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Buy Nothing Day

imc mcr | 06.12.2004 18:06 | Culture

Saturday the 27th November was buy nothing day, and to celebrate, a bunch of people from the Manchester based "do summat collective" got together to encourage people to think about consumerism. They made and distributes a zine and also gave tips on how to get stuff for free in manchester. A free shop was set up - with food and plenty of cakes, as well as free clothes and toys

The folks involved said they were surprised at how well it went. Families, old couples, kids and youths all came and had some cake, or took some clothes and a flyer or zine.... and within just one and a half hours everything, including the actual clothes rail, had gone.

There was some more fun and frolicks as people played anti-consumer games in a number of shops - from hide and seek in selfridges - to stuck in the mud in diesel.... Reclaiming consumer space and having some fun.

Report|BuyNothing Christmas|Trade Free Zone Declared In Cambridge!

buy nothing day
buy nothing day


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imc mcr

Comments

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why change the day?

06.12.2004 21:01

why, when the rest of the world had Buy Nothing Day on the 26th, did the UK change it to the 27th - the same day as the anarchist bookfair and ethical fair trade fair in london? smells like corporate sabotage...

consumer


Southampton BND

13.12.2004 11:11

Just to add to this, a similar event took place in Southampton, with local activists handing out a satirical zine, with a peculiar take on consumerist culture. Passers-by were by turns bemused, confused and happy to witness the Buy Nothing day intervention. The event took place on Above Bar street in the midst of the height of pre-christmas shopping frenzy. Thanks to all who took part.

doopa


It's buy nothing day, stop buying start dancing

09.01.2005 07:56

The Manchester radical samba band celebrated Buy Nothing Day by marching in shops (Selffridges, the triangle and the ardale) drumming and dancing. the band transformed the shops in a carnival buzz asking consumers to stop buying and start dancing. The secutity guards carried a few sambistas out of the shops and threw some empty threats at them. However the young security guard at the triangle did confess that he enjoyed the music and thought buy nothing day was a good idea. Most people looked surprised with the event but the smiles and dancing in the shops soon took over their intitial shock.

Reclaim the streets, Reclaim the City, Reclaim our Lives.
Happy samba rhythms to all

x

sambista