Conclusion & Reflection
Is the chicken local?
Yes, and his name is Calvin.
The file with a photo of this Calvin suddenly reminded me of those charity organizations with orphaned kids. I am uncomfortable thinking about either.
What I’ve learned in the process of this project is that consumption consists not only what we buy ie.clothing, what we eat, or the energy we use directly. In addition to the surface level, a higher living standard on the consumption basis includes the ability to enjoy “processed” commodities more than “raw” ones.
To save time, we eat instant oatmeal, which is rolled oatmeal cut into smaller bits. We transport bananas from the other side of the world and keep them in temperature controlled warehouses, so we can enjoy them at any time of the year. To keep up with the supply, we turn lands into plantations on massive scales and use significant amounts of chemicals. The machines to harvest in agricultural productions often require gasoline ie. tea harvest, trucks. What about the transportation of fertilizers and pesticides? To look at how much oil is used to produce one product, we have to look at the inputs as well – a similar depth , width and perception as the question “is the hazelnut used to feed the chicken local as well?”
I’ve considered myself as the type of consumer who is logical, reasonable with self-control. I had thought that because I buy less and I recycle, I don’t carry the burden of environmental depreciation. Through this project, I realize the calories that I thought I absorbed is only a partial of the total. I’ve consumed multiples of this amount. Suddenly, I feel “fat and bloated”. I feel that I have the over-consumed calories stuck inside of me.
I admit that changing my consumption habits will be hard. I still want to have instant oatmeal in the morning with a banana because it is quick. I would continue to drink tea and coffee, plus some sweets, to keep myself awake. From the individual level, I can see the difficulties in changing the values of society as a whole. With the root of environmental issues deep in our culture, change will be slow and difficult; the future looks gloomy and pessimistic.
However, if I can’t change the “necessities,” I can surely change the unnecessary consumption matters ie. Starbucks or new shoes. I can influence my family and enroll the household in the “green bin” program. *New connection in mind: how much gasoline is used in our garbage pick-up routine? By how much is the consumption of oil increased with the new green bin program?
From the bird’s-eye view, we are consuming primarily oil in this century. Through production to consumption to reduction (ie land fill, compost), oil is a necessity. We’ve indirectly consumed more calories from oil than from the actual consumption of food. We are the oil monster…or maybe we are the creator of this oil monster. Will there be Super Friends to save us?
Please enjoy this 7 minutes cartoon of Super Friends.
The End.
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