Can or should this dependence on consumption and growth continue? Are there other ways to measure and envision prosperity, quality of life, and happiness? Is a new paradigm on the horizon, one that will reflect a new energy regime, new ways of eating, and new cultural values?
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Brandon Davis
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natashap, 
yitailiu, 
eddietastic, and 22 others are discussing.
katehaxt 1:09 pm on March 15, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Some of these questions really do my head in! For instance- “Can or should this dependence on consumption and growth continue?” Yes, we should absolutely keep consuming the planets resources at completely unsustainable rates and filling the planet with toxins and garbage as fast as we can.
Yes hopefully there is a new paradigm on the horizon where we measure our quality of life on how helpful and useful we are being to the world instead of how much we are wantonly consuming. When we realize our duty is to be of service, to give rather than take, then we’ll all have unlimited happiness and prosperity.
hannahepperson 1:55 pm on March 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I appreciate you bringing up the word/concept of service. It has been coming up in a lot of conversations with frustrated friends and colleagues lately … a sense of value comes from feeling needed … being in a position of service is, I think, the most intensely gratifying and fulfilling thing in the world. Giving gives! It’s one of those beautiful paradoxes, or something akin to a zen koan.
alyumam 5:51 pm on April 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Is interesting your commentary katehaxt although there is a part that I do not understand quite clearly, such like the one about continue consuming… Is this in order to realize the process of becoming aware that is better to give rather than take?
msmith92 2:29 pm on March 15, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Our dependance on consumption and growth can’t continue otherwise we are going to be in serious trouble. However, this is going to be extremely difficult to change. As a society that has had so much success and progress from this dependence on growth, it is going to require a complete cultural shift in order to change our current ways. In such a fast paced world, we can’t just stop everything and start fresh so I think that a paradigm shift will have to happen gradually over time as we begin to develop alternative energy sources and come to focus less on profit. Hopefully people will become more mindful of their consumption so they can make more sustainable choices.
jonl 6:02 pm on March 15, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The “other ways” I can think of is not the consumption of material things but personal experiences. I foresee however a mass outcry when public goods and common activities like going to the beach or hiking a mountain are fenced off and the public has to pay to use them. I feel like there is a shift coming should more people take greater concern for the environment.
youngblutt 7:46 pm on March 18, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think for a global change towards sustainability and restraint to occur, the change in paradigms will have to be from the socio-historical view of human progress or even human-time progress to human inclusive, historical cyclicity. I can only imagine two ways for this shift to come about. One way involves the devastating pressure that climate change will put on human populations and the consequent adaptations, physical and ideological, that survivors will have to make. The other way involves class struggles. It is evident that social, hierarchal constructions are not be easily torn down. Instead, the institutions that maintain the status quo are skillfully morphed to quell or endure social unrest. However, each new revolt against the methods of developing in “developing” communities, will spill over, exponentially, onto the shores of the “developed”.
sharonshi 10:19 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
With better and better technology, I absolutely believe that we can consume (which implies economic growth) and evade the negativity of waste. As said above, sustainability is something that will help society move towards a way to consume without leaving behind residue that hurts the future generation. In order for change to occur, the view and understanding of what is happening today must be ubiquitously shared. If only half the people around the world knew that was going on, the other half will still be contributing to the eventual doom caused by the co-dependence of consumption today. It is only when the majority makes such a task the norm that society will shift towards a more positive future.
paige 10:49 pm on March 19, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I don’t think this view can continue for much longer, we are using up all of our sources for production. I think the view should be shifted to a greener healthier view. A societal makeover or cleanse if you will. This may be biased but because of where we (or the majority of us I believe) live but I think quality of life can be reflected in how “green it is” lots of green means cleaner air, clean air means healthier citizens. Prosperity and happiness can both be measured in citizen interaction. If we were to move towards a more local consumption pattern both of these could be improved.
bgibson 4:42 pm on March 20, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I seriously doubt our ability to continue to depend on consumption and growth (of consumption) to measure success and prosperity, especially as more nations develop their economies (and eventually become “developed”). Unfortunately, while there can certainly be other ways of envisioning quality of life and happiness, it seems in our modern society we are bombarded by marketing, media, etc. with messages equating consumption to happiness. Likewise these messages are broadcast around the world so that developing nations aspire to consume at a level equal to that of developed nations. All that is to say I do not see a new paradigm coming soon (although my definition of soon may be different from others, I think I might be thinking more short-term than others here), however like some others I see the possibility of a future where we may be forced to adapt, and in doing so view the world (and success, happiness and quality of life) in a different way.
jenniefrench 5:57 pm on March 20, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Of course we have to consume – otherwise how would we live. But the DEPENDENCE on this type of consumption isn’t good and isn’t sustainable. We are so focused on the mantra – growth is good – that we will never be happy with what we have. I can envision a future, although I don’t see it actually happening, where people consume based more on need than on want, on survival than on status. Quality of life and comfort doesn’t have to radically decline, but we need to get out of the mindset that more is better. Our values, based on family, religion, culture etc need to permeate into our consumption choices – we want longevity for each other, and happiness. Perhaps what we eat, what we buy, and how we build should reflect these values.
