Consumerism and the Environment Essay

Consumerism is a concept that was created before the Great Depression, which, by definition, nub the concept that an ever-expanding utilization of goods is advantageous to the economy the f fiddle or pattern of an increasing outgo of goods. In other words, consumerism has meant the transformation of citizens into shoppers. In fact, by and by the tragedy of 9/11, we were not asked to sacrifice or work rugged in order to defeat terrorism, we were asked to go shopping. (Barber, 2008) Buying more products may foster the economy but it is not good for the surroundings.Statistics show that the act of consumerism has negatively affected the surround and made a sustainable approaching genuinely difficult. With the threat of overpopulation and the maturationd consumption of food and natural resources, our environment may not be able to sustain future generations. In face uping at the statistics of consumption in the States over the years, we give doubled or tripled our consumpt ion of food and natural resources in the lastly 50 years. One of the root causes of our environmental problems is hyper-consumption.We simply buy to a fault much of what we dont submit and often even what we truly dont want. According to Globalissues. org half of the world lives on little that $2 a day and WorldWatch. org or World Watch constitute states 12% of the worlds population lives in North America and Western Europe and accounts for 60% of private consumption spending. The statistics of consumption in America is disturbing. Putting the consumption of food aside, global oil colour production is currently about 81 million barrels a day and is predicted to f every(prenominal) to 39 million barrels a day by 2030 due to diminishing resources. Seager, 2007)In 50 years and as these resources doubled in consumption, carbon dioxide levels additiond over 20%, which is very harmful to our environment and the ozone. The worlds population needs to fancy that consumerism is affe cting the environment in very bad shipway and plurality need to start changing the way they live and buy in order to help save the environment. The effect of consumerism to the environment has been well record over the years. From fuel consumption to polluted oxygenise, a ill-used ozone and colossal unwarranted and garbage dumped, our environment has taken a lot of hits.The increase of natural fuel over the last few decades has many hatful wondering what the world will do if we run out. The answer is simple. We need to transform the way we use fuel into re-usable, environmentally friendly fuel. That is easier say than done, but massive change is never easy. We as well fork out to look at what violate this consumption is doing to the air and the ozone layer. The effect of ozone layer depletion often seems as if it is a far away problem. In reality, the weakening of the humanitys protection from radiation has implications that spread across the planet.The Environmental is sues caused by ozone layer depletion will ultimately affect everyone. (Ozone Layer Depletion, 2012) According to statistics, the holes in the ozone layer are getting bigger year by year. on that point may not be a way to reverse the damage that has been done, but we can prevent more damage in effect(p) by making simple changes. The US produces nearly 230 million tons of pan per year and less than one fourth of it is recycled and the remaining garbage is burned. If we endue a proper plan in place, we could recycle 70% of this waste and dramatically decrease the demand virgin resources. at that place are some(prenominal) environmental agencies that actively seek to demand a change for the better. There is no one person or group able to make decisions that are binding upon all or even most of the participants in a movement. This makes negotiation and settlement difficult, if not impossible. Getting more people involved in environmental activism does not mean they need or drive to picket or protest environmentally incompatible businesses, just to be aware and work on their own consumption. (Arquilla & Ronfeldt, 2001)With the massive increase in consumption and the negative effect on the environment, the American political sympathies and corporations are putting plans into place to protect our environment. For example, according to thewhitehouse. gov, The Obama Administration is move to protecting the air we breathe, water we drink, and the land that supports and sustains us. The Recover cloak Investments in our Environment is palpateing for programs and projects that will protect the environment. The National sea Policy helps preserve our oceans.The organisation is similarly working to reduce air taint by setting ambitious new fuel economy standards for cars and trucks that will raise the miles per gallon usage and decrease carbon emissions. The giving medication has also proposed national standards for mercury, arsenic and other toxic air polluti on from power plants. There is also the proposal for the development of clean energy, which, should let up down if not stop the usage of natural fuel and also charter a positive effect on the environment. None of these proposals or policies has been put into place as of yet, but it is good to know that the government is at least working on a solution.Not however is the government working on a solution but also several of the leading corporations in America have gone jet to help protect our environment. Companies like Bank of America, McDonalds, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, and many others have decided to look at the big picture and give our environment a little help. Most of these big companies were big environmentally unfriendly companies and either chose to go green or had to go green because of move profits. They had to go green because when the public got wind of the waste the companys business suffered quite a bit.There are several things that we, as a nation, can do to help our environment and to ensure that we have a sustainable future. First thing that we need to do is to effort and reverse as much damage that has been done to our environment as possible. In order to do that, some major changes have to be made. According to science. howstuffworks. com, doing the following things could help the environment in tremendous ways Leave your car at home at least 2 days a week it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds per year.Recycle all paper and plastic. If an office building of 7,000 workers recycled all of its office paper waste for a year, it would be like victorious about 400 cars off the road. Compost your waste. Composting will reduce the count of waste that is put into landfills or burned and polluting the air. With regards to preserving sustainable resources, that problem is a little tougher to solve. Fossil fuels are a finite resource, which means it has a limit and when it is gone there is no replacing it.We have to f ind environmentally friendly fuels to replace fossil fuels. We also have to be careful with our food, water, and soil. Several studies have shown that even if rely on renewable resources like rainwater, we have to make sure that rate of consumption does not exceed how much can be produced. We have the knowledge to help save and sustain our environment and population. Ever since the inception of Earth sidereal day in 1970, activists have lobbied to get governments, corporations, and regular people to see the damage that is being done to our environment.These activists are and have been working ever vigilantly to get the word out that the environment is in trouble. We are visual perception it now with the holes in the ozone and the depletion of the natural resources. Our society has been built on consumption and the idea that more is better. In order to reverse this way of intellection we have to change the way we do things. It is a long and heavy(a) process but if everyone, includ ing governments and corporations, would do their small part we will have a more sustained and healthy environment.