THE LEGEND OF CONSUMERISM

 

          We have become a nation of consumers, our primary identity has become known for its consumerism. We shop and shop, keeping the material goods flowing and our pocket books emptying. Shockingly , after only 6 months of use over 99% of our own consumption ends up in the landfill, that means that only 1% of all our purchases are kept for longer terms. Our enormously productive economy demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction in consumption. We need things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever increasing rate. That our purpose within society has become merely to produce and consume material goods. Forget partaking in things that matter such as health care, education, sustainability or justice?
         We need to take a deep look into the production and why we are buying into it! Did you know that many of the material goods are" planned obsolescence" or designed strictly to be placed in the dump. It use to be just plastic bags and coffee cups, but more recently it's become bigger ticket items like phones and computers. Even more alarming is that the other percent of material goods being manufactured are made strictly to be replaced within a short amount of time. Small stylistic changes, colours, and modifications are made so the consumer wants to have latest and the greatest. The market dictates our buying habits and it's time we fight back!
         Think about it.