Joyce Lin 1:10 pm on March 21, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
No, the dependence on consumption and growth should not continue. I think a new paradigm is on the horizon. You often hear that environmental activism has existed for a long time and that we’ve heard warnings of an “Apocalypse” arriving for many decades. However, I feel the awareness I am gaining today is very different from the awareness people in my parents’ generation were getting. I think that in the past, people acted on a precautionary principle (that even though they were unsure of the consequences, they should still act in prevention of the worst case scenario). However, in my lifetime a lot of real and serious consequences have surfaced and I truly believe that there are people who are changing their lifestyles and continue to influence other people with their actions.
We associate growth and consumption as an indicator of quality of life because it is associated with incomes, and therefore the level of affluence and economic development of a nation. Is this THE indicator though? I think not. In fact, many studies have shown that instead of the consumption of material goods, when people “consume experiences” (such as travelling with the family and thereby creating memories) the level of satisfaction is much higher than that resulting from goods consumption. I am confident that we will see a new lifestyle that finds a good balance between growth and consumption within our lifetime.
lcoulthard 1:25 pm on March 21, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Can this dependance on consumption and growth continue? Yes, it can, until we run out of natural resources to continue making consumption a reality. Should it continue is a different question. Obviously, under the commonly Western definition of “freedom,” which entails prosperity and happiness, consumption is a clear victor. Consumption has been a backbone of the American economy, and it has allowed America to become so powerful over the years. At the same time though, the question must be asked of “what if it stops?” What if countries like America cannot access the natural resources they need to continue production in order to fulfill the lifestyles that their population desires. War is always a possibility, and oil is a perfect past example of a warred-over resource that is needed in order to maintain certain lifestyles. For example, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait it was to access oil in order to be traded to America for weapons. I realize I have strayed off a bit at this point, but bluntly speaking, the oil from this war indeed helped to maintain certain lifestyles. The Westerners got the oil they needed for their population, and the military dictator received more weaponry. In the end, even if an alternative energy regime that could still sustain these types of lifestyles was discovered, it is likely that the disunited nations across the globe will still squabble over ownership.
jaydee 12:20 am on March 22, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
This is a complex question. As mentioned by some others, there are limitations to our consumption, though it may not be in view at the moment. Once this limitation is reached, it will force drastic changes in our lifestyle. Ultimately, I feel that the reason there is so little concern for this is because we don’t entirely understand the consequences, and also because the consequences are not standing directly in front of us. If for some reason we had to start piling up our garbage in the middle of our own cities, you can bet that the way we view consumption would surely change!
emilym 10:03 am on March 22, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I do not think that our dependence on consumption and growth can continue. Measuring success by how much we consume will simple not be a viable option much longer as we are seriously depleting our natural resources and running out of space to put the output of all of our consumption. Additionally, with our exponential population growth (expected growth to 9.2 billion by 2050) as well as expanded manufacturing and consumption habits in the developing world, the Earth simply will not be able to sustain our lifestyles based on consumption. There has to be a movement back towards reuse and recycling as well as production of products that are built to last rather than constantly replaced. The industrialization of trash has to stop and I think it needs to start with consumers demanding a change. A change in government policy would be nice too. Excessive packaging and use of materials like Styrofoam which does not decompose are examples of things that can easily be changed if we start demanding it. Though obviously more needs to be done than just that, at least it is a start.
tsung 3:58 pm on March 22, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I agree with many of the posts here that dependence on consumption and growth cannot continue. However, realize we live in a capitalist society and going into the past, capitalism has been with us all along. Every generation will feel the capitalist culture, there is simply no escape as we are all socialized (since a baby) into this system. It’s in our nature to want and once we get something, we simply just want more. Our craving for goods will simply not end unless we change the system but it’s easier said than done. In the developed nations, consumption is something normal to every citizen, however, in developing nations such as China, we see the new classes of people consuming goods. This new form of freedom of being able to consume and get something you want is slowly taking place in developing nations. As people are making more money, they are introduced to new products and will slowly take on a western style of consumption. I think education and awareness as mentioned by others are important concepts in inducing change. Many people don’t know what is happening. Society seems to be more concerned about inputs rather than outputs cause once we get what we want, we don’t care any further. I agree with what other have talked about such as having more does not mean happiness. Sometimes, it’s the little things that bring joy to people.
