Buy Nothing Day - November 25 or 26 2005

My bad retail experiences over the last couple of weeks make it even more refreshing to bring up the subject of our ever-growing consumer madness.

Saturday 26 November (in Europe and Japan or the 25th everywhere else) is 'Buy Nothing Day' - or BND. Very simply, it's an opportunity to buy nothing for the entire day. We might want to take it as an opportunity to reflect on our unsustainable consumer-binge culture. Or, if you are keen, you could help spread the word by doing some BND activities. There are plenty on the website to keep you going. The UK site is here.

For example you could give out some 'shopaholic' fliers, or free samples of 'nothing' at your local supermarket or shopping centre, as these ideas from last year demonstrate.

If you do want to spread the word and you have not engaged in such activities before, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE consider your Recruiting Officer's top tips and exercise some common sense:

Non-violence is always the way
It's a good idea to let somebody know what you are doing
It is very easy to break the law, even by doing seemingly innocuous things so know what you are doing
If in doubt, don't do it
If you are on private property, for example in a shop, at a shopping centre, in a supermarket or supermarket-owned car park and you are asked to stop doing something, it would be a really good idea to do so
If the Police ask you to stop doing something or to move, do it
Know what you are doing and why you are doing it - you may be surprised how receptive people are if you are well informed
Be friendly - smile (if that's appropriate)
A bit of 'street theatre' or dressing up pretty much always goes down well - again be careful

If you don't fancy doing something 'on your own', there could well be some organised 'Jammer Group' activity near you. Check it out here.

Remember, I am not telling you to go out and do stuff. You are entirely responsible for your own actions, which is the way it should be.

And remember, at the end of the day, one of the most effective things you can do to participate is by doing absolutely nothing at all.