Buy Nothing Day 2008

Every year at the end of November it’s Buy Nothing Day in many countries. Buy Nothing Day is the 24-hour moratorium against consumerism. People around the world will make a pact to take a break from shopping as a personal experiment or public statement.

There is something strange going on this year. Almost no new campaigns, local websites aren’t updated. What’s going on? Is it the financial crisis?
That’s the reason I show only one new ad here. It’s the Buy Nothing Day UK poster.

See also the great video from Neil Boorman: The Good Consumer.

Related post:
- Buy Nothing Day 2007
- Buy Nothing Day 2006

After the break a video I found which reflects my feelings about consumerism. 

Psychologist Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central tenet of western societies: freedom of choice. In Schwartz’s estimation, choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.

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Comments

I’m proud to have participated in the official BND.  Last year I did a banner drop to promote it - my basement is still stained from the paint - but this year was much quieter.  I’m planning to work many Buy Nothing Days into the rest of the year… maybe even one a week.

I knew the people who did celebrate Buy Nothing Day in Germany for a few years. They gave up long before the current financial breakdown. It’s just due to the fact that most Germans either don’t care or even actively denounce the idea once they notice it. This year many independent non-actvist bloggers have mentioned it though.

This year, there is no need for new campaigns, because all people will “celebrate” this day...since they have no money left!
Joachim
Blogger of http://scanningmarketing.blogspot.com