Bonanno: It doesn't seem, from where I'm sitting, that The Green Party of The United States has really picked up on what you're doing.
Gerritt: This is the kind of thing where each local group has to figure out how it fits in with what they do. You can't mandate this from up above. It's got to be done locally.Those Greens who want to do it in their neighborhood have. For those who haven't figured out how to do this...you know...for eleven years I haven't been able to go away for Thanksgiving. If people have family obligations or have to go out of town, well, it makes it really difficult.
It's one of those things where, if the right people pull together, it's going to happen.
Bonanno: Yes, but it seems as if the national party made "Buy Nothing Day" part of their platform, it would help immensely. If this went national, then corporations would take note, don't you think?
Gerritt: The odds are that, as much or as big as we could get, it wouldn't have a whole lot of effect on corporations.
The people it effects are the people in the community who get coats as well as all of the people who donate coats.
Rhode Island has three sites that operate each year and we're still looking for more.
Bonanno: You said that this has begun to happen in Utah and Kentucky, but what about right there in New England? Do you know of anywhere else in New England where this is happening?
Gerritt: No, I haven't heard of any place other than right here in Rhode Island, the places that we've helped. We've written letters to the editor and other articles and it's well received here. Right now it's hit or miss elsewhere.
It has to be presented right, the timing has to be right and you can make this somebody's day. There's nothing you can do to force these things, though.
Bonanno: Is there anything else you'd like to add, Greg?
Gerritt: No, I think I'm pretty well talked out.
Bonanno: Greg, I admire what you're doing. It truly is grassroots. You're in the local trenches.
I know that you'd like to see "Buy Nothing Day" become nationally recognized...
Gerritt: Adbusters has a web site where they list lots of events, including "Buy Nothing Day".
Bonanno: Thanks for taking time out to talk to me and maybe you'll see "Buy Nothing Day" in other American communities soon.Gerritt: Let's hope so.
