It is commonly said that
nowadays we live better than ever. This fact is true in many ways.
For example, thanks to science we have been able to
combat and eliminate many diseases. In terms of technology, we have
been able to develop a diversity of devices that allow us to know and
learn more about the environment that surrounds us and at the same
time, allows us to have fun or have leisurely moments.
However,
every coin has two sides. For this reason the present day is
the age of contradictions of opinions, inventions and actions. To
illustrate this idea, we could think whether we prefer quality to
quantity; or if we prefer effectiveness to productivity.
This paradox is practically inevitable.
Since we
have covered all our basic needs (education, health, technology among
many), we have overstretched ourselves and we have fallen into the
trend of 'having' and so we are forgetting 'to be'. Just so, we could
understand for instance, why the fashion industry is currently the
second most polluting on the planet !
In this sense,
considering having a day to not buy anything, could make us more
aware of whether we really need what we want to buy. Likewise, it
would help us to be more selective and of course, it would be more
respectful of the environment.
Maybe the
Buy Nothing Day
does not have much economic impact, but it is a good opportunity to
remind the inhabitants to be conscious of the choice: buying to live
or living to buy, as the
'slow movement' does.
