What Happens When We Run Out of Nature?

Buy Nothing day is an event held around the world to bring awareness to over consumption. This year is more important then ever due to the recent economic crisis that is sweeping North America. Currently the credit card debit in the United States alone is 951.7 billion which is up 8.2 percent from last year. Which leaves you to ask why people who can not afford to have a credit card can get one? Even with all the foreclosure on homes along with rising unemployment rates, one would think there would be a decrease in spending. Instead there has been an increase in spending and consumption, North America being the biggest offender. We believe that just because we are a rich nation we think we are able to keep consuming without any consequences. But if we look at the real picture, we would see that though there may be an increase in new products, we are losing our natural resources in the process. So buying that shiny new Ipod can lead to having part of the rain forest cut down to make the box for it.

So I ask you for one day out of the year to lock up your wallets, hide your money. Don't buy anything and when I say don't buy anything, I mean nothing. You have to start preparing now, go grocery shopping, make sure your car is filled up or you have bus tokens. We only have one day to stand up to these corporations and we should make it count, anything can happen. If we look at the outcome of the recent U.S election we know that change is possible. On November 28th take a stand and buy nothing.

Sources:

Westrich, Tim. "Problems with Plastic." Center for American Press. 18 Apr. 2008. 23 Nov. 2008 .

"Buy Nothing Day." Adbusters. 2008. 23 Nov. 2008 .