BUY BUY CRUEL WORLD

AS SchNEWS HOPES THE ANTI-CONSUMERIST MESSAGE WILL FINALLY GAIN PURCHASE

With the government plumping for the ‘bail now, pay later’ option to paper over the gaping cracks in the global financial system, consumer spending is once again creeping up. While this may be good news for Tesco and Poundland, a return to a rampaging consumer society ravaging the world’s resources doesn’t sound too good to us here in awkward squad corner. Which is why we’re once again welcoming the return of the premier annual direct inaction event Buy Nothing Day on November 28th.

Started by Adbusters in the early 90s, Buy Nothing Day has grown into a worldwide movement that encourages people to go cold turkey on our collective shopping addiction for 24 hours. As well as getting folks to take a break from racking up the debts to upgrade their lives and create self-worth through i-phones and i-shoes, Buy Nothing Day aims to spread the anti-consumerist message and get people to think about the effects of unrestrained consumption on the environment and the developing world. You’d think after the credit crunch / debt meltdown ‘n’ all that, efforts might be less in vain this year but you’ll probably have to keep the pressure up for the other 364 days too.

Maybe one day, after the next great collapse, SchNEWS will launch our own ‘Buy Something Day’ when it’ll be OK to take a break from toiling on yer community food garden and scavenging landfill sites for computer spares and actually purchase some well needed bit of kit you’ve saved all year for...

Meanwhile, you can participate in Buy Nothing Day by doing nothing more than sitting in a darkened squat reading anti-capitalist diatribes all day (or even in a cosy semi watching the X-Factor), and for those willing to spread the anti-consumerist message about a bit there are a host of events taking place all over the country.

* Some of the Buy Nothing Day events happening around the country on Saturday November 28th include...

Birmingham: The 8th annual Santa Parade will be trundling through Birmingham city centre from noon. For details email joe@birminghamfoe.org.uk

Brighton: Feeling the crunch when it comes to your Christmas list? Head down to The Cowley Club to join in free gift making workshops including rug weaving, candle dipping and a book exchange, starting off at 11am.

Bristol: If you really can’t kick the consumption habit there will be Free Shop in Bristol. Swing by to pick up yer gratis goodies or stop for a chat and a bite to eat, at the centre of Broadmead from 11am.

Cardiff: Help clean up after capitalism with an organised litter pick along the Taff Trail and surrounding areas between 12.30pm and 3.30pm. Meet outside 89 Corporation Road, Grangetown, CF11 7AQ at 12.00 for a 12.30 start. See http://cardiffdigs.blogspot.com/2009/11/buy-nothing-day-litter-pick.html

Falmouth, Cornwall: Kernow Action Now! a new Cornwall direct action group will be launching what will become a regular Free Shop from 1pm outside the old Woolworths in Falmouth.

Leeds: Another Free Shop along with a craft workshop and lusty renditions of alternative Christmas carols. From 11am to 4pm at Briggate in Leeds city centre.

Lincoln: Anti-capitalist crazies My Dad’s Strip Club are out to do three events in three days. Following Bite the Hand, a comedic demo held yesterday, today sees From Dirty Cash to Clean Green as MDSC try and navigate a way out of the climate chaos through drawing and performance. 5.30-7.30pm at Healthy Hub café, Beaumont Fee. Saturday’s finale is Good Shit Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth as MDSC will be out coercing unsuspecting shoppers into breaking their addiction to mass-produced cheap-shit. Meet for a report back at the Dog and Bone pub 1pm sharp. See www.mydadsstripclub.com

London: Islington’s Green Living Centre is hosting a craft workshop using waste materials including newspaper origami and making picture frames from old CD cases. 222 Upper Street. For more info email sustainabilitycentres@islington.gov.uk

Sheffield: A hoard of zombie shoppers will be lurching around Meadowhall shopping centre in search for sweet, tasty consumer brains. Bring friends, costumes, signs and blood, lots and lots of blood (fake please, people). Meet by the statue in the main concourse at 1pm. Search Facebook for ‘zombie flashmob sheffield’ to get more details.

South Derbyshire: We won’t pretend to understand this one despite our up and running Twitter page and hundreds of devoted followers but apparently... conkertu.com will serve as the social media hub for sustainability, with an annual programme of eight lifestyle events to meet, tweet and stream. See twitter.com/conkertu twitter.com/zerocredit_uk twitter.com/philcampbell twitter.com/visitconkers

* For more info see www.buynothingday.co.uk