Perhaps it’s fitting that tomorrow, election day here in Oz, is also international Buy Nothing Day (BND). Perhaps we shouldn’t be buying all the propaganda that will be floating about ;)

I’m personally not much of a fan of “anti” campaigns (”anti-globalisation”, “anti-consumerism” etc.) - I much prefer supporting positive campaigns that demonstrate or suggest alternatives.

When I mentioned BND here at the office, it sparked a lively debate about what can be achieved with responsible purchasing. “What if”, one Eskimo suggested, “I had planned to buy fifty fair-trade organic toys to give to orphans on Saturday?” Yes, the suggestion was tongue in cheek, but it did raise some interesting points.

To my mind, BND aims to raise awareness about the dangers of blindly buying into the consumerist ethic (’scuse the pun) - to warn against the incessant call to “buy, buy, buy” (and, in economic parlance, “grow, grow, grow“).

So often the aim of so much creative effort is to create “needs” through advertising and social pressure that can be filled by buying “stuff”, whether we need it or not. And more often than not, unfortunately, that “stuff” is unsustainable - containing materials or created through processes that damage the environment and ourselves (and/or the people that make them).

One of the core ethics of Digital Eskimo is to work for clients and projects that nurture (more than “sustain”) society and the planet - an ethic in part born out of seeing the damage caused manipulative mega-$$ advertising and marketing campaigns.

So, perhaps, if you’re not into the whole “Buy Nothing” schtick, you can still be aware of your purchasing tomorrow - thinking about what and why you’re buying what you do, and perhaps choosing to buy a more sustainable alternative if one exists. I’m always surprised when I think outside of my buying habits and consider alternatives at what options are out there.