brenden 5:20 pm on March 22, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I know I often come across as pessimistic in these discussions but I genuinely do feel that humans are a species which on the whole is reactive by nature, not proactive. While there are individuals out there who dedicate themselves, their time and their efforts to bringing about change, whether it be through organic food production, alternative energy sources, researching climate change and other environmental issues, I feel that as a whole, humans will continue to follow their current path of consumption and growth and likely even increase their habits until it is no longer possible. Our society is structured a monetary system which rewards individuals’ greed and environmental degradation. For example, the technology for electric cars has existed for nearly 20 years (or longer). Yet the ratio of fossil fuel vehicles produced to electric vehicles produced is staggering. Auto manufactures work in close conjunction with the auto industry which ensures that fossil fuel powered vehicles will continue to dominate our roads until their is simply no oil left to power them, until not a single drop remains of that resource that someone can make a profit on. At that point I asume corporations will have targeted a new resource that can be exploited for monetary gains. I feel that similar trends occur in food production. While organic products are widely available, they represent a niche market as they have higher prices then normal goods. Large corporations genetically modify foods and use harmful fertilizers and pesticides to produce foods quicker and more efficiently then organic growers and command the market with the lower prices that they offer. I genuinely do not see an end to this trend in site unless there is some truly significant event which causes governments and corporations on a global scale to stop and examine the situation and change their values.
nytsuen 9:39 pm on March 22, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
No, it obviously shouldn’t. Landfills and environmental problems due to waste is a result of consumption; therefore, we must not depend on consumption. However, everyone understands how difficult it is to shifts gears because our cities are built on consumption. We can’t imagine sustaining our cities and our people without it. With that said, there must be a sociological change; a change in culture. People have to realize that we can longer consume at the level that we do if it will have such devastating impacts. I genuinely believe that there is a bigger audience who is aware of this impact and are slowly changing their ways. This will not happen overnight or even in a year but gradually. There is definitely a new paradigm on the horizon and I think the biggest impact will be made by a new energy regime. Inevitably, people will continue to consume but let’s change the way we produce/process our wastes. Instead of burning fossil fuels and using a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy like solar power, we can make the whole process of consumption less devastating. Yes, there are definitely other ways to measure and envision prosperity like life expectancy, the health of families, the stability of jobs, and the education program. Many also suggested ‘consuming experiences’ which I believe is great. Memories/good times are far better indicators of happiness and prosperity than material goods.
sampethick 9:53 pm on March 22, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
No. This dependence on consumption and growth should not continue; as for the “can” this dependence on consumption and growth continue? Not if we want to develop a sustainable lifestyle for our environment. If growth and consumption continues the way it is right now, all of the waste, all of the fossil fuels needed to create the things we are consuming and to deal with the waste will damage our environment so badly that we won’t be able to live in it anymore. When this happens it won’t really matter who has the most stuff. As we have looked at earlier in this course things like wars will break out over precious resources such as water and food so the more prosperous people won’t be worried about material goods they’ll be concerned about these things.
This is a really hard one. You want to think that when it comes down to it people are going to change perspectives on what’s important. And right now lots of people are, but right now not enough are. Recycling programs are getting better, many people are using more eco friendly ways of transportation, houses are being built to save more energy, but mass consumption is continuing to be a growing thing. It seems like everything is being made disposable these days! Use it once then throw it away and use a new one. Do we really need disposable clothes?
Keaton Briscoe 10:15 pm on March 22, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think the the dependence on consumption has to be changed, but I don’t think that it will happen anytime soon. With our society being mainly based on the fact that growth is a good thing, the ability to be satisfied is a far far distant concept. We always strive to become better people, and citizens, but the truth is, we just want to have a better quality of life. This idea of having a better life quality of life is something that will continue to harm our ability to become a sustainable nation because if people do not consume like they have been, they will believe that their quality of life, which is most important, has declined and they have failed.
There are many ways in which would help us become more sustainable, and there will continue to be more and more ways in which people can do this, it is just the fact of are people going to buy into what is being proposed?
erikaw 11:12 am on March 26, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Through reading this past section I tried to imagine if my life wasn’t focussed around disposable items, and sadly couldn’t. The only people I still know who live like this are my Grandparents, and even in their generation it’s becoming more and more of a rarity. This module has given me more insight onto why my grandparents get their shoes fixed and mend their shirts and wear the same belt for 20 years and has definitely given me a new appreciation for their lifestyle. I was born and raised in a generation of consumers, and although I don’t consider myself an over-consumer, my life is tied in to the ideas of disposable products. Fashion is a big one for a 23 year old girl in the city, and with that (in my closet) comes with buying new clothes and disposing of old ones. Where do they go? The thrift store – but after that who knows? Out of sight out of mind. I may have to rethink this whole cycle!
