Greens ask post-Thanksgiving shoppers to consider ‘Buy Nothing Day,' ethical and environmental consequences of consumerism

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Sara Amir (Los Angeles) 310-270-7106,
Susan King (San Francisco) 415-823-5524,

SACRAMENTO (Nov. 23, 2005) – The Green Party of California Wednesday asked consumers to celebrate the Thanksgiving weekend by supporting "Buy Nothing Day" over this coming weekend and considering the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism.

Buy Nothing Day (BND) is recognized every year all around the world – and throughout California – as a day for consumers to challenge themselves, and family, to "switch-off" from shopping and rampant consumerism. "We ask Californians to vote with their pocketbook," said Pat Driscoll, a GPCA spokesperson and former congressional candidate in Sacramento. He added that consumers should make a commitment to "consume less to preserve our planet and the future for our children and grandchildren."

BND exposes the consequences of consumerism, and the fact that just 20 percent of the world's people consume more than 80 percent of the natural resources, placing a disproportionate level of environmental damage on developing countries BND also makes the point that while shopping in malls and grocery stores might offer choice, it often does so as the cost of hurting the environment in developing countries.

"Buy Nothing Day is a great time and way to start changing our lives, and to remember that when we do make purchases that they have consequences," said Larry Cafiero, editor of Green California (http://www.greencalifornia.org) and GPCA liaison to the Secretary of State.

-30-

The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org