People's Informative

After sitting back and digesting the spoils of Genocide Appreciation Day, many prepare themselves for the traditional kick off to the Holiday shopping season, Black Friday.

Many others however see it as just another mile marker for America’s rabid commercialization of a formerly pious time of year. But religion alone isn’t the only reason to object to Black Friday. The deadly mania that has come to be Black Fridays hallmark has lead many to actively stand against the frenzied consumerism.

“Buy Nothing Day“, started in 1992, conveniently falls on Black Friday in the US and Israel. Participants enter into a 24 hour moratorium on consumer spending, attempting to throw the advertising antics into sharp relief.

Not content to celebrate Buy Nothing Day simply by . . . not buying anything? Try these ideas on for size-

* Credit card cut up: Participants stand in a shopping mall, shopping center, or store with a pair of scissors and a poster that advertises help for people who want to put an end to mounting debt and extortionate interest rates with one simple cut.
* Free, non-commercial street parties
* Sit-ins
* Zombie Walk: Participant ‘zombies’ wander around shopping malls or other consumer havens with a blank stare and marvel at the expressionless faces of the shoppers (their fellow zombies). When asked what they are doing participants describe Buy Nothing Day and explain its foundational principles.
* Whirl-mart: Participants silently steer their shopping carts around a shopping mall or store in a long, baffling conga line without putting anything in the carts or actually making any purchases.
* Public protests
* Wildcat General Strike: A strategy used for the 2009 Buy Nothing Day where participants not only do not buy anything for twenty-four hours but also keep their lights, televisions, computers and other non-essential appliances turned off, their cars parked, and their phones turned off or unplugged from sunrise to sunset.[1]
* Buy Nothing Day hike: Rather than celebrating consumerism by shopping, participants celebrate the earth and nature.[4]
* Buy Nothing Critical Mass: As the monthly Critical Mass bike ride often falls on this day or near, rides in some cities acknowledge and celebrate Buy Nothing Day.