Consumption!Consumption!

World Issues 120World Issues 120

Part I: Part I: ConsumerismConsumerism

ConsumptionConsumption

3 3 Major Major factorsfactors causing a dramatic causing a dramatic increase in consumptionincrease in consumption since WWII: since WWII:

1.1. Dramatic Dramatic advancesadvances in in technologytechnology

2.2. A rise in western A rise in western earningearning potentialpotential & & purchasing powerpurchasing power

3.3. Cheaper Cheaper imported material goodsimported material goods in in relation to buying powerrelation to buying power

5 influences5 influences catalyzing a catalyzing a riserise in in consumptionconsumption

1.1. Western Western shopping cultureshopping culture

2.2. Government Government policiespolicies creating creating incentivesincentives to a to a high consumer statehigh consumer state

3.3. ExpansionExpansion of of world marketsworld markets

4.4. Social statusSocial status associated with associated with wealthwealth

5.5. AdvertisingAdvertising availability & its power to availability & its power to influenceinfluence

Consumerism…Consumerism…

In-class activityIn-class activityTake 5 minutes and write down EVERY SINGLE THING you bought on Take 5 minutes and write down EVERY SINGLE THING you bought on

Saturday & share this with a partnerSaturday & share this with a partnerExample:Example:Carmen’s – breakfast, $7.25Carmen’s – breakfast, $7.25Tournament program- $1.00Tournament program- $1.0050/50 draw- $2.0050/50 draw- $2.00Coffee – Tim’s, $3.50Coffee – Tim’s, $3.50Gas –$40.00 Gas –$40.00 Lunch – Subway, $11.00Lunch – Subway, $11.00Grocery store – groceries for supper $22.50Grocery store – groceries for supper $22.50Haircut for Rogan- $18.00+ $4.00 tipHaircut for Rogan- $18.00+ $4.00 tipNewspaper- $1.25Newspaper- $1.25Videos- Jumbo $15.00Videos- Jumbo $15.00Snacks- $8.00Snacks- $8.00Total: $135!!!!Total: $135!!!!

Who consumes the most?Who consumes the most?

The The developing worlddeveloping world has… has…75%75% of the world’s of the world’s peoplepeople15%15% of world of world energy consumptionenergy consumption17%17% of the world’s of the world’s GNPGNP30%30% of the world’s of the world’s food food grainsgrains11%11% of world of world education spendingeducation spending18%18% of world of world exportexport earnings earnings8%8% of world of world industryindustry5%5% of world of world science & technologyscience & technology

In class assignment / In class assignment / homeworkhomework

Read the article “Enough is enough” and Read the article “Enough is enough” and answer the questionsanswer the questions

Part II: Part II: Energy ConsumptionEnergy Consumption

North America…North America…

North American views…North American views…North Americans have been heavily North Americans have been heavily polled on polled on

energy conservation since the 1970s.energy conservation since the 1970s. The The overwhelming majority of Americans have been in overwhelming majority of Americans have been in favor of favor of promoting conservative viewpointspromoting conservative viewpoints. This . This was evident in the number of was evident in the number of media insurgencies media insurgencies related to alternate sources of energyrelated to alternate sources of energy. There were . There were also specific moves made by also specific moves made by companiescompanies to to appear more efficientappear more efficient in actual product and in in actual product and in style. It is still relatively style. It is still relatively fashionable fashionable to be an to be an outdoorsman or self-sufficient style person.outdoorsman or self-sufficient style person.

North American actionsNorth American actionsHowever, However, consumption of energy rose ten-foldconsumption of energy rose ten-fold

from the from the 70s to the 90s70s to the 90s. The . The rise in individual rise in individual wealthwealth of western nations led to an of western nations led to an increase in increase in individual buying powerindividual buying power. North Americans tend . North Americans tend to get to get upset with increases in costs for goodsupset with increases in costs for goods. . Therefore, the necessity of Therefore, the necessity of lowering ones lowering ones standard or living for the environment has been standard or living for the environment has been unsuccessfulunsuccessful. Many people will donate their . Many people will donate their time towards a cause in protest, but will time towards a cause in protest, but will do littledo little to change their ways if it incurs extra costs, or to change their ways if it incurs extra costs, or means that they will have to means that they will have to go without some go without some items they have become accustomed to living items they have become accustomed to living withwith..

North American demandsNorth American demands

This increased This increased buying powerbuying power is directly is directly transferred to the transferred to the consumption of non-consumption of non-renewable resources and energyrenewable resources and energy. It is also . It is also directly related to FREEDOMdirectly related to FREEDOM. Today it is . Today it is even worse. Consumption levels have even worse. Consumption levels have continued to increase as seen by:continued to increase as seen by:

SUVs (& number of vehicles)SUVs (& number of vehicles) , power toys, , power toys, automatic devices, recreational activities, automatic devices, recreational activities, disposable items, selection of purchasable disposable items, selection of purchasable goods, quality of demands of servicegoods, quality of demands of service

North Americans continue to demand North Americans continue to demand more more value for their dollarvalue for their dollar at the at the expense expense of of

using using cheaper, non-renewable productscheaper, non-renewable products. . They are also concerned about the They are also concerned about the freedom of choicefreedom of choice. It is felt that any . It is felt that any

restrictions on their restrictions on their way of lifeway of life is directly is directly juxtaposed to their juxtaposed to their FREEDOM as FREEDOM as

citizens.citizens.

What makes oil the What makes oil the ‘drink’ of choice?‘drink’ of choice?

