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news
Group discourages
post-holiday shopping
By William Marshall
On-line Forty-Niner
Everyone knows
that the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day
of the year. It is the kickoff of the holiday shopping spree
sales that start at the end of November and continue until
Christmas Eve.
Some people think
the Friday after Thanksgiving (dubbed the busiest shopping
day of the year) should be the least busy shopping day of
the year, they call it Buy Nothing Day.
The concept of
Buy Nothing Day is a plea to consumers to not make any purchases
on November 23 as a demonstration in opposition to the current
economic policies in the United States.
Since it launched
in the Pacific Northwest eight years ago by Canadian Media
Foundation Adbusters, Buy Nothing Day has grown into a worldwide
celebration of consumer awareness and simple living. The campaign
sparked debate, radio talk shows, TV news and headlines from
around the world.
The group came
up with and distributed Gift Exemption Vouchers ? a polite
way of saying "Let's not get each other anything this
year," out of principle.
Activists are suggest
alternatives to heavy holiday spending such as giving to charity
and spending time with family and friends, rather than spending
money on them.
If there is one
thing that the terrorist attacks have proven this year, it's
that money can't buy the things that are most important such
as love, attention and togetherness. Some people disagree,
however.
"I don't think
Buy Nothing Day is such a great idea," said Ryan Johnson,
a senior finance major. "Anything that keeps women out
of guys' hair and stuck in a mall all weekend trying to get
a good deal on a pair of shoes sure sounds good to me."
As long as the
Buy Nothing Day campaign has gone on and especially since
the Sept. 11 terrorist acts, the campaign has been under attack.
It goes against President Bush's call for the American people
to spend like they have never spent before in order to help
the fledgling economy.
The opposition
is old news to the campaign activists, who have been battling
with network executives for years.
"Buy Nothing
Day just wouldn't be the same if the networks didn't reject
our pot-not-to-shop TV uncommercial," according to Adbusters.
"Every season we approach the networks to air the spot
and every year they refuse us".
But the networks
aren't under any legal obligation to air it. For the last
three years, including this year, the commercial has aired
on CNN Headline News.
Is there a right
way to celebrate Buy Nothing Day? Boycott the mall and miss
the big holiday sales or be a red-blooded patriotic American
and go out there a shop while the bombs drop? You make the
choice.
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