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Gerald Derome
Joined: Oct 23, 2001
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[Poll] Following the lead.
September 17, 2002 - 08:18 AM
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Those of the haves follow the footsteps of their parents and grandparents just as those of the have nots follow their parents and forefathers.
Consumerism is learned. Once its evil consequences is understood then shy away from it we must.
But, what! The easiest road is the one of less resistance and why should you or i not enjoy those things that others do/have/enjoy?
We of the haves think, or/and we are told, that it is our birthright to enjoy what is marketed to us. We are always told. We fought wars to have this freedom (to abuse and overconsume?).
Yes, we of the haves are terrible.
Government says we must consume in order to keep the wheels of the economy(ies) going. So that these. "man created jobs" that we invented that do not really translate into "real work" continue.
Consumption keeps the rich rich, the poor poor.
Consumption perpetuates classes, injustices, indignities, inequalities and suffering.
Buying and enjoying your toys may cut some time off their future.
not_neo
Do you think that you overconsume?
Yes
(0 votes for 0%)
No
(14 votes for 77.78%)
Try not to.
(4 votes for 22.22%)
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sarcozona
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Re: Following the lead.
January 4, 2003 - 05:32 AM
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Waste is a serious problem, as you point out; but we are all capable of helping to reverse this problem. The small things we do, and teach to our communities, will define the direction that this problem takes. Use the back of print outs and junk mail before you recycle them. Take a shower every other day if you aren't really dirty. Use a thinner stream of water when you rinse the dishes. Buy clothes from thrift shops and use clothes you cannot donate as rags - just cut them up and bleach them. There are a thousand little things we can do to reduce waste. Just take the time to think about your actions and their possible consequences.
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Imrik
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Re: Following the lead.
February 2, 2003 - 03:13 AM
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Whether or not consumerism is evil matters little, the entire nation or world is not simply going to stop it, to forfeit everything that they believe is important. People will not see the consequences of their actions until it is too late, and even then they will try only to find a scapegoat to blame it on. Nothing can EVER be the fault of the entire population, its the way this country is made, find someone lower on the food chain and make it their fault. Zan has a better point, but even that isn't enough. For it to make even a small impact, every single person would have to act, and that certainly isn't going to happen. I don't know if there even is a way to help the situation that we, as a race, have gotten ourselves into, but if there is i think it is in a combination of these things. Balance of consumerism with reduction of waste, research into new materials, power sources or anything else that could control the way we overuse our resources.
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skay
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waste, garbage, trash, it all ends up in the same landfill
March 17, 2003 - 09:37 AM
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I just returned from a trip to Nicaragua with my global education class. It was the most amazing learning experience I have ever had. My class ventured to the main city dump in Managua to see with our own eyes people who live off of the waste that consumers produce. This experience will forever stay with me. To see small children no more than 4 years old rummaging through garbage is horrible. I felt awful. In the dump there were no leaves on the trees, only plastic bags. The lives of these people begin with the trash and waste of consumers. However even after seeing all the waste I realise that it is so hard not to create waste. Even going to the grocery store creates excessive amounts of waste. I decided that I can make a difference even if it is on a small scale. The more people are educated about their ecological footprint the better because quite frankly no one should be living on a garbage dump. Next time you go to buy groceries take a cloth bag so that when they go to pack your groceries into the plastic evironmentally unfriendly grocery bags you can use your own, earth friendly bag. If they ask you why not the plastic bag, tell them of my experience.
sra
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Karen
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Over Consumption
March 18, 2003 - 01:44 AM
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I agree that seeing something with your own eyes is the best way to learn.
Do you have any opinions about the effectiveness of mass efforts to reduce consumption like buy nothing day?
http://adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd/
What is the best way to impact change and reduce consumer consumption?
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Ha Thi Lan Anh
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Re: Following the lead.
June 16, 2003 - 11:40 AM
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I dont think anti-consumerists/consumerism is all good thing. Products are made to be consumed. By calling people in developed countries to stop buying stuff , it will automatically effect billions of labours in developing countries whose life depending so much producing exports goods.
Infact you should create *educate comsumers* compaigns.Educate them to consume with conscience.
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Me
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Re: Following the lead.
