Battleangel | Personal

It’s that time of the year again. December. Unlike not so long ago, Christmas seems to start a good month ahead of time. No wonder. How would the hucksters and traffickers otherwise be able to maximize their gain and convince us that commitment has to be a material expression. Kind of like some nations turn to flag-wavers to express their love for their nation, some seem to think that the number of snowmen and gnomes on your mantelpiece, or indeed presents under the xmas tree, says something of your dedication to your traditions and community. It is a perverted and shallow idea that actually undermines the very things it claims to uphold.

Of course, this year I’m having a Buy Nothing Christmas. It’s not a revolutionary step per se, but you’d be surprised what kind of feelings this Adbusters campaign (and their Buy Nothing Day) actually stirs up. It is only when you’ve experiences the stubborn resistance and irrationality that you fully understand what kind of problem we are up against.