A Bit More About "Buy Nothing Day"

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Rain/snow site: St. Patrick's School, 244 Smith St. Pawtucket Location 175 Main St Rain or shine If you need a winter coat, please come get one. If you can donate a coat, we know someone who could use it.

History: Buy Nothing Day takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving Day and is timed to coincide with the frenzied run-up to Christmas. It originated in Canada in 1992 with Adbusters who came up with the idea that, on the biggest shopping day of the year (the day after Thanksgiving), people should protest the consumerism that is eating our communities and overwhelming the life support systems of our planet. We are consuming the planet to death, depleting resources while throwing the ecosystem into chaos with global warming, ozone holes and toxic waste dumps. At the same time in the richest country in the world, many do not have enough to meet their basic needs.

"We must. We have to live differently" James Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency

Locally: As a positive, community-affirming event on the 24th, 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 go to someone who needs one. Coats are dropped off at the State House lawn and people who need a coat can pick one up. This is Providence's 10th Annual Buy Nothing Day Coat Exchange. Each year the event is co sponsored by more than 60 environmental, community, and religious organizations. We encourage your participation in the collection of coats, by volunteering at the event, and by letting everyone you know who might need a coat that coats are available.

Note: Each year, we get very few extra large coats. So we really need some.

Contact information: Greg Gerritt: 331-0529; email:gerritt@mindspring.com Phil Edmonds: 273-4650 email:Philwhistle@juno.com More organizational co sponsors welcome. To co sponsor please contact us.