Buy Nothing Day in Ireland, Saturday 30th November

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday November 15, 2002 23:25 by Martin Stuart - Galwegians for Buy Nothing Day Galway 087-753-5697 (until 27th November)

It's happening in Galway----contact me if you are the organiser for another city

Hi, IF you are THE organiser or THE press spokesperson for your town/city for Buy Nothing Day on Saturday, 30/11/02, then please let me know what you are planning so that we can all generate maximum press publicity and can answer journalists' questions fully.

Galwegians Buy Into Buy Nothing Day

With the seasonal shopping frenzy now upon us, Galwegians are being asked to resist the pressure to shop and instead celebrate international ‘Buy Nothing Day’ on Saturday 30th November.

“Buy Nothing Day is a challenge for everyone to spend a day without spending. It’s a holiday for everyone. More importantly, it’s a chance for everyone to ask questions like what do we spend our money on and how many things do we really need,” says Martin Stuart, spokesperson for Galwegians for BND. Quoting a statistic from www.adbusters.org, which is the forum for the U.S. Buy Nothing Day, Stuart says that 80% of the world’s population consumes 20% of the world’s resources and asks if that is ecologically sustainable or even moral.

To mark the day in Galway city, from 12 to 4pm there will be a “Barter Fair” at the One World Center on Quay street (beside Fat Freddy’s). “Come along, join in the fun, and bring something to swap; buy nothing and get one free,” says Stuart. There will also be free tea, coffee and biscuits in ‘Café Positivi-tea’ at the Center, a ceremony to rename Shop street, and street theatre performances featuring zombie-shopping.

Galwegians for BND suggest telling your loved ones what you need and value for your Christmas present. They suggest presents like a personal massage, a cup of tea and a chat, a hug, a walk together, or a donation to your favourite charity.

“People all over the world celebrate Buy Nothing Day,” says Stuart. “It started in the USA in 1993 and has grown bigger and bigger. And in Sweden it’s so big that nearly all shops close for the day. Ireland is now getting into it, and events are planned throughout Ireland for the 30th November.”

Anyone interested in volunteering on the day is invited to call 087-911-1624 or attend the final planning meetings on Wednesday 20th and 27th of November at 7:30pm in the Atlanta Hotel on Dominick Street.

Notes for journalists:
Much more information about this important day, celebrated in 55 countries worldwide, is at:
http://www.adbusters.org
and
http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/home.html (including a good FAQ at http://www.buynothingday.co.uk/bndfaq.html)

An article written about the day in The Guardian (UK) is at http://www.learn.co.uk/glearning/secondary/topical/ks4/consumer/article2.asp

Prepared By:
Galwegians For Buy Nothing Day (Galwegians for BND)

Spokesperson: Martin Stuart at 087-753-5697 (available until 27th November; thereafter someone else will be the spokesperson--flying to US to be best man at a pal's wedding)