Something old, nothing new....activists' pact touches nerve

[Dover]

SF anti-consumerism group 'staggered by response'
Members of 'the Compact' vowed to buy few new items in 2006
Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, February 16, 2006

(02-16) 14:50 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- A small group of Bay Area residents who made an informal vow to not buy anything new in 2006 have found themselves in the middle of an international fury over consumerism, ecology and middle-class hypocrisy that has spread around the world in just days.

"It's been totally insane. We've had a lot of people say we're smug, self-congratulatory braggarts," John Perry, one of the founders of the original Compact group, said today. He has spent much of the week fielding calls from national TV and radio stations.

"And we've had other people say it gives them hope for the future. It has definitely touched a nerve," he said. "We've been staggered by the response."

The Compact, named after the Mayflower pilgrims' revolutionary credo, started at a dinner party two years ago as a way to fight what members consider a rampant consumer culture wreaking global ecological havoc.

After a few trial runs, about 50 extended friends decided to go an entire year without buying anything new besides food, health and safety items and underwear.

But the group's agenda has apparently struck a chord -- both positive and negative -- around the world.

Since their story was reported Monday in The Chronicle, they've been besieged with hundreds of e-mails and dozens of media calls....cont'd

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/16/MNG2KH9P4767.DTL

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Yes! Who the F*ck are the Joneses and why the hell should I care

if I'm keeping up with them?!!?

I think I could do this, except for books. I've bought 3 as soon as they were published this year... that would be a hard habit to break.

[Moochy]

2. Curse that darn Hardback habit!!

Why don't we wait for trade editions?

[hfojvt]

4. Libraries and used bookstores too.

I hate trade editions myself. They are almost as expensive as discounted hardbacks anyway. For just a couple bucks more, I prefer the hardback. Now, mass market editions - those are nice, but take forever if the book is not a novel.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. I had to buy...

Our Endangered Values - Jimmy Carter - Excellent!! send it to all your fundie relatives

Fog Facts - Larry Beinhart - amazing what doesn't get covered on NBC, (of course, we knew that)

and
The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell - John Crawford for my son's Xmas present (he's in the Guard)

Other than that, I refrained.

The sale rack at Powell's doesn't count... right?

[Dover]

3. How to impact the energy, pharmaceuticals, defense and financial sectors?

They are the ones that need a narrow focus. Any ideas?

If everyone were to do this locally, to form these groups and really stick to it the impact would be major.

[ClayZ]

5. I love "Mother Earth News."

http://www.motherearthnews.com/


:kick:

[Dover]

6. Ooooo.....great issue, lots of ideas.......thanks! n/t

[leftchick]

10. thank you for the link!

I have not seen a MEN in years!

[silverweb]

8. Love it!

A great idea and one to be encouraged. My daughter and I have sort of been doing this informally for a long time, but to see the idea formalized and catching fire is wonderful!

:applause:

[fasttense]

9. I'm glad they made an exception for underwear.

But really this is a good idea. I could use the library for books. Except Christmas and B-days would be hard to do. I guess I could give money and make my own cards. Hmm... I wonder if I could get a group going here?

[ClayZ]

11. Sustainable living, shop farmers markets, detach from

the CORPORATIONS. Give antiques for gifts. Lets start group here!

http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm

:kick:

[Dover]

12. Sure sounds doable.......and could easily be organized in groups

with just a basic model to follow.

I know I've spent the last few years getting RID of stuff and simplifying, so would love to form a group in order to take it further. Didn't even consider that it could be serving a greater cause.