This presentation deals with a topic that interests me allot. I definitely agree with Annie Leonard. I too think we are living in a society where we are consuming our way to destruction. As a poor student with a very tight budget, I would not consider myself as a shopaholic. Looking around me, though, I’m seeing allot of people who are. I believe we all know someone who has to have everything in the latest version, but there is nothing wrong with that. The problem is last week version that he/she bought one month ago. This iPhone/computer/sweater gets thrown away and it lands on the humongous pile of trash that we cal “garbage dumb”. On top of this we should not forget that every time a new iPhone/computer/sweater is produced, raw materials are needed to be used as well. Every time raw materials are used the national recourses that we have on this planet is reduced.
The situation is untenable. Continuing this way we will destroy our own planet. I believe the only way too save this planet is to change our lifestyles. It is absolutely necessary that we slow down our consuming pace and start recycling.
I do not think we are doomed though. Because today many teenagers buy there clothes on second hand and just the other day I saw a commercial that requested the watcher to make exotic dishes from yesterdays leftovers. The society has started to realise the seriousness in this, and it has started to react. Let’s just hope that the people follow.
Hi,
SvaraRaderaIt feels good to know that there are more that feel the same way. Although it is still saddening that we are a bit to late so I guess "better late that never" does not really fit in...
I really like your point and way of writing :)
//martin
I don't consume that much stuff either since I'm a student to. I have gone through a process in my life concerning this issue. I've grown up in a family of five kids with a poor budget so naturally I bought a lot of things when I got my first job. I bought all the things that I've always wanted. Then I came to realise that it wasn't so fun after all beeing able to by what ever you wanted. Having to live with a disorder named OCD every day of my life have taught me to value those days when I'm feeling alright as the most important thing. What stuff I have is not an issue as long as I have clothes and somewhere to live. I think we need to think about that our health is far more important than the stuff we can buy with our salary. Then maybe there wouldn't be so many people that worked until exhaustion. Then perhaps our children could look forward to grand-dads and grand-mothers that could play with them instead of buying them the largest spaceship in Lego.
SvaraRaderaOf couse I don't proclaim to be perfect conserning this matter. I'm probably just as bad as everyone elses. Things that I do to try to help the world is buying fair trade products when I can afford it. I also give the things that I don't need to second hand shops. If you have a lot of stuff at home that you know that someone else wants, then give it to them as a christmas present.
This became a very long comment but your piece really got me inspired.
/stina
Hi Lydia,
SvaraRaderaI love this video, videos like this should be shown in every classroom worldwide. We cannot ignore this problem much longer, action needs to be done. People will always follow trends, somehow we must make eco-thinking “cool”. For example trends like buying second hand cloths.
Well written as always.
/H