BrandAware

For anyone who hasn't heard of this 'holiday', Buy Nothing Day was created by an artist in Vancouver and has been promoted by Adbusters Magazine for the last 10 years or so.  The idea is to 'buy nothing' for the entire day. For American consumers, this is particularly relevant since today is Black Friday - the day where stores provide pre-Christmas deals (and shoppers lose all sense of reason). It was almost exactly a year ago today that a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death because of a stampede of shoppers racing to buy discounted goods.  Trampled.  People couldn't be bothered to stop and help her up.  Two people were also shot to death at a Toys R' Us in a dispute over a toy.  I don't know about anyone else, but these are scary, scary things to read about.  For years people have talked about how our need for consumption is figuratively killing us.  Well now it's actually killing us. 



Buy Nothing Day has received it's share of criticism since many people claim their purchases are merely put off for a day or that it doesn't have an impact.  I would like to encourage everyone to use Buy Nothing Day to reflect on how we live our lifestyles all year long.  Even if you have to buy something tomorrow, I think the more important thing is to be conscious of it.

What to do instead of shop:

• Adbusters has a list of events.  
• You can check out a protest or culture jam.
• Spend time with friends and family.
• Enjoy the outdoors! Go for a walk/bike ride/run.
• Stay home, cut up your credit cards and make homemade gifts instead.

For those of you who are determined to face the Black Friday swarms, please remember to be safe and to be considerate of those around you.  It is after all, just stuff.  It can be replaced, where as human lives cannot.


Adbusters: Buy Nothing Day

Well, hopefully your Halloween was filled with homemade costumes and delicious treats. The last thing I would like to do is offer up some tips for what you can do after all of the Halloween fun has died down.

What to do with your costume:

• Keep it for another year.  For hardcore Halloween fanatics, reusing your costume might not be an option, but if you think you might just want something to wear in a pinch next year then stick everything together in a box at the back of a closet.
• Pass it off to a friend.  If you don't think you will wear the costume again, post a facebook message asking if anyone is interested.
  
• Donate to a 2nd hand shop.  Remember Value Village?  Send your costume there for someone else to discover.
  
• Recycle any materials possible.  If you were a giant cardboard box for Halloween, be sure to stick that on your curb.

Until next year, Happy Halloween!

This year, don't hand out the same old candy from companies like Nestle who has been criticized for exploiting farmers, busting unions, and promoting unhealthy baby pabulum to women in developing countries. (More about Nestle here.) Instead, give out organic goods or buy from companies with better track records.

Some examples:

• Larabar 
• Bare Fruit Snacks
  
• Stretch Island Fruit Snacks
  
• Clif Kid Bars
  

Check out more Halloween treats at GreenHalloween.com

 Halloween can be a time of excessive waste. Buying a Halloween costume (probably made in poor labour conditions, then shipped from another continent), and then throwing it away, is not a sustainable way of celebrating All Hallows Eve.

There are a few options for a more sustainable and ethically conscious costume.

• Use stuff you already have.
  
• Buy used clothing/costumes.
  
• ValueVillage is a big promoter of Halloween gear and they have lots of great stuff. However, don't forget about Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and local 2^nd hand shops.
  
• Borrow from friends. What did that friend of yours do with their really sweet pineapple costume from last year...? It might be worth a quick email to see if they've got it sitting at home this year.
  

Look for more Halloween themed stuff this week on BrandAware.

Have your own strategy for a more sustainable costume? Let us know in the comments!