Since the start of the industrial revolution in the 1750s, we have been burdened with consumer culture, amplified by the technological advances of Henry Ford and the cultural modifications of General Motors. Since consumer culture and its mechanisms underpin planetary degradation - we need to find new ways to engage with the mechanisms themselves for a sustainable future. Key takeaways: conscious consumerism
Image Credit “There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness.” – Mahatma Gandhi Conscious consumerism - sometimes called green or ethical consumerism, might seem like a recent trend; but it has its roots in the 1820s, according to American Studies professor Lawrance Glickman in his book Buying Power: A History of Consumer Activism in America. Glickman shows that conscious consumerism - a practice that has flared up on occasion over the decades but has become more prevelant since the 1990s - began in the early 1800s when consumers started boycotting goods produced by slave labour, such as clothing and soap. Early forms of conscious consumerism used boycotting to show solidarity and reject the prevailing values of the time. These activists helped change power structures, cultural values, and the economy by simply using their power to choose what they buy and where they spend. These days, conscious consumerism is a little more complex - as is the world and the economy - but the theory of consumer power is still a vital mechanism for change. But due to market developments, consumers also need to be conscious of marketing practices and greenwashing. Image Credit
Marketing has always been effective, but the generalist approach of the 20th Century, which used billboard and TV advertising, has been superseded by the targeted approach in the 21st Century. Targeted advertising is even better at appealing to consumers and creating markets. It might seem as though consumers are powerless against modern market forces, especially the advertising models developed by the digital media giants in Silicon Valley. Digital media is not looking to sell products so much as capture the consumer’s attention for advertising revenue. Becoming a conscious consumer in the 21st Century is even more complex since everyone is closely integrated with digital media, trading their attention for services. A prime example is Google which provides customers with free services in exchange for data to use for advertising. Conscious consumerism is about taking charge of our power as consumers to change the direction of market forces. Admittedly, this is made more challenging in a technologically integrated world; but the theory remains the same. Consumers retain their powers of choice. Conscious Consumerism: the need Conscious consumerism hasn’t disappeared with the new economy; instead, it has fragmented and become more complex. It might be challenging to be a conscious consumer in the digital age, but there are plenty of choices to make to influence business decisions, market dynamics, and neoliberal policies. Climate change, plastic pollution, and food resources are examples. Top image Credit Biosphere integrity is one of the nine planetary boundaries. The biosphere is the air we breathe, the rain we hear, and the animals we see; it is all of the ecosystems, both visible and invisible, that create the fragile atmosphere of our home planet. Many planets have an atmosphere, but few, if any, have a biosphere and are conducive to life. Biosphere integrity is under threat due to human activity on the planet over the past 50 years.
What is the Biosphere? Earth is a special planet in the galaxy and possibly in the universe, too - it has a biosphere. Of course, planet earth is not the only planet to have an atmosphere - many of them do, including Mars, a close relative of the earth - but the earth is unique since it has a habitable zone for life. This habitable zone is called the biosphere. The biosphere is made up of many systems of atmosphere and ecology; in short, it is systems such as photosynthesis that create atmospheric conditions conducive to life. The biosphere also includes the oceans, rainforests, and weather. What is Biosphere Integrity? In its purest natural form, the biosphere is in perfect balance. Of course, planet earth is a dynamic and changing planet. Like others in the universe, it has undergone periods of volcanic changes, interstellar impacts, and extinctions that have affected its evolution and integrity. The reason planet earth can sustain intelligent life is that it has settled into a balanced and stable biosphere for a long period. However, the biosphere is a fragile arrangement of systems that can be easily disrupted by substantial changes to the atmosphere and the fragile biota. Recent Changes to the Biosphere In recent times, meaning from the mid-1800s until the present day, substantial changes to the biosphere have occurred. Huge amounts of carbon dioxide that once permeated the atmosphere of the planet before photosynthesis buried it underground have been released. The human demand for food, water, and other natural resources is putting a strain on ecosystems, contaminating the atmosphere and endangering animal life. Balance must be restored to living systems and fragile ecosystems with human collaboration and changes. Negative Feedback Mechanisms Negative feedback mechanisms are sometimes referred to as “tipping points”; they are fragile systems on the planet that accelerate change when a threshold is breached. Negative feedback mechanisms are a central concern in climate change because the damage is not reversible. In the biosphere, negative feedback mechanisms include global warming, the melting of arctic ice and permafrost, ocean acidification, chemical contamination in the land, atmospheric changes, and contamination in water cycles. Ecosystems in the biosphere can be destroyed. Crossing the Biosphere Boundary Changes in the biosphere need to be monitored carefully to protect the planet from triggering irreversible processes. In 2005, The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment concluded that human activity was responsible for rapid changes to the biosphere integrity over the past 50 years. The biosphere encompasses many processes and systems and therefore requires a wide range of metrics to generate reliable and measurable data. However, according to the Stockholm Resilience Centre, biosphere integrity is thought to have breached the planetary boundary. Image Credit Chances are you have encountered a climate change skeptic. These are the people at parties and in the workplace who comment on the beautiful weather and say, “climate change, bring it on.” It would be helpful if you were armed with a few climate change facts to push back on this. “It’s the coldest winter ever! So much for climate change!”
