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That's if the network of people that support Buy Nothing Day had their way.
I dropped in the 'free' shop, a collection of tents parked outside Cairns Central on McLeod Street on Sunday. The local event is co-ordinated by activists and those that are against mass consumerism.
The day had it's origins in Canada in 1992 to examine society and the issue of over-consumption.
Ironically, in 1997, it was moved to the Friday due to American Thanksgiving which is one of the busiest shopping days in the States.
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Some argue that it simply causes participants to buy the next day, but the promoters say it's not about changing your habits for one day but about starting a lasting commitment to consuming less and producing less waste.
Last year, 10 friends vowed not to purchase a single new thing for a year - except food, the bare essentials for health and safety (toilet paper, brake fluid.) Everything else was purchased second-hand, bartered or borrowed, re-cycled or re-gifted (is that a word?). They used thrift stores, swap meets, friends and even rubbish tip recycling shops.
They subsequently formed the Freecycle Network and there's a Cairns Tablelands branch active.
This Thursday at 5:30pm there is a public forum at the Public Library in Abbott Street.
If you'd like to get involved locally, contact Tania on 0438 800 384, or Stu on 4041 1802
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1 comment:
We need more publicity and more community action on an issue like this. I'd like to see car pools g made mandatory. Walking along Mulgrave Road, I see the huge and increasing volume of cars heading into the city. Over 90% of cars have only one passenger.
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