BUY NOTHING DAY

by Annie Wed Nov 26, 2003 13:37

"Modernised poverty, deprives those affected by it of their freedom and power to act autonomously, to live creatively ; it confines them to survival through being plugged into market relations.

... infects every aspect of life where a professionally engineered commodity has suceeded in replacing a culturally shaped use value.

We lose sight of our resources , lose control over the environmental conditions which make these resources applicable lose taste for self-reliant coping with challenges from without and anxiety from within."

Ivan Illich - Towards a history of needs (1978)

'A snail howled at the moon,
In my wake one goal to the good,
Buy Nothing Day,
Dawned on the offensive,
Side by side outside the centre ,
Row by row of shopping trolleys chained'

Annie - Accounts Add Up (2002)

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=20109

by employee at large financial institution Wed Nov 26, 2003 14:20

The rumour is that this buy nothing day will be one of the biggest yet; initial estimates are that between 8 and 12 times as many individuals are getting involved worldwide, with whole boroughs staging pickets at commercial centres (particularly in the mid-western US, and the benelux countries).

Market analysts have reported this morning that hold/sell orders have been provisionally posted on major retail corporations by large invostors (mainly on the FTSE in the UK) such as Arcadia etc.

Best of luck to all involved!

by Corporeal Wed Nov 26, 2003 14:24

Rubbish! you stupid lefties think your world affects the real world? I'll believe it when I see it... share prices... hah! Bloody crustys don't buy anything anyway.

by simon Wed Nov 26, 2003 15:57

Instead of buy nothing day have a corporation share buy-out day. Ill elaborate, Who are the people on the boards of companies and corporations answerable to - yes, their shareholders. Now how many millions of, what we can call for the sake of arguement, anti-globalisation activists are there - plenty.

Im sure that if there was a global consensus amongst these divergent group to invest small amounts of money into a global fund in order to buy out shares in the main companies which they all have problems with. Then with that go along to the board meeting with the power of shareholder authority and demand that the companies change their sorryass ways or else.

instead of detracting yourself from the majority processes enter them and take over.

thatll be more fun than endless protests etc. because then the people will rule the world

by Corporeal Thu Nov 27, 2003 14:11

These "Divergent Groups" you speak of? Let's say they have a total willing membership of ten million people... lets say they on average they contribute $100 each.

That's One Billion Dollars! Wow! Say you spent that all on shares in, say, Microsoft. You'd have less then 1/2 a percent of the company....

Oh how about McDonalds - you'd have about 3% of the company.

Remember; I assumed ten million people at $100 each.... a total f*cking pipe dream.

You'd be better off trying to get them to vote!

by simon Thu Nov 27, 2003 14:39

for you to think about. Your obviously deeply ascribed to the blinkered ideology that its painful for you to consider (even on a casual and fun level) an approach beyond what your habit and upbringing dictates.

Slavoj Zizek writes about the 'fetishistic cynicism' that leads to false conciounsness of ideology. You should take a look at the writings because it might be like looking in a mirror

by darren - daaa Thu Nov 27, 2003 18:38 directactionagainstapathy at yahoo dot co dot uk

No Shop Day activities between 10am & 12pm in Cornmarket include:

Live music from EWF in Bandstand
Free Fair trade Coffee
Chillout Area
Kids Crafts Area

renegade no shop day activity throughout the afternoon...

our kitchen squat cafe in the evening with free food & chilled out music @ secret location...

you'll have to come to cornmarket to find out where!

by Corporeal Fri Nov 28, 2003 10:55

Well done... you've got me.

You made a suggestion - now you are saying that suggestion was not open to criticism because it was a "fun" suggestion? That's pretty blinkered to me.

Here's a suggestion (not serious, just for fun!)... go f*ck yourself!

by john Fri Nov 28, 2003 14:23

corporeal, maybe if you changed your attitude a bit people may not find you so offensive and ultimately useless.

All this cursing makes you sound like a schoolboy.

by me Fri Nov 28, 2003 14:40

no one doing anything in Dublin for tomorrow???

by Corporeal Fri Nov 28, 2003 15:25

...

The point I was trying to make with the swearing was that anybody can add a suffix "just for fun" or "allegedly" and absolve themselves of all criticism.

You made a suggestion, expressed it well and in a serious manner. I provided a little research and analysis and you accused me of being blinkered as your post was "just for fun".

I attempted to point out the irony of this with my final sentence.... sorry if it went over your head.

by surreality Fri Nov 28, 2003 15:45

golden rules :rest assured none of you are alone in your plight. Try talking to trusted loved ones or getting to know your neighbours by name. Never be afraid of admitting how stupid you can be. If you’re rude say sorry. If you drink or take drugs don’t drive. If you use a mobile phone, TV, or microwave try and maintain at least three metres distance from your internal organs at all times. If you cross the road look both ways. If you’re in a shop check your change before you leave. If you’re on the telephone try smiling before you call strangers. If you goto the toilet wash your hands afterwards. If you wash your feet regularly they’ll last a lifetime.
If you pick your nose make sure your fingernails are clean. If you go out in the Sun be careful of UVA. If you get caught in the rain wash it off. If you see shellfish near Dublín on the beach don’t eat them. If you notice a dolphin take it seriously.

= it's the snotty nose.