"Having interviewed consumers in a underground shopping mall, [Gazette Intern] Rocha concluded that "Buy Nothing Day did little to stop the exchange of cash and the swipe of plastic". It is a real shame that Rocha did not come and witness our Buy Nothing Day event - a Sweatshop Theatre at Wal-Mart (Namur metro). A mini-sweatshop (a long table with sewing machines attached, complete with abused and exploited workers) was wheeled into the mega-store where the performers attempted to return it to customer service."

Dear Gazette Editor,

I am writing today in response to Gazette intern Roberto Rocha's article about Buy Nothing Day ("Zero buying day has zero effect on shoppers" - Saturday Nov 29th, A8). Having interviewed consumers in a underground shopping mall, Rocha concluded that "Buy Nothing Day did little to stop the exchange of cash and the swipe of plastic". It is a real shame that Rocha did not come and witness our Buy Nothing Day event - a Sweatshop Theatre at Wal-Mart (Namur metro). A mini-sweatshop (a long table with sewing machines attached, complete with abused and exploited workers) was wheeled into the mega-store where the performers attempted to return it to customer service. A collaboration between the Optative Theatrical Laboratories, UberCulture Montreal, and Travesty Theatre, the performance literally brought the invisible practice of exploiting workers in third world sweatshops (in order to produce cheap goods and reap huge corporate profits) directly to the source where consumers purchase these tainted goods, oblivious to their origin. The Wal-Mart management and security guards expelled the sweatshop almost as soon as it came in, creating quite a commotion among shoppers and staff. It became clear that Wal-Mart did not want its employees or customers to see the reality of its unethical sourcing practices. Far from Rocha's perception that BND did not stop the cash or cards, when our theatre unfolded at Wal-Mart several customers were horrified and aghast when they learned the truth about Wal-Mart's unethical sweatshop practice.Most vowed never to shop there again, and some even abandoned their carts in the store, leaving the sweat-tainted products unpurchased. Leaflets were passed out, and people were educated as to the reality of where these products come from. The overall effect was clear - brand damage to an unethical corporation; accomplished by theatrically exposing the truth. Cash and cards were put back into wallets, unused.

Perhaps next year The Gazette might consider putting a real reporter on the case, someone who knows where to look for a story, and how to write an article that considers multiple viewpoints, especialy from active players in the BND mise-en-scene. The theatre critic, Matt Radz, should also have reported on this type of theatre, which while non-traditional, is still very educational, entertaining and interactive. When papers like The Gazette refuse to take events like BND seriously, it undermines the efforts of tens of thousands of activists across the globe, who are simply trying to make a point about overconsumption, unethical corporate practices, and the dangers of corporate globalization. We should be applauding these brave artists and activists, not marginalizing and ignoring them. I do hope to see better reportage in The Gazette for next year's BND celebrations.

Donovan King, Artistic Facilitator

Optative Theatrical Laboratories

ps: Video footage of the sweatshop theatre will be available very soon at uberculture.org

"Art is not a mirror to reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it. " - Bertolt Brecht

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