Amount of Resources Used per Purpose
Morning, Noon & Night
With the data I collected I was able to produce 5 different graphs, however I feel that the mose important and relevant to our current society in Need vs. Want. After studying the results of this exercise, I was surprised to see how many of the things I use on a day to day basis weren't necessary. Initially I wanted to make the category VERY strict meaning only air, food, water etc where needs, but then I realized there are certain things that society dictates we should have as the norm. Since we have grown up with these things we seem to feel that we need them and for most of us it would be unbearable to live without them; for example bedding, lights etc. I felt that the graphs would have been inaccurate if I didn't include this things, I know that I could live without them however, I'm not sure I would want to live in a society without bedding and lights. The end results of this exercise where very useful in analyzing my life and how I can make improvements in my day to day routine. While listing the products I use in the shower, I noticed I used THREE different types of soap. Usually I wouldn't have though to be a concern otherwise, It is totally normal for some reason to use soap for your body, a different kind for your face, then shampoo, and later on during the day dish soap and laundry detergent not to mention the many different kinds of cleaning solutions for your counters, windows, tiles and floors. At some point you have to put your foot down and say "this is getting out of hand." to a certain extent I feel rather offended; when looking at the tally in black and white, it's funny to think that companies actually expect you to think all these soaps do different things. Above all it's frightening to know that you do.
2 comments:
Good graphs, Amanda, very analytical. I like the fourth one.
About want and need...I don't think they are really that separated.
The consumptions for meeting the social expectations are the ticket to get other's acception. A society intend to reject individuals that refuse to accept its norms. Rejected indviduals have far less oppertuinities, therefore less likely to be happy or productive.
According to Dixon's lecture, the economic has to grow because if it stoppes, many people lose jobs. So, for now, our consumption other than essential needs are probably not essential to ourselves, but eventually necessary for others, as a collective effect.
The issue is, the world's population is keep growing. There will be more people in the future. If they all want to get jobs, the "want" consumption probably can't be stopped. There must be a growing need for more human resources...
Would that be even more frightening?
I love your analysis, Amanda, especially the soap 'discussion'. I also think that the lighting/bedding aspect is interesting from another point of view - they may not be strictly necessary to stay alive, but if you didn't have electricity for lighting, you couldn't stay up past 6 pm. in the winter to learn to read and write as a child, and thus you would be living (as some people in Africa and Asia now do) with very little hope of changing your situation. Things that aren't essential to live ARE essential to a 'good life' and a 'just society' - so figuring out how to provide them without destroying the planet is REALLY important.
Post a Comment