ay has been about fasting from hyper consumerism –a break from the cash register and reflecting on how dependent we really are on conspicuous consumption. On this 20th anniversary of Buy Nothing Day, we take it to the next level, marrying it with the message of #occupy… We #OCCUPYXMAS.
Shenanigans begin November 25!
for the wild, Culture Jammers HQ. (From AdBusters.org)
Another seemingly great idea from the people who brought you the Occupy movement, AdBusters. #OCCUPYXMAS could prove to be a very effective movement; yet, it is not without flaws. Buy Nothing Day sounds great until they extend it to overlap Small Business Day. Anyone wanting to "stick it" to the large corporations should use their purchasing power to support small business. I would really like to know if the people at AdBusters will truly follow their own plan? Will they stop purchasing items through Xmas? Will they not grace their friends and family with gifts on Xmas day?
Many across the nation will have no choice but to cut back on gifts this holiday season due to the poor economy. The first year of the recession most people still had jobs and were able to make their normal purchases. The second year, under pressure, people used their savings and credit cards to maintain the same level of consumerism. Now, in the third year, many families will fall in the trap of "Xmas only comes once a year" and possibly go all out (beyond their means) to have a Xmas full of material crap they don't NEED. The trap is already taking effect as this has been declared the busiest travel season since the financial meltdown. Thousands will "occupy" the sidewalks outside of large retailers in hope of getting "great deals".
Gerald Celente, of the Trends Research Institute, has recently stated that the economy is artificially being propped up until after the holiday season. Celente forecasts a hard economic collapse after January 2012. Assuming Celente is correct, the Black Friday hype by corporate retailers, is a last attempt to take whatever little cash consumers will give up before the whole house goes up in flames. Some major stores have even pushed their Black Friday shopping hours back to 10pm Thanksgiving day. This combined with the ridiculous "deals" they are offering tells me retailers know what is coming.
My suggestion is to modestly enjoy the holidays with gifts that fulfil the NEEDS of the people receiving them. In case of an economic collapse that 60 inch 3D flatscreen will not benefit anyone, unless it is to be pawned or traded for food. For families whom have not began to store food... this should be a priority, along with clothes, and other useful items which fulfil a NEED. It doesn't sound all that great for Xmas, but, these are not great times we're living in. Furthermore, it seems things will only get worse. Once these possible future needs are met, there is no reason people shouldn't support their local small businesses.
The sad truth is that most Americans will fall for the consumerism traps set by corporate retailers. My guess is that even the Occupy peeps will support the very corporations they hate. People will buy things they do not need at prices they can not afford. Afterall, its Xmas...
