This idea is a well intentioned idea by conscious-guided citizens such as yourself (and me); however, it is a subtle, misguided con!
We are taught and are teaching that to fight the destruction of our planet (caused by consumerism and hyper-capitalism) we should…buy more, but different things.
Don’t get me wrong, I too have undertaken do each of your recommended actions, but it’s not really helping the environment.
If that’s the sum total of our political, consumer, and environmental agency, we have been effectively neutered.
Corporations want us to believe we are making a difference through these choices and actions, while they continue to slash, cut, burn, emit, enslave, dispose, and use up all the resources.
The problem is the neoliberal, hyper-capitalist system that is strangling everything. This needs addressing, otherwise our world and our children’s world will be destroyed while we and our children pat one another on the back for making (not much of) a difference.
Forgive me if I seemed negative in communicating my thoughts yesterday, I am having a ‘the-whole-system’s-the -problem’ time.
I’m a primary school teacher who practices and teaches the very things you shared yesterday. So I definitely do not disagree with you, and I also agree with the buy, produce, sell local model as a big picture solution.
During these school holidays I’ve been reading about how corporations actually sponsors grassroots movements to divert attention away from the main causes of environmental destruction, poor health and economic disparity.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. It’s helped me process the problem.
Perhaps it’s like we are at the periphery of a great battle. We are fighting along the edges, encouraging others to enter the fray, so we can hold and make some ground.
This, while we are concurrently conscious that the masterminds and generals who are causing and coordinating the greater war are doing so from a safe, distant land.
Does fighting locally help? Yes.
Will corralling more to fight help? Yes.
Can we win the war from this battle front?
No, but it must be fought, with the greater goal of taking out the masterminds and generals.
The corporations and those governments permitting weak regulations must be held to account; the neoliberal system must be dismantled, and these can only be dreamed of if people begin to care and learn, which is the very journey we are on.
Sure, you can see it that way. And yes, corporations like to play mind games. Feeding on our fears and being easily swayed.
I know for me personally, in time, I needed a new toothbrush. So I chose a product that was a better option than pure plastic ones. Then once my water bottle got lost, I bought more 'child resistant' ones. I chose local small businesses to make my purchases from as opposed to large corporations. I found a local small eco fabric store and bought a whole roll of fabric to make my cute little shopping bags and produce bags (all these I sadly left behind in Australia when I moved to the USA).
We can make amazing choices every day to support small local businesses and communities. I truly believe we need to go back to local communities. As you say, this hyper-capitalist system is destroying the world but it's US to who needs to make conscious choices. More sustainable choices. Stop with the plastics, stop with the single use anything.
Thank you for taking the time to read the article and respond. This is how we all learn - by collaborative comments, feedback, support.
This idea is a well intentioned idea by conscious-guided citizens such as yourself (and me); however, it is a subtle, misguided con!
We are taught and are teaching that to fight the destruction of our planet (caused by consumerism and hyper-capitalism) we should…buy more, but different things.
Don’t get me wrong, I too have undertaken do each of your recommended actions, but it’s not really helping the environment.
If that’s the sum total of our political, consumer, and environmental agency, we have been effectively neutered.
Corporations want us to believe we are making a difference through these choices and actions, while they continue to slash, cut, burn, emit, enslave, dispose, and use up all the resources.
The problem is the neoliberal, hyper-capitalist system that is strangling everything. This needs addressing, otherwise our world and our children’s world will be destroyed while we and our children pat one another on the back for making (not much of) a difference.
Forgive me if I seemed negative in communicating my thoughts yesterday, I am having a ‘the-whole-system’s-the -problem’ time.
I’m a primary school teacher who practices and teaches the very things you shared yesterday. So I definitely do not disagree with you, and I also agree with the buy, produce, sell local model as a big picture solution.
During these school holidays I’ve been reading about how corporations actually sponsors grassroots movements to divert attention away from the main causes of environmental destruction, poor health and economic disparity.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. It’s helped me process the problem.
Perhaps it’s like we are at the periphery of a great battle. We are fighting along the edges, encouraging others to enter the fray, so we can hold and make some ground.
This, while we are concurrently conscious that the masterminds and generals who are causing and coordinating the greater war are doing so from a safe, distant land.
Does fighting locally help? Yes.
Will corralling more to fight help? Yes.
Can we win the war from this battle front?
No, but it must be fought, with the greater goal of taking out the masterminds and generals.
The corporations and those governments permitting weak regulations must be held to account; the neoliberal system must be dismantled, and these can only be dreamed of if people begin to care and learn, which is the very journey we are on.
Thanks for your article.
Sure, you can see it that way. And yes, corporations like to play mind games. Feeding on our fears and being easily swayed.
I know for me personally, in time, I needed a new toothbrush. So I chose a product that was a better option than pure plastic ones. Then once my water bottle got lost, I bought more 'child resistant' ones. I chose local small businesses to make my purchases from as opposed to large corporations. I found a local small eco fabric store and bought a whole roll of fabric to make my cute little shopping bags and produce bags (all these I sadly left behind in Australia when I moved to the USA).
We can make amazing choices every day to support small local businesses and communities. I truly believe we need to go back to local communities. As you say, this hyper-capitalist system is destroying the world but it's US to who needs to make conscious choices. More sustainable choices. Stop with the plastics, stop with the single use anything.
Thank you for taking the time to read the article and respond. This is how we all learn - by collaborative comments, feedback, support.
bonus point for the win!
Thank you