HOLIDAYS:

BUY NOTHING CHRISTMAS:

For a few years running now there has been a group that has organized a 'Buy Nothing Christmas'. Buy Nothing Christmas. Org was originally started as a project of local Mennonites, publishers of the "street Christian' magazine 'Geez', here in Winnipeg who were disturbed by the commercialism and consumerism of the Christmas season today. Their site contains great rants about the consumerism of this season and links to alternatives for those who want to avoid the annual pillage and celebrate a more wholesome holiday season. Last year the group went from mall to mall here in town singing "anti-Christmas carols" calling for a non-consumption Christmas. So far their website hasn't announced their plans for this year, but stay tuned as Molly will report them s they come up. The site gives the words to a number of alternative versions for traditional carols. Go there to see the full list. Here's one from the menu:

God rest Ye Merry Gentlemen:

Slow down ye frantic shoppers for there's something we must say

If you would spare a moment all the stores would go away

Big business has been telling us what Christmas means today.

Now it's time we decided for ourselves, for ourselves

Yes it's time we decided for ourselves.

To some folks Christmas means a time for gathering with friends

And enemies might take it as a time to make amends

But TV says its time for pricey gifts and selfish ends.

Now it's time we decided for ourselves, for ourselves

Yes it's time we decided for ourselves.

Some people feel that Christmas is when Jesus makes a call

For others it's a time to stress good will and peace to all

But advertisers tell us it means that Santa's at the mall.

Now it's time we decided for ourselves, for ourselves

Yes its time we decided for ourselves.

PLUGGING IN TO STILL MORE LINKS:
Yet more from the Links front. I've added a few more items to the links on this blog. Under the general Links section are two items from anarchists in Israel ie 'Anarchists Against the Wall' (http://awalls.org ) and Ilan Shalif's home page (http://ilan.shalif.com/anarchy ). I've also added the home page of the Bratislava Infoshop featured in the last blog, and I'm pleased to say that it appears to be working: http://www.infoapolice.sk .
I've added two more items to the Blogs section, the Vancouver No One Is Illegal Blog (http://noiivan.blogspot.com ) and Shagya's Blog (http://shagya-blog.blogspot.com ). Finally, under the 'Other Interesting Links' section I've added the Buy Nothing Christmas site featured in a previous item on this blog: http://www.butnothingchristmas.org .
Molly keeps on linking

LOCAL CHRISTIAN GROUP SHAKES UP MALL CULTURE:
Local Winnipeg members of the Buy Nothing Christmas Campaign hit the malls the other day, Saturday the 16th, with a message a little bit different from what you usually hear in the Temples of Consumerism. The Church-based coalition set up for about an hour each at the Polo park Shopping Centre, the Ellice Ave, WalMart and the Future Shop on St. James St. . Operating from the 'Christmas Burnout Bus' with an eponymous banner, the anti-Xmas Christians walked through the stores singing satirical songs, adapted from traditional Christmas carols, against the over-consumption of the holidays. They offered their bus as a haven for stressed out shoppers.
The Buy Nothing Christmas Campaign has been a Winnipeg feature for three years now being co-founded by Mennonite Church member Aiden Enns. Since then the campaign has mounted campaigns such as the one this year, but they have also produced their own Christmas musical on show at various local Churches that delivers their message against Christmas consumerism in a different way. They have also held workshops on craft making as an alternative to store bought gifts.
Enns once worked at Adbusters Magazine, and in the past few years has integrated his religious and social beliefs into a coherence anti-consumption message.
The group can be reached at Buy Nothing Christmas, 264 Home St., Winnipeg, MB R3G 1X3. They also maintain a website at http://www.buynothingchristmas.org . The site provides links to a youth guide, the 'Buy Nothing Catalogue' (non-consumption gifts), musical items and a cartoon about Jesus and Christmas. There is also a link to their radical Christian magazine -'Geez'.
Interesting Holiday reading !
Molly