Host a Swap It party...
...and be part of a consumer revolution
Wanting to freshen up your wardrobe? Thinking about spring cleaning your CD collection? Then host an Oxfam Swap It party and trade your stuff for something different, and help fight poverty.
Every two hours in the UK, we throw out enough stuff to fill the Royal Albert Hall up to bursting point. 90 per cent of what we buy ends up as landfill within 6 months.
This crazy consumption is contributing to climate change, which is already having a devastating impact on people in the poorest countries who do not have the resources to cope with longer droughts, more frequent floods, and more intense hurricanes.
It's time for a consumer revolution.
Don't shop it, swap it!
On 25 April 2008 Oxfam supporters will be putting on swap it parties to help reduce the mountain of stuff we throw out every year.
The concept's a simple one: people bring stuff, swap stuff, and then take the surplus to their Oxfam shop!
Why not put on a Swap It party of your own on 25 April? You could get your mates around and refresh each other's wardrobes. Put on a party at university and swap a few books and CDs with student friends. Or even invite your entire town to a giant swap-a-thon at your community centre, and trade your TV for a toolkit.
Save a fortune. Save the planet.
Our desire for more and more stuff is having a pretty dire impact on poor people.
Excessive consumption is only helping to accelerate climate change, which is in turn pushing poor people further into poverty.
Hosting a swap it party not only inspires people with a fun, creative way to consume, but also creates a space for people to get talking about the impact we're having on the planet and on people.
