Introduction
This essay will be reviewing and discussing the change of our consumer patterns as presented by Erik Assadourian. The paper seeks to answer whether Assadourian’s critique of modern consumer culture is accurate. The paper will also find out whether we can counter the problems we are facing caused by rampant technological advancement. A review of the recommendations given by Assadourian will be done to identify the most reasonable and effective one in promoting positive cultural changes.
Accuracy
Assadourian critique of the modern consumer culture is very accurate and justifiable. The author seems to be well informed of the current global issues that the entire world is grappling with within the 21st century. The author has given practical examples of our consumption in terms of dollars. Going by the statistics given, it is evident that we are headed to a global calamity. In his submission, he claims that the world’s consumption rate has increased by 28% from 1996 (Assadourian 4). He clearly sets the record straight by confirming that the rising population does not cause the rise in our consumption rate.
While the global rise in population accounts for an insignificant increase in consumption, Assadourian maintains that individual human consumption is still the root cause of the heightened consumption rate (Assadourian 4). The author connects the rise of consumption to the increase in the use of fossil fuels, minerals, timber, land, and metal (Assadourian 4). His argument makes a lot of sense when critically examined in an objective approach. Due to the rise in human consumption of energy, the use of fossil fuels has increased in triple digits in the last ten years.
Evidence
Fossil fuels are used in industries and other mechanical products like vehicles. In 2008 alone, 68 million vehicles were purchased globally (Assadourian 5). This means that the amount of petroleum gas used to run vehicles increased by a significant figure. This ultimately led to the increase in carbon emission through burning fossils hence increasing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. The ultimate result is the current global warming being experienced worldwide.
Increased consumption of food products on the other hand has also played part in unsustainable consumption patterns. Food demand has gone up especially with the increased population and more so with the changing eating habits. This has led to the plowing of more land hence cutting down trees causing severe deforestation (Assadourian 5). This has led to changes in climatic patterns hence reducing even the favorable climatic conditions that enhance food production.
Mining activities are on the rise as the demand for metals and other minerals is at its peak. The rise in demand for furniture has also led to the destruction of forests hence depleting natural resources that were meant to sustain human life. The depletion of these natural resources is caused by the ever-growing consumer consumption (“WWF-UK: The effects of climate change” par. 6). This trend is slowly putting pressure on the earth’s system and swiftly disarranging the ecological system, which we all depend on for sustenance.
Ability to counter the worst effects of climate change
The author is very right when he claims that we can change the trend for our unsustainable consumption. Evidently, the same way we were able to get to this point of technological advancement, we are also capable of creating ways and means of reversing the harsh effects. This will involve creating and cultivating cultures of sustainability (Anderson par. 10). The problem we are facing today is because we are all living unsustainable lifestyles.
Assadourian summarizes human unsustainable culture in one simple phrase, “In the 20th century, the glory of the human has become the dissolution of the earth and now the dissolution of the earth is becoming the destiny of the human” (16). To achieve change and a paradigm shift from unsustainable to sustainable consumption patterns, concerted global efforts are required. For humans to thrive long into the future and to avert the looming tragedy of depletion of earth’s resources, we need to be fundamentally oriented on sustainability (Assadourian 16).
I strongly believe that we can come up with plans to deal with the problems we have created for ourselves. The only problem is that solving these issues will include great sacrifices that the majority of the wealthy population would not want to make. The problems we are facing globally are related to the human pursuit of money and power. Power gives an individual control over resources while money helps him/her to acquire the resources.
However, if humans can work together and confront the global issues together winning prospects are very high (“WWF-UK: The effects of climate change” par. 9). We need as humans to start caring about the environment and its sustainability more than we care for ourselves. The same genius brains that created the current technological pace can invent other ways of sustainable existence for a better future.
Reasonable recommendations to promote positive cultural change and help the environment
The author suggests one of the very fundamental themes of change to be ecological restoration, which I believe, is very practical (Assadourian 16). As humans, we should turn our focus and attention into finding the meaning of life through how much we help to restore (Assadourian 16). The earth was naturally created in a manner that is capable to sustain its ecological setting. The inability for it to do so currently is due to human interference. Therefore, through ecological restoration, we can be able to retain the earth’s function ability of self-replenishment.
Equity and closing the gap between the rich and the poor would also be very helpful in shifting to sustainable consumption patterns (Assadourian 16). Equitable distribution of resources is vital in achieving sustainable consumption patterns. When the rich control the highest percentage of the ecological impacts, then changes may not be achieved. Our focus as humans needs to change from self-contentment to collective responsibility to save and safeguard our future. According to Assadourian, equity fosters better health, high literacy levels, less violence, and improved ethics in society (16).
Assadourian recommends discouragement of consumption that directly destabilizes the well-being of humanity (Assadourian 27). This can be through eating excess food, the building of luxurious big houses using up space, and dependency on vehicles, which enhances the use of fossil fuels as wells obesity (Assadourian 27). He also recommends that the government should create policies that can label some of these consumption patterns as taboo through advertisement, social isolation, and education (Assadourian 27).
Good life and sustainability
Depending on one’s definition of a good life, the notion of having a good life as a contravention of a sustainable lifestyle is implausible. Having a good life is actually the essence of a sustainable lifestyle. Living a happy life means, everything around you is safe and your future is secure. A consistent lifestyle without the worry of what tomorrow may hold is a good life. Moreover, for a secure future, one has to be careful and cautious of his or her actions today.
Sustainability is not a restrictive measure to inhibit a good life experience. The only problem is that the wealthy are so much used to corrupt dealings and embezzlement of public resources that the only good life they can think of is the corrupt and imbalances distribution of resources. Having just enough for an individual’s satisfaction should increase the level of contentment among us. Humans must adopt a habit of reducing the number of wasted resources.
Conclusion
This paper has reviewed the article by Assadourian to answer the four questions set to assess the state of the world. Assadourian has argued that the current consumer consumption pattern is unsustainable and he has provided practical evidence to prove his point. This essay has outlined some of these pieces of evidence critically. The paper has also argued that the human race has the ability to shift from the current situation of unsustainable to sustainable consumption patterns.
The paper has chosen some of the most sensible and practical recommendations by the author that can effectively help to promote positive cultural change. They include ecological restoration, equity, and discouraging wastage through excess consumption. Lastly, this essay has argued to prove that good life does not necessarily mean living an unsustainable lifestyle. On the contrary, the opposite is true.
Works Cited
Anderson, Angela. Global Warming: Confronting the Realities of Climate Change. 2014. Web.
Assadourian, Erik. State of the World. Transforming Cultures from Consumerism to Sustainability, New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2010. Print.
WWF-UK: The effects of climate change 2014. Web.