UnitD DEALING WITH MONEY 1 READING Buy Nothing Day exs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 a) Do you or your family/friends sometimes spend a whole day without buying anything? Why (not)? Buy Nothing Day Buy Nothing Day (BND) is a day when people buy nothing for 24 hours. This way they show what they think about our modern consumer society. What for? Experts claim that 20% of the world's population consume 86% of the world's natural resources. That leaves just 14% for the four or five billion people in the world's poorer countries. In richer countries people have to ask themselves. "Do we really need all the stuff we buy? Can we cut back?" In Canada and the USA, BND takes place every November the day after Thanksgiving. It is the biggest shopping day of the year in the USA. In Europe and some other countries. BND comes on the last weekend in November, the time when lots of people start thinking about Christmas shopping. The first BND started in 1993. The idea dates back to 1992 and belongs to Ted Dave, a Canadian. He worked in ad vertising, and wanted to protest against the message of the advertising industry, "Buy more!" Later, another organisation, Adbusters, took up Dave's ideas. Find out more about them on the internet. Russians often spend a lot of money on presents and stuff before New Year and Christmas. New Year is one of the most popular holidays in the country. There are often big sales in shops before and after New Year. BND takes place in around 65 countries all over the world. Last year, over one million people took part in it. BND is es pecially popular in Europe. There is no central organisation for BND. The event is organised in different countries by different people - consumer groups, volunteers, environmentalists and others. There are plenty of different activities on the day, so everyone can find something to their liking! Or just stay at home and don't shop! how much money people spend every year? Did you know … • In Europe: $11 billion on ice cream • In Europe and the USA: $17 billion on pet food • Worldwide: $33 billion on make-up and perfume what you could buy in poorer countries? • $10 billion: clean drinking water for everyone in the world • $1.3 billion: immunising all children in the Third World • $5 billion: universal literacy b) Read the text and choose the correct answer. Other Russian publie holidays 1 The nim of BND is to b) in advertising. January Russian (January 7) February Orthodox Christman n) ask people for money. b) avoid buying products c) as an environmentalist. 4 BND in organised a) by different, people. b) by Ted Dave. from poorer countries. c) protest against the consumer society, c) by consumers. Defender of the Fatherland Day (February 23) 2 BND takes place on the same day 5 With $5 billion poorer countries could May Victory Day (May 9) ing our a) buy enough ice cream for everyone. June a) everywhere. b) in Canada and the USA. Russin Day (June 12) c) in Europe and Canada. 3 In 1992 Ted Dave worked b) teach everyone to read and write. What other important public holidays are celebrated in Russia from September to December? onust rer es, n) for Adbusters. c) immunise all children. c) Match the words in bold in the text with the definitions. 1 people who try to protect the environment • 2 material, objects, things • 3 to happen • 4 society which buys many things • 5 know how to read and write • 6 to be involved in an activity - 7 minerals, forests, coal, etc. 2.4 em- day ies, hen 2 LISTENING Teens and pocket money exs. 6, 7 Listen to two teens talking about the way they spend pocket money, Who says what? Match the speakers with questions A-I. One question is extra. F Who buys video games? SKILLS 2.1 to adthe isa- out and buys popcorn? A Who goes to the cinema G Who gets £30 a month? H Who never has any mon- eу? B Who saves £10 a month? C Who gets £5 a week? D Who wants to get a job? I Who gets £20 a month? rld. E Who earns money for es- tion dif- babysitting? exs. 6, 7 ntal- 3 SPEAKING Role play Work in pairs. Discuss if BND is a good idea. Use the arguments below. the just Partner B: BND supporter • 20% of the world's population consume more than 85% of the natural resoure- Partner A: Shopper - Shopping is cool: I like to go out, do window shopping, etc. es. • We support small shops, not big brands. • People should be free to spend money how they wish. • Millions of people are too poor to be consumers: what is BND to them? • BND is not about one day; it's about changing habits. • We must learn to buy less. the • Businesses will lose money and people may lose their jobs. • People will just buy what they want the next day. • Advertisements make us buy more than we need. orld