To buy, or not to buy...

anticonsumerist writes Saturday November 28th is Buy Nothing Day (UK). It's a day where you challenge yourself, your family and friends to switch off from shopping and tune into life. The rules are simple, for 24 hours you will detox from shopping and anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending!

Shop Less Live More Everything we buy has an impact on the environment. Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental and ethical consequences of shopping. The developed countries - only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth's natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage and an unfair distribution of wealth.

As consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies who produce them. What are the true risks to the environment and developing countries? The argument is infinite - while it continues we should be looking for simple solutions and Buy Nothing Day is a good place to start. As last year's buy nothing day was a huge success in the city centre, we will be doing the same event again - a free shop, where people can take away things for free. We will be right at the heart of the mad shopping world that is Broadmead.


Buy Nothing Day started in North America in the early 90's and has grown to an international day celebrated in over 50 countries. The Buy Nothing Day UK website went online in January 2000. We're not quite 10 years old, but on November 28th Buy Nothing Day will be just 10 days young - another reason to celebrate the frugal festival.

Full Story | Adbusters |

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First of three Trapese dayschools this Saturday, Start Producing the Future, Experiments Against Enclosure, Tools to Reclaim the Commons

First of three Trapese dayschools this Saturday, Start Producing the Future, Experiments Against Enclosure, Tools to Reclaim the Commons: "Everyday, everywhere, through spontaneous and planned actions, people are changing the world, together. These everyday actions come from the growing desire to do it ourselves – plant vegetables, organise a community day to get people involved in improving where we live, expose exploitative firms, take responsibility for our health, make cups of tea in a social centre, figure out how to install a shower powered by the sun, make a banner, support strikers, pull a prank to make someone laugh, as well as think", (Do It Yourself, A Handbook for Changing our World, Pluto 2007 ../www.handbookforchange.org)


Find out more here!

University of the West of England criticized for proposed cuts to childcare and language departments.

Bristol Observer writes: As if to celebrate the victories of the BNP and UKIP the University of the West of England has decided to withdraw all its language degrees, leaving applicants, existing students and lecturers in a state of disarray. Sources at the University have suggested that the decision to remove degree-level language provision was taken without consultation. Lecturers and unions say that the decision was taken on the basis of a secret report and that the data on which the decision was based is misleading. The University sent letters to applicants, students and lecturers to inform them of the decision only after course had been withdrawn from the university admissions system, leaving applicants who had accepted places on its languages courses stranded. Students and language staff report that many applicants attended a recent open day only to find that the courses they were preparing to begin have disappeared. A note sent out by a the student campaign group Save UWE Languages says “Students wishing to study languages at UWE have been attending recent open days only to find out that they can no longer chose this route of study and that they must reconsider their options” Full article.

UWE Students write: As part of its programme of cuts, and in contravention of its supposed "commitment" to widening participation, the University of the West of England and its Student Union are seeking to disadvantage some students by withdrawing much needed nursery provision at the St Matthias Campus. If you need help, don't go to UWE!! Full article.

| UWE: Disappearing by Degrees | U+WE = Education…. Unless you have kids! |

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Closing battery farm means homes needed for 10,000 hens

BARC writes; Altho this is a national call out,it is relevent to the South West as we are (hopefully) going to be helping out and are looking for help from B.Indymedia readers... 'hens hunting homes - If you can help please contact littlehenrescue@ googlemail. com. Hi, 10,000 hens need rehoming from battery farm in Norfolk which is closing-down. If you would like a hen or two or know someone who would please contact littlehenrescue@ googlemail. com. Any not rehomed by 28 June will be slaughtered. Please pass this message on. Thank you. Full Article.

| Hens needing homes | bristolanimalrights.org.uk |

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