Buy Nothing Critical Mass & Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing Critical Mass Ride and Roll
Friday, November 25

Join fellow bicyclists, skaters, and bladers for a leisurely and spirited ride and roll through the streets of Vancouver on Buy Nothing Day. Meet at the Vancouver Art Gallery on the Georgia Street side between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m., and roll and ride at 6:00 p.m. The ride is on rain, shine, or snow! Decorated bicycles, trailers, costumes, signs, noisemakers, sound systems, drums, trailers, and wildly modified bicycles are all highly encouraged.

Buy Nothing Critical Mass is [for some] in support of Buy Nothing Day, a day to challenge yourself, your family, and your friends to switch off from shopping and tune into life. People are encouraged make a pact with themselves to take a break from shopping as a personal experiment or public statement and the best thing is -- it's free with NO PURCHASE NECESSARY!

Pre-rides to Critical Mass:

UBC riders meet at the UBC Bike Hub, on the north east end of the Student Union Building, at 4:30 p.m. for a group ride to the Vancouver Art Gallery. Phone 604-822-BIKE for details.

[tentative] East Van riders meet 4:00 p.m., leaving 4:30 p.m., from Grandview Park, 1200-block Commercial Drive, for a group ride to the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Celebrated around the world, Critical Mass is a grassroots reclamation of public space -- on the last Friday of the month -- which allows cyclists and other self-propelled people to move safely and comfortably through city streets in a car-free space. Non-polluting forms of transportation are promoted.

For more information:
http://www.velolove.bc.ca
velolove@@-->@@velolove.bc.ca

Worldwide details may be found at:
http://criticalmassrides.info or http://www.critical-mass.org

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Buy Nothing Day
Friday, November 25

It's a day where you challenge yourself, your family and friends to switch off from shopping and tune into life. Celebrated as a holiday by some, a street party by others -- anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY!

The challenge is to try simple living for a day, spend time with family and friends, rather than spend money on them. People make a pact with themselves to take a break from shopping as a personal experiment or public statement and the best thing is -- it's free!

Buy Nothing Day exposes the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism. The developed countries -- only 20% of the world population -- are consuming over 80% of the earth's natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and unfair distribution of wealth.

As consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies who produce them. What are the true risks to the environment and developing countries? The argument is broad and deep -- while it continues we should be looking for simple solutions. Buy Nothing Day is a good place to start.

Of course, Buy Nothing Day isn't about changing your lifestyle for just one day -- it's hoped that it will be a lasting relationship -- maybe a life changing experience. Make a commitment to consuming less, recycling more, and challenging companies to clean up and be fair. The supermarket or shopping mall might offer choice, but this shouldn't be at the cost of the environment or developing countries.

http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/

And coming soon... http://www.buynothingchristmas.org