Our newsletter is also available on our website in English and French
November 2007
Less is More!
A colleague recently told me about a science fiction story he is writing about a society whose culture is solely based on its economy. "There would be a city full of consumer police who arrest you when you don't buy," he explained. His scenario didn't strike me as that fictitious, in the same way that George Orwell wasn't so far off from the reality to come when he wrote his novel 1984.
Message to Members
November is our favourite month. Why? Because it's when we celebrate our 7th year anniversary and Buy Nothing Day... on the same day! Be here Sunday, November 25 for our famous Buy Nothing Birthday Bash when we cover all our shelves, close our cash registers, and have a free celebration with live music, mask-making with recycled material, a photo exhibition and CAKE! We've chosen "Less is More" for this year's theme. Read more about it in our Members' Corner, where Co-op worker Maica Machnik shares her thoughts on the issue. For our full BND schedule, visit our website. *Please note we will NOT be selling any of our products on this day!
Thanks to: Joanne Deshaies, Anne-Andrée Richard (translation) Johanne Bouthillier (revision)
Photo Exhibition 
We are organizing a Buy Nothing Day photo exhibition inspired by the theme "Less is More." Send us your photos of all shapes and sizes before November 15 and they will be mounted and exhibited at our party! For more information, visit our website or phone us.
To look at photos from last year's BND party, click HERE.
Events
NOV 3
Saturday November 3, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Unitarian Church of Montreal)
FAIR TRADE Craft Fair:
Coffee, tea, chocolate, crafts and unique gifts from organizations supporting developing countries! Vegetarian soup, sandwiches and sweets.
Participants include: Co-op La Maison Verte, Ankur Kala, Dix Mille Villages, Eco-coco, Kakiri, Kyan Yawara, Mama Africa, Oxfam, Equita, Planète Monde, Punku Peru, Unicef, Vamos and Zatoun. Unitarian Church: 5035 de Maisonneuve West (Metro Vendome)
NOV 5
Monday November 5, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. (Co-op La Maison Verte)
Nutrition workshop with Jae Steele, registered holistic nutritionist (RHN).
Topic: Warming foods for winter ($8-10 at door).
www.domesticaffair.ca
NOV 12
Monday, November 12, 7 - 9 p.m. (Co-op La Maison Verte)
Concealing Ecocide: How China's ever-increasing economic development is threatening natural and human life
The first in a discussion series that gives historical and cultural insight into the world's newest industrial giant: China. This workshop will focus on the historical roots of China's industrial explosion.
Alexandre Miltsov is a researcher and free-lance journalist based in Montreal.
http://www.miltsov.org/
NOV 25
Sunday November 25, 12 - 5 p.m.
"Less is More" Buy Nothing Birthday Bash at Co-op La Maison Verte!
A day-long celebration of NOT consuming. Featuring activities for kids; live music with Jean Elliot & friends, Lake of Stew, and more special guests; a "Less is More" photo exhibition; and our famous organic chocolate birthday cake! (Store will be closed for regular purchases all day).
NOV 26
Monday November 26, 7 - 9pm (Coop La Maison Verte)
Words and Bonds - Ecological family relations series with Layla AbdelRahim: Practical considerations while expecting a child, and the early years.
Emotional contact, health, hygiene (ecological toilet-training) and other issues of early child development. (Suggested donation $5-10)
http://www.layla.miltsov.org/
New Products
- Loose Bai Mu Dan white tea and Sencha green tea from Clef des Champs
- Recycled and recyclable 3-blade razors and replacement cartridges from Preserve
- Hamacs, scarves and other fair trade products from Conscience Équitable
- New clothing from ÖOM Ethikwear
- And the amazing 100% pure Phelonian beeswax candles (tapers, tea lights, globe and pillar candles) are back!
- Fair Trade and organic hand made Divins chocolats
Member Specials
In keeping with our "Less is More" theme, members will receive 15% off of the following waste-reducing and/or recycled products during the month of November: Re-cover journals, notebooks and photo albums (made from recycled paper with recycled book and record covers), Re-binders (made from sturdy recycled cardboard with re-useable metal rings), Stainless steel coffee mugs featuring the Co-op La Maison Verte logo, and the famous Diva Cup! And don't forget your 10% member discount on all our bulk products.
Also check out our clothing sales rack that will offer an additional 10% off summer clothing for children and adults from Goddess Garments, ABAKA and more!
Members' Corner (continued from above)
We live in a society that prides itself on its materialistic economy. Oftentimes our success boils down to our economic status rather than our personal development. We are constantly encouraged, through advertising, and by one another, to overcome obstacles or sorrows through consuming. I clearly remember an earlier stage in my life when I was concerned about buying the latest colourful Gillette razors more than anything. I wanted so badly to be that girl in the advertisement with her shaved legs sticking pointlessly up in the air. It's a vicious circle: the more you buy, the more you fit into the social norm and therefore, the better you feel.
I'm no doctor, I just happen to be close to many people that I consider "shopoholics." I think many of us suffer from personal insecurities that can easily be swept under the carpet with the instant gratification of a purchase. It could be anything, even a coffee or little knick-knack that will eventually collect dust on your desk. However, this clearly will never solve our problems since there is no price for respecting ourselves and others.
The degree of our shopoholism can vary from mild to extreme, but it's a common addiction that I feel is standing tall in the way of real cultural growth, not to mention destroying our environment, but I won't get into that here.
We at Co-op La Maison Verte like to offer our customers a little detoxification with our annual Buy Nothing Day Party, which falls on Sunday November 25 in conjunction with our 7th year anniversary. We hide all of our products and open our doors for a free community party to celebrate culture, our environment and each other. This year we chose the theme "Less is More" which we hope will help encourage people to slow down, think before buying and challenge the shopoholic within.
As the Xmas season approaches, don't forget: over-consumption can be like a drug that stunts our growth. It is therefore our responsibility to police consumption instead of letting it police us.
For more information on international Buy Nothing Day, visit the following websites:
http://adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buy_Nothing_Day
Members' Corner is a place for members to write or suggest articles about environment or community-related subjects of all kinds. Email your ideas to newsletter@cooplamaisonverte.com
5785, Sherbrooke street West, Metro Vendome + bus #105 - call us! 514-489-8000