Gourt > Society > Issues > Environment > Consumerism (2)
Consumerism is a term used to describe the effects of equating personal happiness with purchasing material possessions and consumption. It is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Karl Marx and Thorstein Veblen, but can actually be traced back to the first human civilizations.
In economics, consumerism can also refer to economic policies that place an emphasis on consumption, and, in an abstract sense, the belief that the free choice of consumers should dictate the economic structure of a society (cf. Producerism, especially in the British sense of the term).
History
Although consumerism is commonly associated with capitalism and the Western world, it is multi-cultural and non-geographical, as seen today in Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Tel Aviv and Dubai, for example. Consumerism, as in people purchasing goods or consuming materials in excess of their basic needs, is as old as the first civilizations (see Ancient Egypt, Babylon and Ancient Rome, for example). Since consumerism began, various individuals and groups have consciously sought an alternative lifestyle through simple living. More on [ Consumerism ]
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All-Consuming Passion - Waking up from the American Dream - Statistics, compiled by the New Road Map Foundation, describing USA consumption patterns and their effects on personal lives and the environment. Advocates a cultural trend toward low-consumption, high-fulfillment lifestyles, also known as voluntary simplicity.
Meta Description: [ EcoFuture; Statistics, compiled by the New Road Map Foundation, describing USA consumption patterns and their effects on our personal lives, the lives of other human beings and the environment. A path is pointed toward hopeful beginnings of a new frugality movement: a cultural trend toward 'low-... ]
Apoplectic Press: Curious Cards for Bewildering Times - Subversive political and anti-Christmas greeting cards, free graphic images and GIF animations, original protest music and resources for activists and other misfits.
Meta Description: [ Sells weird and funny antichristmas cards, t-shirts and a large selection of other merchandise including political anti-greeting cards, buttons, sweatshirts, bags and more. Also a destination for original political music, anti-christmas graphics, activist links and progressive lefty humor. ]
Buy Nothing Christmas - National initiative started by Canadian Mennonites to de-commercialize Christmas and re-design a Christian lifestyle that is richer in meaning, smaller in impact upon the earth, and greater in giving to people less-privileged.
Center for a New American Dream - National non-profit organization challenging the more is better definition of the American dream.
Meta Description: [ The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice. As for the “new” in New American Dream, we help people live the dream, but in a way that ensures a livable planet for current and future gen... ]
Consumer Citizenship - European effort, based out of Hedmark University College in Norway, to get consumers to actively participate in developing and improving society by considering ethical issues, diversity of perspectives, global processes and future conditions on a global as well as regional, national and local scale when securing one's own personal needs and well-being.
Consumers Anonymous - Promote innovative alternatives to consumerism, for people seeking better ways to live with the Earth.
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How Can We Change Consumerism? - Aims to convince people of the case for Anticonsumerism, where people need not feel they must constantly buy new items and use up the world's resources.
Mall-aise - Offbeat look at shopping centers in America.
Never Enough - Offers a critical look at overconsumption in the first world, which it asserts helps create poverty elsewhere and environmental damage.
Meta Description: [ ENOUGH, ANTI-CONSUMERISM CAMPAIGN . . . any proposed solutions to the problems of world poverty, environmental destruction and social alienation will fail, unless they also address the role that the consumerist lifestyle plays in creating these problems. . . . in a world of limited resources, ... ]
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Overconsumption: A Scientific View - Is there really any evidence that the world could be on the edge of an environmental breakdown due to the overconsumption and misuse of resources?
StopSUVs.org - Attacks SUV high fuel consumption, parodies SUV ads, and attacks the war in Iraq and really about oil.
Meta Description: [ StopSUVs.org is a counter-attack against SUV advertising and SUV entitlement culture. ]
Trade and Environment Database - Inventory for cases of trade and environment. From these cases, TED is also a point of context for research and discussion of trade and environment topics. Papers, virtual conferences.
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What Is Anticonsumerism? - Puts anticonsumerism in the context of green consumerism and ethical consumerism