In order to be In order to be commercially usefulcommercially useful, energy must , energy must be in a form that is:be in a form that is:

1.1. Easily convertibleEasily convertible to the forms of energy to the forms of energy desired by consumersdesired by consumers

2.2. Easily & economically stored or transportedEasily & economically stored or transported to the customers.to the customers.

The only forms of energy currently satisfying The only forms of energy currently satisfying these requirements are electrical energy & these requirements are electrical energy & chemical energy.chemical energy.

Energy in a chemical (oil, gas or coal), Energy in a chemical (oil, gas or coal), nuclear or hydro form is converted in a nuclear or hydro form is converted in a power plant to electricity. This electrical power plant to electricity. This electrical energy is then transported via conducting energy is then transported via conducting wires to our homes and factories where it wires to our homes and factories where it is converted into other forms by electrical is converted into other forms by electrical appliances.appliances.

Fuels are transported in chemical form by Fuels are transported in chemical form by ships, trucks and pipelines. Their ships, trucks and pipelines. Their chemical energy is then converted to chemical energy is then converted to heat energy by combustion.heat energy by combustion.

Of the many forms of “natural energy” Of the many forms of “natural energy” available on earth, only a few are available on earth, only a few are readily convertible into “commercial readily convertible into “commercial energy.” Most important of these are:energy.” Most important of these are:

1.1. Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)

2.2. Hydro-electric energyHydro-electric energy

3.3. Nuclear energyNuclear energy

BP Statistical Review of BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2006World Energy 2006

Peter Davies’, Chief Economist, presents Peter Davies’, Chief Economist, presents the key dimensions of the global energy the key dimensions of the global energy market in 2005 as reflected in the data market in 2005 as reflected in the data published in the BP Statistical Review of published in the BP Statistical Review of World Energy.World Energy.

http://www.bp.com/productlanding.do?catehttp://www.bp.com/productlanding.do?categoryId=6842&contentId=7021390goryId=6842&contentId=7021390

In-class assignment / In-class assignment / homeworkhomework

One half of the class will read “Power One half of the class will read “Power Politics,” while the other half reads “Life Politics,” while the other half reads “Life

After Oil.” After Oil.”

The teams will then write up The teams will then write up questions/answers about each article, questions/answers about each article, and give them to other team. The other and give them to other team. The other

team will then answer the questions.team will then answer the questions.

Part III:Part III:Where do we go from Where do we go from

here?here?

6 Basic Elements Needed 6 Basic Elements Needed to Reduce Consumptionto Reduce Consumption

1.1. CrisisCrisis

An energy crisis of sorts would be a catalyst in An energy crisis of sorts would be a catalyst in getting North Americans to begin accepting getting North Americans to begin accepting lower consumption restrictions. lower consumption restrictions.

2.2. IncentivesIncentives

It is felt that savings made on energy It is felt that savings made on energy consumption should be returned to the consumption should be returned to the consumer.consumer.

3. 3. Better Public PlanningBetter Public PlanningRestrictions or guidelines stipulating the Restrictions or guidelines stipulating the

need for access to public transit and/or need for access to public transit and/or low consumption services could easily be low consumption services could easily be made to developers and planners.made to developers and planners.

4. 4. Stringent Government RegulationsStringent Government RegulationsGovernment regulations need to be in line Government regulations need to be in line

with reduction incentives. If no with reduction incentives. If no regulations accompany these endeavors, regulations accompany these endeavors, there is a lack of commitment on the part there is a lack of commitment on the part of both consumers and producers.of both consumers and producers.

5. 5. More Efficient MaterialsMore Efficient MaterialsThere are many forms of technology There are many forms of technology

available today to run materials more available today to run materials more efficiently (i.e. cars, cooling units, building efficiently (i.e. cars, cooling units, building products), however, they are more products), however, they are more expensive.expensive.

6. 6. Research and Development of More Research and Development of More Recycled ProductsRecycled Products

Due to the inexpensive availability of both Due to the inexpensive availability of both building materials and products, it building materials and products, it becomes cheaper to throw away than becomes cheaper to throw away than reuse or reform products.reuse or reform products.

Zero-Waste InitiativesZero-Waste Initiatives

Zero-waste initiatives are the latest trend in Zero-waste initiatives are the latest trend in the corporate world. In essence, they are the corporate world. In essence, they are based on the based on the reduction of waste both at reduction of waste both at the production and consumption levelsthe production and consumption levels. .

There are There are several advantagesseveral advantages to both the to both the environment and the corporate body.environment and the corporate body.

EnvironmentEnvironment

1.1. ReducesReduces personal waste personal waste from from employeesemployees

2.2. Encourages the Encourages the use of recycled use of recycled products.products.

3.3. Lessens the Lessens the strain on waste disposal strain on waste disposal methods.methods.

4.4. Decreases the overall Decreases the overall consumption of consumption of raw resources.raw resources.

Corporate BodyCorporate Body

1.1. Fewer employeesFewer employees needed to take care of waste. needed to take care of waste.2.2. Less storageLess storage needed to house waste. needed to house waste.3.3. Reduction in transportationReduction in transportation needs to transport waste. needs to transport waste.4.4. DecreaseDecrease in the in the cost of production.cost of production.5.5. Decrease Decrease in the in the total supply needs.total supply needs.6.6. Return on investmentReturn on investment with the recycling of wastes with the recycling of wastes

(more money per gram of product).(more money per gram of product).7.7. Reduced cost of productionReduced cost of production (less packaging). (less packaging).8.8. Healthier public image.Healthier public image.