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REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Report: Consumerism must be halted to save the planet

POSTED BY: NIKI2
UPDATED: Sunday, February 7, 2010 08:21
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VIEWED: 1173
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Saturday, February 6, 2010 7:56 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Quote:

Consumerism is threatening to undermine measures by governments worldwide to combat climate change effectively according to a report by a U.S. think tank.

In its "State of the World 2010" report, the Worldwatch Institute warns that without a shift from consumerism to sustainability "no government pledges or technological advances will be enough to rescue humanity from unacceptably hazardous environmental and climate risks."

The 27th annual report by the Washington, D.C.-based research organization says the world consumed $30.5 trillion goods and services in 2006 -- up 28 percent on the figure recorded 10 years earlier.

The rise means that the world now digs up the equivalent of 112 Empire State Buildings in materials every day with the typical American consuming an average of 88 kilograms (144 pounds) of goods every day -- more than the average weight of an average U.S. male -- the report says.

Erik Assadourian, senior researcher and director of the 2010 report told CNN: "In essence, the whole point of the report is to say that for humanity to thrive long into the future we'll need to transform our cultures intentionally and proactively away from consumerism towards sustainability."

The 244-page study details the work of 60 authors who explain strategies and present examples of cultures reorienting away from excessive consumption towards sustainable practices.

"There are six key societal institutions -- education, business, government, media, traditions and social movements," Assadourian said. "We break those six apart and address how we can use those institutions now to help create a cultures of sustainability."

In the chapter "Rethinking School Food: The Power of the Public Plate," authors Kevin Morgan and Roberta Sonnino highlight the example being set in Italy.

"Italian schools have been sourcing locally for decades," they explain, "often complementing their emphasis on local products with a wide range of educational initiatives for children and their parents that emphasize the values of seasonality and territoriality."

New eco-communities like Vauban in the German city of Freiburg are singled out for praise in the chapter "Building the Cities of the Future." The 5000 residents in the new neighborhoods inthe south of the city power their homes and business using 100 percent renewable electricity.

Assadourian believes the path towards sustainability will also be aided by harnessing social marketing to spread a new message.

"Despite the vast majority of media today reinforcing consumerism, there are efforts worldwide to tap media's vast reach and power to promote sustainable cultures," he said.

"No longer is it enough to simply change our lifestyles. We have to take an active role in changing the very cultures we are part of."

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/13/consumerism.climate.c
hange.report/index.html





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Saturday, February 6, 2010 10:43 AM

LITTLEBIRD



Not sure I can argue that consumerism must be halted to save the planet, but I think a sustainable lifestyle is always a good idea. It teaches people to actually think about what they are buying and WHY.

And wouldn't a lack of consumerism hurt the economy? Oh wait ...

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Saturday, February 6, 2010 12:05 PM

LITTLEBIRD




I've seen some of the arguments here about global warming and I don't feel I have the scientific background to prove or disprove that theory. But here is an article about global warming and it's effect on the oceans. scary stuff.

http://blogs.edf.org/personalnature/2010/02/04/ocean-acidification-a-h
idden-risk-of-global-warming
/

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Saturday, February 6, 2010 3:41 PM

FREMDFIRMA



Birdie, I just sidestep the whole thing but pointing out two very sensible principles.

Don't trash your living space.
Waste not, want not.

Anything else gets bogged down into he-said-she-said-yeah-prove-it-that's-not-good-enough round and round that accomplishes NOTHING while wasting time and frustrating everyone involved.

-F

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Saturday, February 6, 2010 3:49 PM

LITTLEBIRD



Good advice!!!

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Saturday, February 6, 2010 3:51 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by Fremdfirma:

Don't trash your living space.
Waste not, want not.


Is that anything like "Don't shit where you live," and "You want that?"


The laughing Chrisisall

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Sunday, February 7, 2010 7:59 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


Frem covered it.



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Sunday, February 7, 2010 8:07 AM

CHRISISALL


If we halt consumerism, what will happen to all those useless McDonald & Burger King toys that our children love so much (for about 2 seconds)?


The laughing Chrisisall

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Sunday, February 7, 2010 8:21 AM

FREMDFIRMA


Give em to the cats, heh - who seem to like them better than the kids.

Funny thing about that, is that I was goin through the cat toys earlier and spotted a little widget I'd almost forgotten.

Anyhow remember those Radio Shack FM wireless "bugs" which were about 1-3/4" x 1/2" x 1/2" with a short string-tail antenna ?

Damn useful things, since they transmitted in the low FM band and you didn't need a separate receiver since you could just park nearby and use your car radio - crummy range on em though.

Anyways, some time ago, I hollowed out one of the larger cat-toy mice and put one inside, hiding the antenna in the felt "tail" of the mousey, and it worked well enough I built a couple of em...

I'd totally forgotten about that till I spotted one of em in the pile, LOL!

Accoustic Kitty indeed, *snort*, why didn't get just train the cat to plant one of those instead?!

Especially since cats are downright masters at leaving a toy somewhere you ain't EVER gonna find it, yes ?

-Frem

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