Happy Christmas Birmingham
A Santa Parade, exorting people to "Buy More, Be Happy" and "Work!
Spend! Don't think!" took to the streets today (29th Nov 2003) in
Birmingham to celebrate "Buy Nothing Day".
Visiting the new "Bullring" shopping centre, and the packed
pedestrianised shopping streets of Brum, the parade got an excellent
response from the public. "Buy Nothing Day, that's a good idea" and
"Well done Santa!" were just two of the positive comments we received
from passers by.
Seven Santa's held placards, including "Money CAN buy you love" and
"If it's Branded, then it must be good". Parodies of commercial
slogans included: "Just Buy it" and "What do you want to buy today?"
Sports engaged in included: Santa's queueing for the bus; surrounding
shoppers in a circle of Santa's; a Santa Conga; dancing to a busking
steel band; standing under the "Happy Christmas Birmingham" lights. We
also posed for photos with lots of tourists!
The one downside? People were so interested that our 300 leaflets were
taken in about 15 minutes. A mid-stunt reprint of 200 more only lasted
10 minutes!
Certainly one to repeat.
Spend! Don't think!" took to the streets today (29th Nov 2003) in
Birmingham to celebrate "Buy Nothing Day".
Visiting the new "Bullring" shopping centre, and the packed
pedestrianised shopping streets of Brum, the parade got an excellent
response from the public. "Buy Nothing Day, that's a good idea" and
"Well done Santa!" were just two of the positive comments we received
from passers by.
Seven Santa's held placards, including "Money CAN buy you love" and
"If it's Branded, then it must be good". Parodies of commercial
slogans included: "Just Buy it" and "What do you want to buy today?"
Sports engaged in included: Santa's queueing for the bus; surrounding
shoppers in a circle of Santa's; a Santa Conga; dancing to a busking
steel band; standing under the "Happy Christmas Birmingham" lights. We
also posed for photos with lots of tourists!
The one downside? People were so interested that our 300 leaflets were
taken in about 15 minutes. A mid-stunt reprint of 200 more only lasted
10 minutes!
Certainly one to repeat.
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
.......
30.11.2003 23:32
are you local to brum or just down for the day
can anybody get involved?
iris
More photos
30.11.2003 23:44
Setting off
Santa close up
Queing for the bus
Queing for the bus (2)
Outside Bullring
Outside Bullring (2)
Parade outside Beaties dept store
Bullring (3)
Bullring Parade
Bullring with shoppers
Here's some more photos...
Buy Nothing Crew, Birmingham
Who are we - reply to Iris
08.12.2003 14:49
The group was mostly Birmingham FOE (but others, friends of ours, as well, who do other stuff in Birmingham). You can contact us on
Karen
e-mail:
info@birminghamfoe.co.uk
Homepage:
http://www.birminghamfoe.org.uk
Don't BRAND Buy Nothing Day!
18.12.2003 10:53
Didn't it register that Buy Nothing Day is about reacting against branding and consumerism, so you lot decide to brand it with your FoE coats and FoE on Banners that read, 'If it's branded it must be good'.
Perhaps the SWP might be interested in joining in next year and you can compete with the branding?
Have a merry FoE Xmas ;0)
Non Branded Activism
BND Brum
01.11.2004 17:41
Yeah - our bad, bit of a mixup on placard production. Unbranded next year...
BND Brum