What Might a Green "Surge" Look Like? Scenes from a Mall...

Opting out of the shopping scene during the holiday season is practically treasonous in a consumer culture like ours. But what if we took things a little further by executing a surgical strike directly into the heart of the beast? Yes, I'm talking about an occupation of the mall. Imagine the parking lots, the escalators, the piped-in holiday muzak, and enough elbowing and jostling to satisfy a roller derby fan. Now imagine a dedicated collective of eco-activists launching a green surge in the name of Mother Earth.

WATCH VIDEO: Going freegan is way greener than going shopping

What I'm proposing is a not-so-subtle introduction of green concepts into the mall mentality.

For example...

1. Ask every restaurant manager in the inevitable mall food court for information on their policies, re:

- Organic food

- Locally-grown food

- GMOs

- Fair Trade

2. Talk to shoppers about:

- Freeganism and dumpster diving

- Swap parties

- Re-gifting

3. Boycott. When you find establishments that flaunt un-green practices (e.g. selling unsustainable wood products, exploiting sweatshop labor, use of plastic bags, unnecessary packaging, etc.), organize an on-the-spot boycott. Tell all approaching customers what you've learned and why the planet needs them to shop elsewhere...or even better: stop shopping altogether.

And remember...

- Be polite: You want to win some people over.

- Be informed: Have your green facts straight and present them in an accessible manner.

- Be persistent: One mall surge is not enough. Organize more and help the idea spread from sea to shining sea.