The Council of Canadians Prince Edward Island chapter is marking Buy Nothing Day with several events.
Buy Nothing Day is an international day of protest against consumerism which generally takes place on ‘Black Friday’ (one of the busiest shopping days in the United States and the equivalent to Boxing Day in Canada) and the following Saturday. This year that would be today (Nov. 27) and Saturday (Nov. 28).
The PEI chapter’s Facebook page notes it will be holding a “SINGALONG @ Timothy’s with Tony the Troubadour 7pm Friday, DISPLAY @ Charlottetown Farmer’s Market 9-2pm Saturday”.
Tony the Troubador’s biography states: “A social activist and musician from Bonshaw, P.E.I., I was involved in the Maritime Energy Coalition for many years, and I’m presently the Energy Project Coordinator for the Environmental Coalition of Prince Edward Island (ECO-P.E.I.) and the PEI Representative to the Atlantic Canada Sustainable Energy Coalition (ACSEC). I’ve served on the Atlantic Board for OXFAM Canada and I’m active in the PEI Food Security Network and Sierra Club. I also volunteer as an educator at schools, as a community event organizer, and as a leader of singalongs, contra dances, nature walks, canoe paddles and discussions of other alternatives to fossil fuel consumption.”
In terms of additional background, Buy Nothing Day was founded in Vancouver by Ted Dave and promoted by Adbusters magazine.
The Huffington Post notes, “[Buy Nothing Day] is asking people to ‘participate by not participating’ with stunts like stalking ‘those who have been infected with Black Friday’ dressed as zombies chanting ‘Buy, buy buy! Brands brands brands!’ and filling public areas with games, music and chillout areas to create a ‘shopping-free zone’. Another suggestion is to organise a group to push empty shopping trolleys ‘in a long and silent conga line without ever actually buying anything’.”
And Adbusters highlights, “Since the early 1990s, Buy Nothing Day has inspired worldwide personal and collective action against consumerism. Buy Nothing Day isn’t just about changing your habits for one day it is about rediscovering what it means to live freely. Join millions of us in over 60 countries on November 27/28 for Buy Nothing Day and see what it feels like to take a stand against corporate domination.”
Photos: Image from PEI chapter Facebook page. The PEI chapter at the Charlottetown Farmers Market in April 2015.