America is heading into month 3 of the Occupy movement, and it’s not just spreading all over the country, it’s gone global with protests happening as far away as New Zealand. But now that all these people have joined in with the intent of making a change and making a difference, what can be the next step in the movement? With Occupy Consumerism, it’s mostly a change inward to make change outward.
A Sense of Self: #OccupyYourMind
Here at Postconsumers, we’re big on being mindful about how and what you buy, as well as taking time out for yourself, to reduce stress and get satisfied. But in order to do that, it’s all about going inward. A careful self-analysis of what media you’re exposed to, the tricks the media are using to get you to just keep buying and buying, and knowing how they work is the first step. People on the outside looking in at the protests could learn from the idea of mindful consumption – and learning from the ideas of the protestors is a step in the right direction.
Getting Involved
There are more and more articles showing up about the movement pointing to the fact that the Constitution allows people to become representatives at the ripe young age of 25. If the young protestors want to get involved to change politics, they can get involved to change the process. We’re living in a democracy – they can use the flawed system to change the game. A political field filled with young people will make a bigger difference than all the old guys.
What Solutions Can You Show, Not Tell?
We talk a lot at Postconsumers about showing people how they can consume less and live more with easy, simple tips and advice. To those people who think the Occupy protests are a bunch of hooey, it’s easier to help them think about it by living simpler – which wouldn’t give the big corporations your money. A gentle, sustainable lifestyle is a protest onto itself, after all! If you’re not the protesting type, moving beyond addictive consumerism is one of the best ways to show a solution, not talk about the problem.
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