Two months ago (which gives you an idea about how long it takes me to write some of my posts) I got to see William Cavanaugh speak about consumerism specifically 'When is Enough: Living as Christians in a Time of Affluenza'. William spoke about our detachment from, production, producers and products.
Detachment from production: We no longer make things for ourselves and we have little if any idea of how things are made.
Detachment from producers: We don't know the people who make the products we consume.
Detachment from products: We no longer buy a product purely for it's utilitarian value. Instead we buy products for the emotional experience attached to it or it's brand.
These are just three simple points that have encouraged me to make more stuff or at least understand how stuff I buy works so that I can repair it rather than throw it away. It has reinvigorated my desire to know how my products are made whether that be in a sweat shop or factory farm and to seek out alternative. And, I am becoming more aware of how advertising tries to sell things (brown fizzy liquids are often sold as fun experiences rather than tasty liquids) and thinking how can I get that feeling doing something other than purchasing the product, which of course will not give me that feeling anyway.
2 comments:
Ha ! I don't know whether brewing your own beer, youghurt and bread counts but it saves a few dollars.
We can to a realisation that we infact have everything we need in life which started to put future purchases in new perspective. I have no problem with replacing the DVD if it wears out, but I think its that drive to never be satisfied that is the problem. Always wanting more and never relaxing enough to enjoy the 'now'.
I think there comes a stage where you really 'have' all you need...its just realising and taming the 'wants'.
Hello Garth,
Yer, I reckon beer brewing and bread baking counts. I think for most of us in the west our needs get met pretty easily. The wants, as you point out, are the hard bit especially when they are presented to us as essentials or as something that will fill some kind of emotional void.
On an intellectual level I'm sure I have all I need right now, and some more. My problem is getting my heart to fall in line.
Post a Comment