Tomorrow is going to be Buy Nothing Day. As the organizers put it, "Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism," because only 20 percent of the population consumes 80 percent of the world's resources. A week ago my post addressed the very same issue: the pressing imbalance of the distribution of wealth and rights.
What this initiative wants to point at is that consumerism, the constant drive to buy newer and newer things, is just a habit, not a need. And it has severe consequences that we need to take responsibility for. Let's participate by not participating!
In my institution there was a "used goods swap," to honor the day. You could bring clothes, household appliances, sports gear, and so on, as long as they were in acceptable condition. For each item, you got one coupon, which entitled you to exchange it to any other item. Whatever was not taken home by anyone was donated to charity. I submitted 16 items I hadn't been using for some time, and brought home 9 new ones, including a fancy jacket and a practical bowl.
To end on a bittersweet note, however nice the initiative was, very few participated. Despite the fact that it was hosted and advertised in an American private institution of mostly higher middle class students from Central Eastern Europe and the United States, it was predominantly the Hungarian -- not too affluent -- staff that contributed. To my question, how much she was satisfied, one organizer succinctly said: well, next time..
.. we will shop less and live more. Amen.
.. we will shop less and live more. Amen.
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