Buy Nothing Day Coat Exchange

This is our 1st Annual Buy Nothing Day Coat Exchange. This year we have
several community co-sponsors.

As a positive, community-affirming event on this day, we are asking people to reflect on the effects of consumerism to our communities and our planet. At the same time, we are asking people to donate a winter coat they no longer need to the Coat Exchange so that it can be given to someone who needs one.

It’s not whether or not you go out for some groceries or some Christmas presents. We want people and governments to truly focus on taking care of each other and the earth, but life goes on. We do not expect to have an economic impact this year or any time soon, but we want people to think
about whether the frenzy of consumption actually helps people live better lives or take better care of their communities.

The developed countries, with 20% of the world’s population are consuming over 80% of the earth’s natural resources. Countries have always been willing to go to war for valuable resources, and the 21st century is no exception, which is why the developed countries are able to access 80% of
the world’s resources while a billion people go hungry every day and natural disasters turn into cultural disasters. The effects of over- consumption are widely apparent: global warming, deforestation, poverty, crime, despair, soil erosion, polluted water, sprawl and war.

The Holidays are more than simply consuming more and more goods and feeling we have to buy expensive presents. People want to have an enjoyable, satisfying, secure, comfortable life How many of us can honestly say we look forward to the holiday pressures awaiting us at each
year’s end. By mutual consent we trap ourselves in materialistic interpretations of holidays that are sacred.

It makes little sense to increase consumption, destroy the planet, or go to war when all it is upholding is an economy based on keeping wages as low as possible and inequality as high as possible. Surely there has to be a better way. Buy Nothing Day is about that. So if it pleases you, buy nothing for one day. As a substitute give something away to someone else who needs it more than you do. Clean out your closet and join the celebration of life on Earth. We believe you will feel better. Then please continue to think about what you buy, why you buy it, and the effects of its production on the world and the people who live here, throughout your life.

Friday, November 24 – 10am to 2pm
Buy Nothing Day
The Desert Greens will host a Coat Exchange at Free Speech Zone in Sugarhouse on “Black Friday”, the busiest shopping day of the year. Patterened after the Annual Coat Exchange of the Green Party Rhode Island (www.greens.org/ri), the
exchange will promote community building and focus on providing warm clothes
for the needy. Buy Nothing Day takes the focus off of “stuff” and places it on people.

Bring your coats to 2144 South Highland Drive during the day on Friday, November 24
beginning by 10am. If you need a coat, come get one! If you coats, please bring one –
we know folks who can use them.

You can also drop off coats to the I.J. and Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community
Center, which is also a co-sponsor of the event –
2 North Medical Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84113
t-801.581.0098, ext 105
f-801.581.0718
http://www.slcjcc.org

Co-Sponsors:
Crossroads Urban Center
Human Rights Education Center of Utah
I.J. & Jeanne Wagner Jewish Community Center
Blue Sky Institute
People for Peace and Justice of Utah
Pom Poms Not Bomb Bombs
Free Speech Zone

Information: 801-631-2998, or gpu@gput.org