uk.



SOME JAMMING IDEAS...
Taking part in BND is fun and engaging. Below are some of the most successful activities - if you want to add to the list CONTACT us...


SHOPPER FREE ZONE
Mark out a public area and fill it with people playing games, listening to music and chilling out on sofas or chairs (inflatable furniture is good). Hand out balloons with Buy Nothing Day written on them to the bemused onlookers

CONSUMER MONSTER!
Join the Consumer Monster Challenge - take to the streets with a video camera and your own  http://www.consumermonster.com activist puppet to spread consumer awareness. Learn how to make your own puppet on the site - Get stitching!

CHOO CHOO...
You'll need 13 (lucky), friends and 26 plain shopping bags (if possible all same colour). On each bag put 1 letter making up (BUY NOTHING DAY) line yourself one behind each other - spelling out 'Buy Nothing Day' on the left and right side of your line. Play follow the leader - snake around malls, shops and stand in ques etc.

TROLLEY PRIX
Self explained - borrow some shopping trolleys and get teams to decorate them in BND racing colours or banners. Map out a course and Race or time challenge? Alternatively get friends to climb into trolleys with BND banners and wheel them up and down shopping isles until you get asked to leave! Chant Slogans - 'Shop less Live More!' - 'Give Love - not money!' or 'Spend a day without spending!'

TEMPER TANTRUM!
Re-live those childhood tantrum moments - except this time you're all grown up and should know better. Sit on the floor in any shop with a friend and chuck a mental. Shout things like 'I don't want anything anymore!' or 'You've got more shopping than me - that's not fair you pig!', anything really - just be a BIG kid.

SWAP SHOP
Fairly simple idea. Set up a table and ask people to do swaps. Just for fun - leave a set of bugus Porsche keys and see if anyone notices?

BANNER DROP
Slightly more adventurous - you'll need a big sheet. Paint on a BND slogan like 'The more you consume the less you live!' and see if you can get it put up somewhere in your local shopping centre.

CONGA CONGA!
Top off BND with a classic conga. Chant, sing songs and get everyone to join in. It's a great way to end Buy Nothing Day!


More ideas and info:

 http://www.buynothingday.co.uk

 http://www.adbusters.org

 http://www.buynothingday.org (under construction at present)


See also:

 http://www.buynothingchristmas.org

unconsumer

Comments

Display the following 6 comments

  1. beyond this is your imagination... — beyond this is your imagination...
  2. Why just make it one day? — STOP NYC Inc.
  3. Misogyny — Pippa
  4. Misogyny — unconsumer
  5. I'm amazed at the use of this picture — Alice
  6. I'm amazed at the use of this picture — Alice