Silencing the Register

Those who opt to stay home on this year’s busiest shopping day are de facto participants in Buy Nothing Day--an annual nonevent that asks consumers to refrain from spending money for a 24-hour period. “Most people will have a hard time with this,” admits Jonathan Priddle, campaign manager for Buy Nothing Day, “but we’re trying to raise awareness of the fact that the way we consume is not sustainable for the environment.” Instead of shopping, Priddle suggests that individuals “participate by not participating” and engage, instead, in community events. The one-day spending moratorium was initiated by the Canadian magazine Adbusters in 1992 and involves 15 countries worldwide.