Fri 16th December TCE & Sustainable Haringey Winter Community Films & Celebration @ Hornsey Vale 6.30pm

A Personal Appeal to the Seasonally Afflicted

Dear Friends,

At this time of year I become conscious of an affliction which burdens so many in our community.

Just as rodents infected with Toxoplasmosis will throw themselves in the path of cats, the human disease of Toxexmasosis overwhelms otherwise (reasonably) rational people with a compulsion to throw themselves into an exhausting frenzy of purchasing.

The repercussions can be serious. The sufferer may show physical symptoms of light-pursedness and shortness of credit, followed by the mental malaise of Buyer's Remorse. (1)

Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/john-jackson-sports/files/2014/11/black-friday-crowd.jpg

A more virulent strain of Toxexmasosis has recently been introduced from abroad: So-called ‘Black Friday’, first identified on the dark side (of the Atlantic), infects the population even earlier in the season and every year provokes more rabid behaviour.

But there is hope:

I can personally recommend a 2-step programme to help build up immunity, using the proven remedy of BND:

1. Buy Nothing Day on Friday 25 November was established in 1992 to assist in combating the disease that was already spreading alarmingly in North America (2)
2. Newly introduced to the therapeutic arsenal is #AltXmas16, which will be trialled on the afternoon of Sunday 27 November in a Crouch End clinic (for one day only). It allows a measured return to spending after the BND detox, providing a safe environment in which to act out the problem behaviour with reduced toxic side-effects. If you would like to be part of this trial, you will find details below. 

What is #AltXmas16?

In a healing environment gentle volunteers guide the patient towards nontoxic options:  fairtrade, recycled, and locally made objects, and gift vouchers for stimulating new experiences.

Even people fortunate enough to be totally free of the debilitating compulsion to exchange gifts in a formulaic meaningless manner will be able to spend an afternoon sampling refreshments, listening to music and experiencing general pleasantness.

I encourage you to try #AltXmas16 yourself, and to spread the word to anyone who you feel may benefit from it. 

Let me leave you on a positive note with this case study from my personal journey. By strongly resisting the urge to buy people gifts, I observe that I also reduce other people’s desire to buy them for me, thus creating a positive feedback loop, and illustrating how recovery can be a beautifully reciprocal experience. 

And here's an uplifting little seasonal film about goodwill at Christmas.

Wishing you goodwill and good consumer health,

Gemma x

1. Experts ascribe this to the stress of cognitive dissonance caused by trying to believe one is an agent of goodwill, while  suppressing the knowledge of complicity in environmental crime; the promotion of sweatshop labour; and most importantly, the contribution to the geological instability of London by enabling overweight felines to dig enormous basements.

2. Observance of BND is analogous to the fast days found in all major religions. Abstinence gives us permission to pause in the midst of the frenzy, and the space for contemplation about the true meaning of shopping.

Appendices

1) Follow this link for information about accessing therapeutic #AltXmas16 (Available for one day only)

2) Guides to wellbeing and consumer cleanliness:

Boycott Amazon

Boycott supermarkets

Object to supermarket expansion

Tell the Story of Stuff

Aspire to Fairtrade

Aspire to fair wages

Celebrate Buy Nothing Day

Be nice to turkeys

The Alternative Xmas Fair Sunday 27 November 2.30-5.30 pm

Forget the High Street and source your presents from local makers, authors and artisans.  We will also be selling gift vouchers to give your friends and family an unforgettable (and valuable) experience!  Check out our website and Facebook page for more information about our contributors and regular updates.

Apple Day 2016

Green on the Screen MON 26th Sept 2016 7pm 'How to Change the World' and Q&A with Greenpeace Director John Sauven. At Earl Haig Hall, Elder Ave, N8

May 16th 7pm - Green on the Screen presents...

 

This film evening includes presentations; Award winning Environmental Pioneer & Author Donnachadh McCarthy FRSA. Eco- journalist & radical speaker on Climate Change with frequent TV & radio appearances and published articles eg The Ecologist. Since 2007 his own home has been carbon negative, it being the 1st in London to export solar to national grid,. Originally with the Royal Opera Ballet he moved into politics, serving as Councillor, then  Deputy chair of Lib Dems 2002- 04. Since then he has become an inspiring radical activist & campaigner to tackle the Climate Crisis, with marked successes. He powerfully illustrates the issues  in his latest book 'The Prostitute state - How Britains Democracy has been bought'. We will also hear from Cara Jenkinson of 'en10ergy' a local community renewable project and invite you to join a post film discussion with our guest speakers on how we can connect further to build low carbon community. 

'Powerful' the film asks, Who has the power? The quest for “energy security” embedded in global trade relations is even a justification for conflict. Our conventional energy system drives our transportation, powers our communications, seeming to provide a lifeline to industry and commerce. Its depleting our resources, polluting our air and affecting global climate change. Green economy educator David Chernushenko candidly examines the alternatives, the critical resistance & spin of the big energy lobby, whilst presenting what a sustainable energy-powered future may actually look like..

 

Free entry. Donations warmly welcomed. Refreshments available in main bar.

At Earl Haig Hall, 18 Elder Ave, N8

 

Green on the Screen 'Seeds of Justice' for Fairtrade Fortnight Celebration 7th March 7pm

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