posted by Ethan Nichtern(for more about IDP, visit the Interdependence Project's main website)
Welcome to the day of the year with the strangest name: Black Friday 2009. Next comes Cyber Monday 2009. The name feels like an apocalypse, or a shop-ocalypse, as consumption activist and star of one of my favorite holiday movies What Would Jesus Buy, Reverend Billy would say. Have you been poking around for Black Friday online deals? I haven't heard reports of anyone being trampled to death today, like last year, but the holiday season is still very young, and Wal-mart has a new look and marketing strategy, so you never know.
So seriously, folks, how do you think Buddha or Jesus would handle the shopping season if they were alive in 2009? Many friends seems to be using Heifer International to buy a new animal for a 3rd world farmer in need. This seems pretty awesome, and I am going to do it too. By the way friends, the animal I might buy in your name is not the animal you remind me of, but the one I could afford. Besides, beautiful animals tend to produce less milk and meat for farmers. Just an fyi.
I really don't think any enlightened being would want us to all get more cheap plastic stuff from China that our loved ones will throw out in a few months. At the Interdependence Project, maybe next year we will institute a Secret Santa game full of bartered services and homemade gifts. Until then, shop responsibly, and don't bring too much environmentally destructive stuff into the world. Now for some leftover stuffing. Maybe we should watch the Story of Stuff before we start shopping. And then meditate on the meaning of generosity.
I really don't think any enlightened being would want us to all get more cheap plastic stuff from China that our loved ones will throw out in a few months. At the Interdependence Project, maybe next year we will institute a Secret Santa game full of bartered services and homemade gifts. Until then, shop responsibly, and don't bring too much environmentally destructive stuff into the world. Now for some leftover stuffing. Maybe we should watch the Story of Stuff before we start shopping. And then meditate on the meaning of generosity.
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I've been doing Heifer gifts and other international donations for a few years. lately, though, I'm tempted to stick closer to home and give to the charities that actually care for the people in my town -- food pantry, fuel bank, homeless shelter. I have friends who've been helped by them, and I know that the administrative expenses are paltry.
enjoyed the blog, thanks. Nothing much gained by surrendering ourselves to materialism.
Giving is just perfectly liberating. The moment before we think of giving is like living in a dark room. Then the thought of giving comes in and suddenly the whole room is filled with sunshine. Just that drastic of a change in consciousness.
Shop NINA SHOES today at www.ninashoes.com!
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24 hour sale...offer expires at midnight tonight! Cyber Monday exclusive!
join the Mallatorium. Post ideas for gifts that mean something.
http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=217434465209
Please do not engage in wrong actions such as violating the rights of other sentient beings. Please do not exploit animals from Heifer International or other such organizations. Please learn why this is wrong, why it is unhelpful to travelling the path, and how to support other sentient beings (both human and nonhuman):
http://www.compassionatecooks.com/blog/2006/12/dont-give-cow.html
http://human-nonhuman.blogspot.com/2009/11/easygoing-speciesism-rights-violations.html
~Tim
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