Black Friday & Buy Nothing Day Roundup

Hello to all and welcome back,

Just a couple of links for today. The holidays really took the starch out of me and I might not have a proper 1,300 word post in me till next week (collective sigh). Yeah, I know, it's upsetting. Anyway, since I scour the Interwebs, I always have something cool for your guys & gals, even if I didn't write it myself.

First up, a site called "Adbusters" put together a really great roundup of some of the occupy movement's direct action around the country, from this past Friday. Adbusters attempted to have people take part in an action called "Buy Nothing Day." The day after Thanksgiving we would collectively spend time with our families and/or protest outside of some of the big box stores (if you wanted), but basically vow to purchase nothing on the day. Some tweaked the message and encouraged shoppers to buy local as well. Others encouraged buying used, re-gifting, or making your own gifts.

Commenters to the post, also posted pics, videos, and links to their own local direct actions. There was a sit-in in front of a Macy's store, where shoppers joined the protesters, as the cops came in to clear them. In another mall, protesters held signs saying "Buy More Stuff" and "Hurry." Others had a serious message, encouraging people to at least buy local. There were flash mobs in multiple Wal-Mart stores. The funniest most pathetic thing I saw was this. If you don't want to click, a woman at a Wal-Mart store pepper-sprayed a couple of other shoppers to gain an edge, in getting whatever item. Insert your own "cop/shopper/peaceful protester joke here." It's too easy. I'm gonna lay off.

UPDATE 10:20AM, 11/29: I just checked that Adbusters link again and it looks like the site has changed since I posted this (some of the links and videos were removed). Anyway, here is a sample of a flash mob at a Wal-Mart in San Diego (video, right). If you check the "Related Videos" of this clip, you can see examples of other actions in some of the large well-known stores. These clips are similar to what was originally on Adbusters "Buy Nothing Day" roundup. Biggest apologies for that. And, I put together a gallery of some posters that were circulated by Adbusters, along with some other pics will appear at the end. These were all featured on the site I linked to, before it was changed.

Sadly, all of these action were not able to dent Christmas sales. Black Friday spending was up 15% over last year. Cyber Monday's sales growth was very close to that as well. My only hope is that the action served to at the very least raise the consciousness of a number of shoppers. Shoppers sitting in with Macy's protesters really warmed my heart. These were people who were possibly inconvenienced by the protesters (being stuck in the store or couldn't get inside) and still chose to help them. So, please check that first link, some pretty cool things went on around the country and world (Buy Nothing Day had international support).

See you next time,

James