Buy Nothing Day: “No Purchase Necessary”

Monday, 23 November 2009 00:00

Buy Nothing Day is back! November 28 is your special day to unshop, unspend and unwind. Relax and do nothing for the economy and for yourself - at least for a single day. Experiment with the freedom of buying nothing and embrace Henry David Thoreau's sentiment that "he who owns little is little owned”.

The Buy Nothing Day started in North America in the early 90's and has grown into an international day celebrated in over 50 countries. Timed to coincide with one of the busiest shopping days on the US retail calendar, as well as the unofficial start of the international holiday-shopping season, Buy Nothing Day has taken many shapes during the last ten years, and has now become an international day of protest against consumerism and climate change. Read more here.

Buy Nothing Day wants everyone to think about how integrated these transactions are into our daily routines. Besides, everything we buy has an impact on the environment. The international day highlights the environmental and ethical consequences of shopping. According to the organsiers, only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth's natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and an unfair distribution of wealth.

But can you really buy absolutely nothing for just one day? Can you go one whole day without transacting ANY business? Strictly speaking, this would also require your cell phone and other daily transactions. Need some help? Check out eHow.com’s “How to buy nothing” instructions.

Buy Nothing Day national campaigns in Europe:

Denmark

Finland 

France

Germany  

Netherlands 

Italy 

UK