I see a paradigm shift occurring, in Vancouver anyways, around energy and the environment but how much it is steering away from disposable products I’m not sure of. It’s just a new area for marketing and sales – this yoga mat made out of bamboo bla bla, or this water bottle made out of glass, etc etc. There is always going to be something new and fun to buy – so the people on the other end can make money.
phoebe 7:14 pm on March 27, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I agree that dependence on consumption should be changed, but even if this is a bit pessimistic, I don’t find it very likely at least at this moment. Consumption, growth, and progession are closely linked ideas for our society and to stop consuming and making do with old clothes, old technology, etc. does not fit in with the mindset of Western culture. Having said that, there have been attempts at a greener lifestyle, especially by Wal-Mart (for economic profit) so although I don’t see consumption ending anytime soon, it is certainly possible that we can be convinced to consume more efficiently, and healthier for our enviroment.
hannahepperson 2:24 pm on March 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Two things. First an image from Gavin Bridge’s “The Hole World,” where he paints this image of the city skylines as “technologically, economically, and philosophically the ‘inverted mines’ of the city’s massive hinterland.” The higher we build, the deeper become our trenches. Mass consumption is echoed with mass depletion. The networks of provision that we’ve come to rely on have become so far flung, complex and alienated, however, that it seems we’ve become dispossessed of our understanding of cause and effect. We can learn about these kinds of principles in a physics class, but it is really concerning when there is a systemic failure to relate these principles to the real world. Think about the law of the conservation of mass, which basically articulates that mass cannot be created or destroyed. Economists would take this argument to be an affirmation that we’re really going to be fine, because humans are infinitely innovative, and as such, we’ll forever be able to procure provisions for survival. What a lot of economists fail to acknowledge, though, is that development is contingent upon codevelopment. If one chain in the link topples, we’re screwed. Anyway, I was meaning to talk about the law of conservation of mass … how it becomes a mantra in elementary physics lessons, but how it doesn’t seem like the concept really sinks/syncs with people! This law describes a relationship that is inherent in almost every aspect of our lives … you can apply it as a metaphor – albeit a stretch – to a romantic relationship even. What i’m trying to articulate seems so basic and obvious that I feel awkward even writing this.
On another note … paradigm shift! Yes! it’s happening. It has got to … because in the words of Jane Jacobs – “nature’s solution for maladaptations is extinction.”
hannahepperson 2:26 pm on March 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
One more thing on the subject of paradigm shifts – I’d urge you all to check out Bhutan’s “gross domestic happiness” concept – it’s pretty enlightening stuff! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_national_happiness
congo96 7:10 pm on March 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Its ben show that infinite consumption and growth is not sustainable and cannot continue at the rate it has for much longer so no the consumers lifestyle should not continue indefinitely. As far other ways to envision prosperity and quality there are many that individuals have already chosen to follow but there hasn’t been one yet that people believe will replace capitalism.
alyumam 6:11 pm on April 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Certainly our dependence on consumption in order to acquire growth cannot continue like is right now, however, this is not an easy change. I believe changing requires more than effort.
Out from North America (US and Canada) there is a popular saying about the American dream ( “the American Dream is only a dream”). This saying reduces the whole envisioning of consumerism into only a dream, We have realized that is one not so sustainable.
Is interesting to see and read in detail how the need for new cultural values as also as a renewal in energy regimes is now required in order to continue growing . However, I believe, that by thinking about growth we also should rethink how we do it.
eddietastic 2:50 pm on April 7, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
i feel like consumerism is hard to take out of our culture since its been ingrained in us since modern humans were on Earth. Since those who had more things then others were somehow a higher class then those who were lower classes which result in people wanting more things. furthermore, humans are naturally envious of their neighbors which results in people wanting more things even if they do not need the things which they get.
yitailiu 10:23 pm on April 10, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
This dependence on consumption and growth should not and would not be able to continue for the simple reason that the planet has limited resources and will not be able to sustain unlimited growth in consumption. The issue lies in that people are trapped within the ideology of continuous economic growth creates higher quality of life. A new paradigm should be encouraged and people need to be informed about the negative impacts of mass consumption and not just focusing on the economic side of everything.
natashap 9:50 am on April 13, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The dependence on consumption is going to stay until either the economic system is adjusted/changed or something drastic happens and we no longer can consume at the same rate. The entire economy (capitalism) is based on consumption, in order for us not to be dependent on consumption it would need to be changed so that other things were “rewarded” or beneficial – like buying locally or making products that can be reused or work long term.
There needs to be some benefit for people to design and produce products that last long term. It’s obviously cheaper for someone to make something with less material but that also means that it won’t last as long, but this in turn means that the consumer will have to buy it again, which is a good thing for the manufacturer.
I think things need to be priced responsibly rather than as cheaply as possible. This would allow quality, long lasting products to be made and still allow businesses to make profits. But this would obviously take a while to implement – people’s spending habits would need to shift from buying things whenever they want, to buying things when they are needed.