Hi! This event has spread worldwide (even in Finland, good for us...):
Buy Nothing Day is an informal day of protest against consumerism observed
by social activists. It was founded by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently
promoted by the Canadian Adbusters magazine. Participants refrain from
purchasing anything for 24 hours in a concentrated display of consumer power.
The event is intended to raise awareness of what some see as the wasteful
consumption habits of First World countries.
In the United States and Canada, supporters demonstrate on the day after
American Thanksgiving. This day, often called "Black Friday," is one of the busiest
shopping days of the year (although this is not so in Canada, the date remains there
to synchronize events). In other countries the demonstrations occur a day later.
Since "Buy Nothing Day" occurs the day after American Thanksgiving, and the
meaning of Buy Nothing Day is to resist mindless consumerism, some people have
viewed Buy Nothing Day as an opportunity to expose the "hypocrisy" of the
Thanksgiving weekend. Since Thanksgiving has always had an emphasis on friends,
family and community, while the day after Thanksgiving has more recently had an
emphasis on consumerism and shopping, "Buy Nothing Day" may be seen by some
protesters as a way of reclaiming the 'original meaning' of Thanksgiving: encouraging
friends and family to socialize instead of encouraging individual income-earners to
spend their money.
Merchants provide valuable goods and services, a sale day serves both buyer
and seller, and the Thanksgiving to Christmas season presents both a temptation
to materialism and an opportunity for the proper enjoyment of material blessings
coupled with a special effort to ensure that the poorest are not excluded.
Critics of "Buy Nothing Day" point out that consumers would simply buy more
the next day instead, rendering their protest pointless. However, participants
argue that this is beside the point.
Source: Wikipedia
