the false promise of green consumerism

The False Promise of Green Consumerism
By

20 Dec. 2013

Outline

Thesis statement: Of course green consumerism helps the world greatly against pollution, degradation, destruction of natural resources and global warming, however the false promise of such consumerism will lead to their vast spreading, and increase in their affective power.
I. The first and most important solution to such problem is the necessary decrease of consumerism in general, which is a very effective solution against these global problems.
II. The amount of pollution that is caused due to excessive consuming of various products in hazardous ways is reaching, if it hasn’t reached yet, a very dangerous level that will affect all of the world’s population negatively.
III. Since using eco friendly products or green products will not reduce consumerism, it is the responsibility of all the individuals to take matter into their own hands and change their actions as consumers.

The False Promise of Green Consumerism

“Green consumerism refers to recycling, purchasing and using eco-friendly products that minimize damage to the environment. This involves decisions such as using Energy Start appliances that consume less power, buying hybrid cars that emit less carbon dioxide, using solar and wind power to generate electricity and buying locally grown vegetables and fruits.”
- http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/what-is-green-consumerism
Many various companies, businesses and industries are willing to join in this green movement in order to help in saving the environment of the planet and reduce the problems it faces. However many may argue that these corporations are involving themselves in the movement seeking to gain from the growing consumer demand for greener ways. Whatever the reason that is behind this involvement it will only serve for a better cause.
Of course green consumerism helps the world greatly against pollution, degradation, destruction of natural resources and global warming, however the false promise of such consumerism will lead to their vast spreading, and increase in their affective power.

The first and most important solution to such problem is the necessary decrease of consumerism in general, which is a very effective solution against these global problems.
There should be an ethical limit of personal consumption as terrestrial resources, though enormous, are not limit less. People should be informed of the situation that they are in. There are whole islands of plastic bottles and caps in the Atlantic, holes in the ozone layers as large as continents and as tall as the Everest because of consumerism. We have completely forgotten with what little we can live healthily and peacefully because of consumerism.
Fig. 1. The amount of waste that is expected to be generated in future decades. Data from India Water Portal http://www.indiawaterportal.org
If consumerism were taken more seriously a large percentage of the total amount of waste that was generated in 2011 (50 thousand tons) could have been save and therefore saving nature bit by bit.

Since using eco friendly products or green products will not reduce consumerism, it is the responsibility of all the individuals to take matter into their own hands and change their actions as consumers. And that is by not buying any unnecessary products while being fully aware that these actions are essential for the saving of the world.
Of course other actions must also be implemented even after purchasing the necessary products and that is to recycle. This is crucial for maintaining the progress of the project. Recycling is a major step as well for the preservation of the earth. Furthermore it is an even greater step to find a way to recycle the products that are currently not undergoing this process.

Fig. 2. Materials that are still being discarded and not undergoing the recycling process.
Taken from http://environment.marcblogs.org/2013/07/epa-releases-new-solid-waste-and-recycling-numbers/

It is important to understand that it is the peoples’ understanding of the situation that the environment is in that forces them to control their actions and therefore help in restoring the balance to save nature. It should be clear that consumerism is the greatest threat in the world to the world. The false promise of consumerism should be worked upon as well in order to stop it.
All the solutions that are found should be implemented for our own sake. No one wants to be late to save the natural environment. Our life depends on it.

Works Cited http://environment.marcblogs.org http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/your-neighbourhood-dirty-picture-growing-garbage-crisis-and-10-ways-which-you-can-help http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/what-is-green-consumerism http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152828/ http://www.ted.com

Cited: http://environment.marcblogs.org http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/your-neighbourhood-dirty-picture-growing-garbage-crisis-and-10-ways-which-you-can-help http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/what-is-green-consumerism http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152828/ http://www.ted.com