Action Briefing Feb 2005 - Mar 2005
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

Santa Parade brings Buy Nothing Day to Brum

A parade of placard-wielding ‘Father Christmases’ was seen wending its merry way through the centre of Birmingham on Saturday 27th November 2004 in celebration of International Buy Nothing Day. The Santas’ message: "switch off from shopping and tune into life (Ho Ho Ho)".

Cunningly disguised Birmingham Friends of the Earth campaigners marked Buy Nothing Day 2004 with their third annual Santa Parade to remind shoppers that Christmas does not have to be about over-consumption, stress and debt.

Celebrated as a holiday by some and a street party by others, anyone can take part in Buy Nothing Day provided they spend a day without spending. The message is simple: shop less - live more! The challenge is to try simple living for a day, spend time with family and friends, rather than spend money on them.

The first Buy Nothing Day was organised in Vancouver in September 1992 by artist Ted Dave as a day for the society to examine the issue of over-consumption. In 1997 it was moved close to the American Thanksgiving holiday, the busiest shopping pre-Christmas weekend in the US. Soon, campaigns started appearing in US, UK, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Norway.

In 2003 Buy Nothing Day was celebrated in more than thirty countries all over the world. UK events included an 'anti-fashion' show in Brighton, a credit card cutting service in Bristol, and flocks of consumer-sheep in London. Previous stunts have included a 'Zen Santa' meditating in one of Japan’s busiest shopping streets, 'shopping free zones' in Birmingham, and cans of happiness on sale in Manchester.

Over-consumption
Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental consequences of over-consumption. The developed countries such as Western Europe and the USA, only 20 per cent of the world population, are consuming over 80 per cent of the Earth’s natural resources, creating a vastly unjust distribution of wealth as well as immense environmental damage. Deciding to buy nothing for a day starts you asking the right questions: do I really need this or that, and why? Who made it, and what effect did its making have, and on who?

Buy Nothing Day helps people think before they shop: who hasn’t been to the New Bull Ring yet? And who hasn’t bought something they didn’t really need? Modern marketing techniques influence our behaviour so subtly that we don’t even notice that we’re buying things we don’t need in order to keep up with the people in the adverts!

Buy Nothing Day should make companies and big businesses realise that the big political power still lies with consumers. We can react against the prices, quality and variety of goods we are offered.

Debt Trap
Every year we’re encouraged to buy more, spend more and pay later. UK Personal Debt is now over one trillion pounds (£1000,000,000,000). One trillion pounds in £5 notes would cover the whole of Leicestershire!

Consumer culture is a debt trap and we don’t have to fall for it. We should think ethical when we shop: don’t support companies that exploit people and damage the environment. Try, where possible, to buy seasonal and locally produced goods (to reduce pollution from transport), and for imported products like coffee, choose Fairtrade.

Buy Nothing Day isn't about changing your lifestyle for just one day; it's meant to be a lasting relationship, maybe a life changing experience! Buy Nothing Day should stick in people's minds so they think about the future and the implications of the throw-away culture that surrounds them. It's a case of 'buy nothing for a day, buy better everyday'. It's good for the environment, good for the developing world and good for you.

For more info visit the Buy Nothing Day website www.buynothingday.co.uk. Pictures from the 2003 Santa Parade can be found at www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/11/282245.html and full resolution copies are available on request.

Andy Pryke