Show you understand the planet is not a stockpile of infinite resources and that beserker shopping isn’t the way to waste your life.

Jump off the merry-go-round

If this whole charade gets you down, don’t despair, there is one way of jumping off this merry go round that’s so simple you can do it in your sleep. What’s more, you won’t just be helping yourself, you’ll be helping the planet.

Adbusters

Where can you find this miraculous cure for consumer madness, you ask? In the offices of an organization called Adbusters, in the Canadian city of Vancouver.  And what is it these people propose. Very simple. Buy nothing.

A zero hero

That’s right. Zip. Zero. Nahda for just one day. November 28th (27th in the US). 24 hours of purchase free heaven to show you understand that to survive on this planet, we’ve got to consume less. To show you understand the planet is not a stockpile of infinite resources and that beserker shopping is not the way to show your love.

Take a deep breath and stop for just one day. Better still challenge your friends and family to stop too. This is one of the few times when doing nothing is one of the most powerful statements you can make.

Just don’t do it

And if you get a taste for it, if buying nothing feels good, why not buy nothing for Christmas? Tell your friends and family that you’d prefer not to exchange gifts and instead give them an experience, cook them a meal or just spend a day hanging out. It’s easy to do and they might just thank you for it.  If you feel your resolve weakening in the next couple of days, just remember, keep your wallet shut and your mind open.

Destinations: British Colombia, Canada