|
Press Release | Become a Golden Supporter |
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, 26th November 2004
Photo Opportunity: Saturday 27th November 2004, 12:30pm (other days, times and places can be arranged). A parade of Father Christmases in Birmingham city centre carrying placards bearing slogans including "Buy More - Be Happy" and "Money CAN Buy You Love".
See: www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/11/282245.html or google images for "birmingham santa bullring" to see photos from last year. Full resolution available on request.
Third Annual Santa Parade hits the streets
It's Buy Nothing Day in Brum!
This Saturday (27th November) is the world-wide Buy Nothing Day: a parade of ‘Father Christmases’ will help shoppers to celebrate, and show people that Christmas does not have to be about over-consumption, stress and debt. Santas will be asking shoppers to "switch off from shopping and tune into life".
Celebrated as a holiday by some, a street party by others, anyone can take part in Buy Nothing Day [1] 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. Santa Clauses will be rallying in the city centre, brining amazement and fun to children and grown-ups. Last year Santa’s danced samba in the streets, and a lot of children joined the party; this year they will be distributing cheques for time rather than money, but surely there will be surprises!
Having one single day a year to abstain from shopping reveals the addiction of a society in which Christmas and week-ends are wasted on shopping trips rather than being spent on reinforcing relationships with our loved ones. Also, it assumes a particular importance in our country, where a compulsive attitude to shopping is taking UK population into massive debt.
Total UK personal debt broke through the £1 trillion (£1,000,000,000,000) barrier in July 2004 and is increasing by £1 million every four minutes, with 78% of Britons spending more than they earn. [4,5] The reason for this disproportionate personal debt is linked to our day-to-day approach towards shopping behaviour. Indeed, Britain is the only country in Europe with more credit cards than people, and it is predicted that, by using plastic we will spend £1billion more this year. According to credit card chiefs, between one and four per cent of credit card customers are in severe financial difficulties. Nearly half the people who take out credit in shops, hadn’t planned to do so when they left home. [6]
Buy Nothing Day is the occasion to reflect about our shopping compulsion, in particular at the beginning of Christmas bonanza. In 2003, British shoppers spent around £2bn on useless Christmas presents, when one third of people interviewed by a survey said they were given at least one "hideous" gift each year, and one in 10 said they received four or more presents they didn't want.
Finally, Buy Nothing Day also exposes the environmental consequences of consumerism. Western Europe and USA, which constitute only the 20% of the world population, are consuming over 80% of the earth's natural resources, [6] creating a vastly unjust distribution of wealth as well as immense environmental damage. People are spending money they don't have on things they don't need. Making and transporting these goods is damaging both the planet and lives of people around the world.
'Saint Nick' from Birmingham Friends of the Earth said:
"This year British people will spend an average of £813 on Christmas [3], and every year we're encouraged to buy more, spend more. 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, when possible, to buy seasonal and local products to reduce pollution from freight transport, and for imported products not available here, we should always choose fair trade goods. We say: ‘buy nothing for a day, and buy better everyday’- it's good for the environment, it's good for the developing world and it's good for you."
Editor's Notes
[1] More info at the Buy Nothing Day website: www.buynothingday.co.uk
Some background facts about Buy Nothing Day:
[2] Last year, an article in New Scientist magazine looked at the latest research into happiness. One of the discoveries is that as you buy more consumer goods you think you need even more to make you happy. Happiness through consumption is always out of reach (New Scientist, 4th October 2003, Vol.180, Issue 2415, p44. Available online after registering at www.newscientist.co.uk).
[3] Figures from "Switch" the debit card company: www.switch.co.uk/mediacenter/pressReleaseItem.asp?id=50
[4] UK Personal Debt is now over one trillion pounds (£1000,000,000,000). One trillion pounds in £5 notes would be enough to cover Leicestershire! BBC News 29th July 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3935671.stm
[5] Britain's personal debt is increasing by £1 million every four minutes, with average personal debt for each person in the UK is £5,330 (excluding mortgages): www.creditaction.org.uk/debtstats.htm
[6] WWF, Living Planet Report 2002.