WHY DO WE HAVE SO MUCH STUFF?

Mountains o’ Things

What motivates us to acquire? “One of the weaknesses of our age is inability to distinguish needs from greeds.” Don Robinson.

Consumerism “You can't have everything... where would you put it?” Stephen Wright

Why do we need so much? The public are swine; advertising is the rattling of a stick inside a swill-bucket, George Orwell ( ), Keep the Aspidistra Flying, 1936

What happens to our stuff?

E - Waste A recent study found only 3% of cell phones are recycled worldwide, and nearly half in that study didn't know recycling phones was possible.

What are you a “slave” to? In a consumer society there are inevitably two kinds of slaves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy. -Ivan Illich ( )

What is the difference between needs and wants? Roughly 45% of Africa’s population lacks access to clean water. About 39,000 British Columbians are "inadequately housed“.

What is the difference between needs and wants? 25 per cent of BC’s young people across all grades say that they've been bullied or teased or felt insecure in their schools. Adolescents, who have low self-esteem and are highly self-critical, are particularly at risk to become depressed when they experience stressful events.

Satisfaction? “Contentment is natural wealth; luxury, artificial poverty.” -Socrates (B.C )

Searching for Happiness Joy is not in things; it is in us, Richard Wagner ( ).

When the ability to have a quiet mind under all circumstances is gained, one enjoys constant happiness, no matter what he is doing and where he is. This is quite attainable, but to gain this peace and happiness you need to work towards it. By making the first step today, happiness will start to fill your life.

Happiness is always here, but covered by thoughts, desires and fears.

Poverty of Ambition? “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” Barack Obama

How do we get away from “stuff”? “We need to steer clear of this poverty of ambition, where people want to drive fancy cars and wear nice clothes and live in nice apartments but don't want to work hard to accomplish these things. Everyone should try to realize their full potential.” Barack Obama

Have Your Say... Choose one or some of these questions and respond (either support or argue the point). Develop your response with specific ideas, examples, and details. You may use words and/or pictures to convey your ideas. Do we (individuals, groups, Canadians, the global economy) have too much stuff? Why do some (individuals, groups, specific cultures/nations, etc.) continue to acquire “stuff”? Does this trend need to change? Why or why not? Explain. If so, how can we effect this change?

Bibliography DATA, Debt AIDS Trades Africa, Google Images MPC: Materials Processing Recycling, e.blogspot.com/2008/09/some-shocking-it-e-waste-statistics.html e.blogspot.com/2008/09/some-shocking-it-e-waste-statistics.html The Tyee, Vancouver Sun