June 17, 2003 - 01:36 AM
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Lan Anh: I agree with you- it was a mistake in phrasing, I guess. I just see so much waste around me that sometimes it's frustrating. I also think that if there was a strong movement to decrease consumption, labor would not necessarily suffer. Companies would be forced to produce higher-quality goods that lasted longer and would take more time to produce. It might also let people escape factory work for other careers- a society that spent less on consumption would have more to spend on other, less disposable pursuits.
Gerald: I didn't mean to bully you. But that advertising space is going to be used one way or another; if the Times doesn't sell it, it will use it to promote itself. I'm also fairly sure that the Times offers cut-rate advertising for non-profits; they're not making as much money off of it (if it gets in) as they would off of a Visa ad. I didn't realize your employment situation- does Canada have unemployment benefits that run that long? I know we just cut ours, and I don't think they were ever quite that generous. Lastly, I used a debit card, so no fees 
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Chris Evans
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I bought these sunglasses for two dollahs
June 17, 2003 - 05:36 AM
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More on quanity vs. quality; ever since the industrial revolution there's been a subtle shift in the way human beings utilise and interact with the tools and machines that produce goods and services.
I think its pretty clear what the benefits and disadvantages are to using a machine to weave fabric rather than a skilled labourer. The point is that human beings are serving machines and systems now rather than producing for their own benefit and fulfillment.
Unfortunately, as long as there is a market for ultra-cheap goods, it will be tough to try and move away from having people working for machines, rather than the other way around.
Incidentally, I think modern technologies such as computers, the internet, and the amount of global information floating around can help increase awareness and enrich the lives of disadvantaged peoples.
Two barriers to this: limited access and control by vested interests (boo!)
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Gerald Derome
Joined: Oct 23, 2001
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I appreciate the invite.
June 17, 2003 - 09:10 AM
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Leana, there are a few reasons why i would not participate in the project named above.
1) Buying black dots in newspapers takes resources and space.
2) More profits for the industry.
3) We here in Canada have over 3,000 registered charities or non-for profit organisations. Many of them calling by all means for the nickles and dimes. Even here on TIG.
4) A money order, draft or certified cheque cost 4 to 5 dollars, and then a stamp. If i use a personnal cheque then the banks at both ends charge a fee.
5) There is an exchange rate in favour of the American dollar.
6) I have not worked for over two years (and a half now, soon).
In "Time Machine,too", i had proposed that we buy out the advertisers for a day. It would make more sence. A newspaper one day per year with no advertising. No wasted paper, energy and maybe a little less profit for the big media magnets.
Angel. I've talked about misemployment, underemployment and unemployment before. Find it in Definition Circle.
Many and much of mankinds work or created work are just there to keep us busy. This is why we still have a thriving print industry. Where computers was said to do away with print, it has had the opposite affect. Increased demand for paper and print. It is the second or third largest polluter in North America after Metals and Transportation but we keep them all alive because it employs. Gaia being the victim.
i/not_neo
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Ha Thi Lan Anh
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Re: Following the lead.
June 17, 2003 - 12:47 PM
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oh well, its just the tricky of words.
what i was saying is i think the term *anti-commerists* is not appropriate. Because anti-consumerism sounds like
*STOP BUYING* * DONT BUY* whereas it would be better if *DO BUY.But BUY what you need only.* So that encourage people to make conscious choices rather than feeling a brainwashing force.
I do think reducing comsumerism has some good affects.
I agree with you that local produced goods are important and people in developing countries deserve to enjoy what they produce too. Thats ideal. But its really difficult in current reality. Big corporations occupy everywhere. And they enjoy products from developing countries not only becuz their locals dont have resource but also becuz labours in developing ones are so cheap. Several countries are now so depending on these exports that they will certainly face crises if there are some changes.Simply put, they have resource, but they dont have power to do what they want with them.
Adding to that, if farmers in developing countries have high incomes like farmers in your developed countries then decrease a few bucks because of the decrease of export wont make them go to starve. But for developing countries where incomes of farmers can be less than 870 USD per year then its another story.
Consumerism reduction in developed countries may even increase consumerism in developing countries. Developed countries have dumped their leftovers to the sea or sell back to developing countries.And becuz of that local products cant compete with import stuff from big corporated companies.
That doesnt mean that i think reduce consumerism is not good for you. But i dont think consumerism reduction campaign should be launched alone. Fair trade,anti-dumping campaign etc needs to go alongside.
ops sorry cant continue. gotta go get the door. later.
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