Today was Buy Nothing Day in Europe (or: all other parts of the world except North America). So here are some of my thoughts and reflections that I had today.
I was on my way to work today, so I had bought myself lunch yesterday instead
of buying something expensive and unhealthy at 7-eleven or a similar place. I usually listen to my mp3-player when I take the bus to work and lectures, but I had lost it at uni earlier this week, so I didn’t have that to occupy me on the one hour and fortyfive minutes long drive each way (two busses + waiting).
So I spent the time thinking about my consumption, which – after all – this day was meant for (at least that’s how I see it). It is not a big sacrifice for me to withold the mallshopping; make-up, lotions, clothes, accessories etc. I only rarely use make-up and lotion, and I only buy them once every other year or something similar. I buy clothes whenever I really need them, maybe once or twice
a year, and I don’t really spend anything on accessories either.
My big weakness is chocolate. I buy too much chocolate and soda. Especially now around exams. That is consumption just as much as buying make-up and lotion is consumption. Funnily enough, it’s the idea of the environment and the consumption that makes me want to stay more away from chocolate, not the health risks.
So today I started the process of reducing my chocolate consumption. I don’t need lotions, make-up and clothes to feel happy, so I gather I don’t need chocolate for that either.
Chocolate and soda are my big vices too. You know, i never got to thinking about the impact this could have on the environment but now i am thinking these are multi-billion dollar industries with correspodingly large carbon and other negative footprints. And you are right, i don’t need chocolate or soda to be happy any more than i need any other “Luxery Consumeable”. I can say that i stopped buying new clothes, such as trousers and coats several years ago and now buy these items at charity shops. Not because i can’t afford to buy new clothes but most of them are made in “sweat shops” in the third world and it does make me uncomfortable to be part of such exploitation, plus i like to support my local charity. I do tend to spoil my children with throw away consumeables, but it is very hard not to as they are both still to young to understand these issues. Well i guess as a dad i have to spoil my daughters. I can only hope to be like you and gently educate without preaching, which has to be one of the hardest jobs going in my humble opinion.
Thank you for a very nice comment, The Trabian. It’s always nice to get some feedback – and it’s always very nice to hear about people doing what they can and want for the environment. I agree with you on the industry-thingy, and think it’s great that you support local charity!
As for being a parent, I shouldn’t say too much as I haven’t got any children myself. But I do know that parents can spoil their children in other ways than giving them cheap and easy-to-break toys.
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All the best.
Tabris
Hey Tabby! Awesome blogs. You have made some very good and interesting points. I think I would be bad if I took part in buying nothing. I can admit that I over-indulge some of the times…perhaps too much. But you and Trabian are both right. We don’t need stuff like chocolate to survive, so we should try and go without it more than we do now. Though, to be fair (no pun intended), I do get fairtrade chocolate quite a bit. I feel better knowing that everyone is happy that way
Hi there, DK, thanks for commenting! Buying fairtrade chocolate is great! I am not saying that we should all stop buying all together, that is just about impossible in our world. But we can all do well by buying less – and still have everything we need and more, and still be happy. We should look for happiness in other places than in shopping, is my point.