It would seem we have entered a season in the development of our civilization, or at least our democracy, where the default method of raising awareness is to rally crowds. From climate change to indigenous rights, the production of signs and the gathering of people to hold them rivals what we saw during the 1960s. The messages are clear, concise, and well supported by the backbone of social media.
While there’s a part of us all that would likely join a protest against all the protests, I do feel encouraged by the engagement we see all around us, which has been sorely lacking for too long. Perhaps not every issue requires a crowd and a sign, but I’ll take too much engagement over apathy any day.
The interesting thing is that protests sometimes have unintended consequences.
On Black Friday, young people gathered at Polo Park mall in Winnipeg to protest the environmental impacts of mass consumerism. Although this raised some eyebrows, perhaps the message is something we can all embrace, whether we’re climate change advocates or not.
Perhaps the message could have been better communicated with ads on Amazon and Wayfair, but regardless of the avenue we are in the heaviest season for consumer purchases. From Black Friday to Boxing Week, sales will feed the coffers of many corporations looking to further blacken their bottom line. Indeed, Canadians spend approximately $30 billion on Black Friday alone.
But at what cost? The protest’s message concerned the impact of production and shipping these goods and the question of whether we really need these items.
I am concerned about the impact of heavy consumerism on our environment. But I find the impact on our collective and individual health to be just as concerning.
We live in a world where we’re bombarded with suggestions to obtain that which is fresh and new. Products are designed to be “just good enough,” with planned failures that require us to discard rather than repair them. We’re told that if we don’t have the latest and greatest, we’re being left behind.
If these messages don’t get you, the technology will. Older items gradually become unsupported, discontinued, or otherwise discouraged. If you don’t believe it, try running the new operating system on an older iPhone model. Believe me, you’ll want to purchase a new phone within a week.
The retailers are relentless. In the time it took to write the 400 odd words above, I’ve received 17 emails and three texts regarding sales on items I likely don’t need.
We put immense pressure on ourselves to purchase these items, not just for ourselves but to provide for our loved ones. Bankruptcy, suicide, and divorce rates rise through the Christmas season and often culminate with the first credit card bills that arrive in January.
The protesters are right: it is time for a change. Even if you don’t believe in climate change, we can all agree that we don’t need half of what we have. Not only that, but the stuff that’s supposed to make our lives better, happier, and more efficient actually have the opposite effect.
Perhaps we need less stuff and more time with the people around us, more opportunities to engage with each other in meaningful and memory-making activities. Perhaps our gifts should include more consideration towards the true needs of those less fortunate, to help pull up those who are struggling in our society. And perhaps we should buy from the local and small business people, since they’re often just starting off or struggling to get by.
The people we love deserve gifts with meaning, not large price tags.
We need less pressure and more meaningful gift-giving… true gifts for everyone involved. I believe this is what we all need… and to unsubscribe from all those email lists.