This comment is one you might hear in your friendship group, at a party, or in your workplace. The sentiment goes a long way to establishing the general ambiguities around climate change since most people take their data from the day-to-day weather conditions in particular seasons. However, there is a difference between “weather” and “climate change.” The weather fluctuates on a daily basis, but climate change refers to long-term trends. Naturally, the two overlap - a warming climate impacts weather conditions - but it is simplistic to conflate the two dynamics. “Climate change is natural; it’s been happening forever!” It’s true that earth is a dynamic and changing planet in the solar system, and that has been the case long before plants, animals, and humans began to evolve. When we look at the history of the planet, it’s clear that there have been periods of extreme warming and cooling over time. The trouble is that periods of warming coincide with increased greenhouse gas emissions - these are measured with ice core samples and atmospheric research. The planet can sustain life due to CO2 absorption, but humans are releasing harmful gases back into the atmosphere. “Even scientists can’t agree if climate change is real!” For a long time, there was not a complete consensus in the scientific community on the progress of climate change. A few climate change skeptics attributed the planet’s warming to changes in the temperature of the sun or natural fluctuations in the planet’s core temperature. Today, with an already 1.2-degree temperature increase above pre-industrial levels, there is complete consensus amongst the scientific community that climate change is a real threat. Looking at the current data and trends, it’s clear to everyone human activity is to blame. “Plants, people, and animals can simply adapt and evolve.” Plants, people, and animals are adaptable organisms, but that doesn’t mean they can adapt to a rapidly changing climate - especially not frogs. Frogs are used as a bio-indicator for climate change as their delicate skin and reliance on external factors make them sensitive to changes. Sadly, frog numbers are in rapid decline as global temperatures rise and their habitats dry up. Sure, humans might be able to build domes to live in or migrate to another part of the world, but it’s not the case for everyone or the majority of life on earth that relies on optimal conditions. “Climate change is beneficial to people and the planet.” There are some skeptics that even say climate change is good for us! Climate change reduces winter deaths, energy bills and makes winters more pleasant. Of course, the other side of this is the mass migrations, animal extinctions, and deaths. On balance, a hotter planet is detrimental. Image Credit Most of us are incredibly busy with our lives. We have jobs to turn up to, families to organise, and interests to pursue. Of course, we are not blind to the challenges of our time, but often do we think about our offspring in the far future or our ancestors in the deep past? Reflecting on deep time helps us gain perspective on our lives and the responsibilities we have inherited.
Do Future Generations Have Rights? A right can be defined in a number of ways. In society, a right is granted to individuals and legal entities such as companies, organisations, and states. These rights are drawn up and granted through a system of courts. People also have legally defined human rights from birth to death. So, what about future generations who don’t exist yet? Do they have any rights? Philosophers debate this question, but from as far back as Ancient Greece, people have been concerned about the people to come. Legally, they have no rights, but they are in the human community. What are the Needs of Future Generations? The needs of future generations are an equally slippery topic. Some philosophers say that there is no way to serve the needs of future generations because their needs are unknown and are likely to be different. Future people may not appreciate a legacy of art and culture, for instance. However, we can expect future human beings to be intelligent organic entities - at least in the near future - so there will be a need for the foundations of life, that is, water, food, clean air, shelter, and the conditions to support their human rights. So we can at least pass on the basics. Can We Support Future Generations? The short answer is yes! As human beings living today, we are uniquely placed to determine the direction of cultures and societies in the future. In fact, the decisions and changes we make today can fail to have an effect on the people of tomorrow, so we must create a legacy for them. Present-day human beings have inherited a good natural habitat, along with a rich artistic, scientific, and cultural heritage. Of course, we have different needs and priorities from our ancestors, but we still use their foundations. It’s important to allow new ideas to also flourish. How do We Create the World of the Future Nowadays, there is a lot of chatter in our culture about living in the present moment. It’s true that the present moment is all we have in reality, and it’s important to be mindful of that, but it would also be irresponsible to ignore the past and the future. Life is greater than a present experience. To create a world of the future that has stability, integrity, and sustainability, we need to look at how our ancestors managed the challenges of their time - what did they do well, and what could they have done better? We will also need to utilise technology wisely to shape our future world. The Role of Future Conversations Future Conversations is a program that attempts to dialogue with the past and future to create a new vision for the present day. Future conversations can be leveraged in the community, in businesses, and in households to create lifestyles and processes built on sustainable values. Image Credit |
AboutHere’s a collection of some of our articles which have been in our newsletters or published elsewhere.
Archives
May 2024
|
Sign up TO SUREFOOT NEWS >>The Surefoot Effect equips people, communities and organisations with skills for sustainability and resilience.
CIC Number SC437410 |