Consumerism – Debate Environmental Tales

There are many things in our lives we take for granted and think they are normal and natural ways of being and acting.

Yet, most of our ways have existed for some decades or a century or two, which is mere blink of an eye in the age of humanity (300 000 years).

For thousands of years people have lived mostly in harmony with the surrounding nature and if there has been the idea ownership, goods have been maintained and passed over generations. The possessions in an average household were rather limited and related to actual needs of simple life.

By 17^th and 18^th century colonialism had brought wealth to England and there was a need to create “a market” for the slave produced luxury goods like sugar, coffee, tea and tobacco. Along with

capitalism and
industrialisation

also other kinds of consumer goods emerged.

Mass production and popular culture spread the joy of consuming for the USA from early 20^th century and together with globalisation and free trade made it a planet wide fashion by the end of the century.

It could be reasonable way of living in single nations, but if the whole World would consume as the Americans, we would need four to five Earths – and we only have one.

So, we should turn back our modes of operation back to where it has been most of the existence of human race – instead of constantly wanting more we ought to concentrate to what is important and enough.

Consider:

Since humanity has been “consumers” for some decades or a century, we CAN settle again for less and seek the meaningfulness outside the material world. It might also have some impact on mental well-being of many people.

Large part of living in current World system is about consuming and enabling continuous growth – of economy and population. Since that is an impossible scenario even in middle term, in the name of the survival of our sole planet we need to cut our consumption drastically.

Tasks:

1. Is there something broken, you could fix TODAY – instead of buying a new item?

Maybe small rip on your clothes – or some minor damage of some household item?

2. Is there something you would need to buy this month?

Would it be possible to buy bit more expensive item – that would last longer and could be repaired and serviced?

3. Could you buy local?

Globalisation is based on fossil fuels and producing goods in the cheapest places. Whole process often involves burning fossil fuels in manufacturing and transport from far away locations. If you buy locally produced, your carbon footprint is smaller AND you support local people.

4. How could you change your life to consume less Earth’s resources?

Could you buy less and repair more? Can you think of some relaxing activities, that are free of charge?

Links – read more about consumerism:

Origins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism

Overconsumption: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overconsumption_(economics)

Capitalism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism

Colonialism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism

Take action:

Unicef: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/over-consumption-worlds-richest-countries-destroying-childrens-environments-globally

World overshoot day: https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/solutions/

National overshot days: https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/newsroom/country-overshoot-days/

Stories: