I've struggled these last months. Even lost my mojo. Seriously, I've woven less than a dishtowel over so many weeks they've become months.
Some time ago I read Ellen's call to action. The national 24 hour Economic Blackout on February 28th:
I will participate.
The 24 hour Economic Blackout
As our first initial act, we turn it off.
For one day we show them who really holds the power.
WHEN:
12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Do not make any purchases
Do not shop online, or in-store
No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy
Nowhere!
Do not spend money on:
Fast Food
Gas
Major Retailers
Do not use Credit or Debit Cards for non essential spending
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Only buy essentials of absolutely necessary
(Food, Medicine, Emergency Supplies)
If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.
SPREAD THE MESSAGE
Talk about it, post about it, and document your actions that day!
WHY THIS MATTERS!
~ Corporations and banks only care about their bottom line.
~ If we disrupt the economy for just ONE day, it sends a powerful message.
~ If they don't listen (they wont) we make the next blackout longer (We will)
This is our first action.
This is how we make history.
February 28th
The 24 Hour Economic Black Out Begins.
A day of rage will be cathartic, and I'm looking forward. And then, thinking backward, I thought of the boycotts I've been part of in my lifetime, and many I've not. I wasn't there for the Montgomery bus boycott, but I have participated in many consumer boycotts.
Remember supporting the United Farm Workers by boycotting produce? Grapes and lettuce. Other movements we helped as we could. The ending of apartheid. Greenpeace. Heinz. More I can no longer remember. The National School Walkout. (Another damn cold day!)
Here's a list purportedly posted by Heather Cox Richardson, but actually by the Heather Cox Richardson Community. You can find it on Facebook, if you still have an account.
It's a list of Project 2025 adherents. It doesn't include the big guys, like Amazon and Tesla; it's the minor players, who equally do not deserve our support. Use Ctrl+ to enlarge the print, if necessary.
This list is published by democratsabroad.org, a good place to look for resistance efforts. Sadly, about half our country could be on this list, which seemingly halves our available world. Or not.
Most of us are no longer raising children, managing households. We still control our purse strings and can make informed purchasing decisions. Research products before you purchase. Purchase locally. Use renewables and reuseables. I gave up most paper products years ago. Buy handkerchiefs. Buy kitchen towels. Be thoughtful about cleaning products.
Be vocal. Don't buy a Tesla, but also don't boo the Canadian national anthem. And don't begrudge them the opportunity to vocalize their displeasure with our government. That's all.
A permanent boycott of Tesla, Amazon and Walmart would be a great start. That would make people sit up and take notice.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, this really made me sit up and take notice. You're an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThere are some places to avoid forever. I already don't patronize a lot of this list! One day is a start, but keeping it up is great.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. It gives me something to focus on instead of my fear and rage.
ReplyDeleteShop thrift stores (if you’re mobile)— win/win/win for environment, community, and FUN!
ReplyDelete😃❤️
Thank you!
DeleteI hear you on the lost mojo. Every morning there's mental bargaining about what's the point of even getting up. Then my bladder gives me a reason to rise. It's impossible to fathom how we got here.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the 24 hour Economic Blackout -- I hope it inflicts some damage!
ReplyDeleteI know that Canadians booing the anthem is unpleasant. We are booing Trump, not Americans. Please appreciate the threat that we are under. I know you do. I speak out for others.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I'm not sure how much of an impact this will make... but it's 'something' we can do to voice our discontent. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteRian, you said it better than I could.
DeleteSomething that needs to be done anyway..and even more so now.
ReplyDeletePower to your collective arms
Add Air B&B to that list
ReplyDeleteI barely buy anything as it is, and being in a different country I don't know that it would help if I missed my daily newspaper.
ReplyDeleteBeing in Belfast, I won't be taking part. But I hope it shakes things up a bit.
ReplyDeleteIf Canadians are not buying American, why not the rest of the world?
DeleteI haven't seen any mention of the Economic Blackout here in Northern Ireland, but if I hear of anything I'll certainly take part.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteMore power to the blackout!!! I do hope this message reaches as many Americans as possible before that date... but every revolution begins somewhere. YAM xx
The resistance is getting organized. That’s great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Joanne. I'm glad to see many large demonstrations all over the world supporting Democracy. I can easily join this boycott on Feb. 28th.
ReplyDeleteThe boycott is a great idea. Thank you for posting about it. We all feel, I think, as if we have no power but we do. We do.
ReplyDeleteI'm in.
ReplyDeleteI hope many, many people will participate on Feb. 28th. I know we Canadians are doing our part to buy only Canadian right now. I'm sad that we are booing the US anthem at sporting events but some people feel they have no other way to express displeasure with the President.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I don't think you are alone with your struggles and lost mojo. I hope the protest helps and you feel rejuvenated. Thanks for sharing the list.
ReplyDeleteI have the date on my calendar!!! There is also a no Amazon week and a no Walmart week in March and another black out day in April. It's something we can do while the younger folks come up with more things that they can do!!!
ReplyDeleteA lot of people and a lot of noise is a great start.
DeleteIf we could harness rage and anxiety right now for the side of good, we'd be winning. And what you're doing, and this movement is doing, is just that. Take that rage and make something good from it. The U.S. - and the world - is made up of individuals who, collectively, can make a difference. And for what it's worth, I wish Canadians had not booed at that hockey game earlier this week. There are more productive ways to make a political statement.
ReplyDeleteI could swear I left a comment here earlier. I'll be back tomorrow to check and comment again if it doesn't show up!
ReplyDelete... and there it is :)
DeleteLoved what Robert Reich said today...
ReplyDeleteThose of you who want the leaders of the Democratic Party to step up and be heard are right, of course. But political parties do not lead. The anti-war movement and the Civil Rights Movement didn’t depend on the Democratic Party for their successes. They depended on a mass mobilization of all of us who accepted the responsibilities of being American.
We will prevail because we are relearning the basic truth — that we are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.
Read more at: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/ten-reasons-for-optimism
Thank you for this. I copied and sent out to 20 other "ragers" and have already received back positive comments such as they will send it out as well and they have already heard it from other groups.
ReplyDeleteStrangely, I have many Canadian relatives and they have never wanted to talk about politics in any way. I wonder what they are thinking now.
I hear you, Joanne, and I"m with you. Sickened these days is putting it far too mildly.
ReplyDeleteThank you Joanne! I’m sending this list on to my friends,
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Barbara
My sympathies with you all about this mess.
ReplyDelete