In October Sydney will launch it’s ‘Buy Nothing New Month’ during which consumers will be encouraged to only buy second hand goods (with the exception of food and medicines). The campaign, approved by the city's council is designed to raise awareness of the amount of things each of us buys, much of which we don't use, or arguably don't need.
The people behind this campaign say it is a great way to push for social justice and to raise awareness of global waste and our excessive consumption of goods. However shop owners have a different view. At a time when many retail businesses are struggling due to the economic recession, they feel it sends an 'anti-business' message. With a third of the city's workforce working in retail this would likely put shop owners and their workers under extreme financial pressure.
So, is this an effective way to raise awareness of global consumption, or in tough economic times should we be choosing to do more to boost consumption and to get the public into these retail shops and buying more?
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www.smh.com.au/nsw/retailers-aghast-at-citys-shopless-policy-20120625-20ymd.html#ixzz1yw5TfkdBIt is proposed that everyone in Sydney should support the October 'Don't buy anything new' campaign