November 19, 2000

Calgary: Blind-consumer sheep line

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This year in Calgary (one of the main centers of OVERconsumption in N.America) we are hoping to make this years Buy Nothing Day event one that will turn some heads, make people think of their spending habits and be a lot of fun.
We are hoping to bring as many groups and people together for this event to create a sense of community and connection with our environment in which we live and the effects our spending habits have on it (socially, environmentally, and on a personal level). Since we all live within this capitalist and "free market" (corporate ruled) system that is driven and directed by consumption and desire, it should be our role as said consumers to send a message to the corporate thunder whores we don't need all that pointless crap they keep trying to feed us.

The Plan

Throughout the month of November we will be spreading the word to build up to Buy Nothing Day on FRIDAY NOV 24, by:

• postering
• painting the rock
• possible interviews and coverage in media
• getting together to make props and information pamphlets for the BND actions
• BND actions on Thur Nov 23rd & Fri Nov 24th

The day before

The idea behind doing an action on Thursday November 23 is so that people will know that friday is BND and can prepare themselves.
We are planning to do a blind-consumer sheep line - this involves having a long string of people all dressed similarly in black with upc codes pinned to their backs and are blinded by corporations (sunglasses with the logos on lenses blinding the consumer to reality - if you have a unwanted pair of sunglasses bring them), the consumers will be led by Mr. and Ms. Corparate on a long chain/rope as they rant and rave on corporate culture and the inherent inequalities and injustices which form the base for its existence. On the flanks of the sheep line will be people with props and costumes distributing information and interacting with public (we have some ideas for props ie pyramid umbrellas with 'buy nothing' written on them and ball and chain loonies, if you have any ideas feel free to share).

Drag the Load Day

On Friday 24, Biy Nothing Day, we will be dragging the load of overconsumption by:

• attaching ball and chain loonies to our legs
• wearing T-shirts with a BND message on it (if you have an old shirt you don't mind writing on and snazzin' up for the event)
• wearing the sunglasses with the corporate blinders
• pushing people around in the limp shopping carts like on the BND posters (hard to really explain until you've seen the poster or go to www.adbusters.org)