Feast for Thought

An illustration of how many people end up buying what they don't need (can't use?!) Foreword: You may have received this forward, attributed to 'an old man with old thoughts'. (If you have, please skip to bottom of post). " LATELY, I have been thinking a lot about the Lehman crisis. Spending money that they didn't have and going beyond their means is one of the main reasons for their situation today. In fact that is the cause for the current economic crisis in the US. When I see all this happening, I can only remember the good old days. Then, karz was bad. People looked down upon those who took loans. Parents would not give their daughter's hand in marriage to a man with loans. But of course, the times have changed now. Everyone I know has a loan. The buzz word is EMI (equated monthly installment). Today, you can buy everything on EMI - a house, a television, an i-Pod. In fact I know of someone who just bought a fancy BMW 3 series on EMI, instead of buying ...

Anti-consumerism and non-consumerism are subjects close to the heart, so it was heartening to come across The Story of Stuff . The presenter Annie Leonard has painstakingly put together a 20-minute video on the material(istic) economy, in other words - mindless consumerism. That's the first frank admission I've ever heard from an American that - they are the worst consumers - they create disproportionate trash - they get cheaper electronics and other stuff only after indiscriminate, behind the scenes, unaccounted use of natural resources and the sweat of the brow of the third world Her message, simply put, reads - 'Linear system in a finite world is unsustainable'. You don't need to be a Math wizard to understand that. I'd like to think that more people are now aware of the environmental costs of our consumption pattern. I'm glad I could record this (on this page) close on the heels of Human Footprint Calculator . Annie Leonard directs the viewer to a list ...

We hear about sustainable development and green technologies that try to positively impact on global warming and climate change. From vulgar market-mad-media-driven consumerism and mindless material acquisition, some enlightened elite few are moving towards green ideas, both elsewhere and at home...because they can ' afford ' it. The emphasis is on changing the consuming habit from mere material acquisition to material that is a product of green thoughts, actions, and technologies...be it green homes, green AC's, green fridges, green clothing...green luxury! Why do people hesitate to talk about anti-consumerism or non-consumerism? I feel I sound quite 'green' (meaning both naive as well as eco-conscious!). Am I more eco-friendly if I reduce my consumption, or just because I switch to green stuff? In India, we need to go ahead with radical efforts on sustainable development in every sector...even if it means slowing down the so-called economic growth rate. What is...