Buy Nothing Day, day of protest in which participants pledge to buy nothing for 24 hours to raise awareness of the negative environmental, social, and political consequences of overconsumption.
The first Buy Nothing Day was organized in Canada in September 1992 “as a day for society to examine the issue of overconsumption.” In 1997, it was moved to the Friday after American Thanksgiving, also called “Black Friday”, which is one of the ten busiest shopping days in the United States.
The negative effects of consumerism include the depletion of natural resources and pollution of the Earth. We are currently overusing Earth’s natural resources with more than 70 percent. If everyone on earth lived like the average American we would need 5.2 planets to support us.
Global consumerism is driving our planet’s destruction. Often times these products are cheap to buy and cheap to make. Thus, they end up in landfills to degrade and destroy our water and soil “system” as well as contribute to global warming by methane emissions. This consumer spending pattern spans all retail sectors.
In general, there are five main negative aspects of consumerism, including:
- Causes more pollution.
- A major contributor to resource depletion.
- Leads companies to develop low quality products.
- Promotes poor labor standards and pay for workers.
- Does not necessarily lead to increased happiness beyond a certain point.
In fact, our consumer habits are actually driving climate change. A 2015 study found that the production and use of household goods and services was responsible for 60 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Producing all these things generates climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions.
Overconsumption worsens climate breakdown and increases air pollution. It exhausts the planet’s life support systems like the ones that provide us with fresh water, and leaves us short of materials critical to our health and quality of life.
Increased extraction and exploitation of natural resources, accumulation of waste and concentration of pollutants can damage the environment and, on the long run, limit economic activity. Consumerism or excessive consumption can even do worse as long as it determines an increase in the amount of purchased goods.
Research shows a close link between the rise of the modern culture of consumerism and the worrying rates of obesity we are seeing around the world. Over-consuming leads to obesity, which in turn leads to further cultural and social problems.
- Stop and reevaluate. Look at the life you have created. …
- Stop copying other people. …
- Understand your weaknesses. …
- Look deep into your motivations. …
- Seek contribution with your life and usefulness in your purchases. …
- Count the hidden cost of each purchase. …
- Test your limits. …
- Give more things away.
Buy Nothing Day is a pretty significant day, which is celebrated by a lot of people all around the world. It is essentially a global day of protest against consumerism. Wishing you all a happy Buy Nothing Day, let’s put an end to the issue of overconsumption.
Environment India 