Spot on as always .. I think you've nailed the observation that consumerism (and perhaps therefore 'scarcity', and competition...) is learned, while empathy (and perhaps therefore cooperation and gratitude) is our natural inclination toward others in the world. I really admire how you pair your essays with actionable suggestions and some motivating examples of good news.
Lovely, timely reporting, Amanda. It often feels like we’re hardwired to buy,buy,buy. Your reminder that consumerism is a relatively recent development is helpful.
Imagine a time before commercials. Or, imagine if every commercial, not just pharmaceutical commercials, came with a warning: This ad might leave you feeling empty and wanting.
Dear lady! Just to reiterate- here is a “truth” that will never be addressed: these “unmet desires” are fanned and created by commercial advertising, which funds all media and is at the root of the problem. In the face of the advertising onslaught, we are all like Pavlov’s dogs.
Hell! If I have to listen another person I otherwise admire try to sell me plastic surgery or underwear, I may have to scream, dear lady.
I may speak it - but most people seem more than happy to continue with the perversion wrought by commercial advertising, ad-infinitum. What choice do they have?
It’s so inescapably obvious that commercial advertising undermines the credibility of every platform and person involved, that the topic rarely sees the light of day.
Reducing consumerism also reduces the impact of the petrochemical industry and the damage done by all forms of resource extraction. Mother Earth is sick and tired of the Human Vampire.
Deep ideas here. Thank you. Thank you for reminding me I’m more than just a “consumer.” In fact, I have to be. It’s my mandate, as a spiritual or spiritual-leaning person of the 21st century.
Thank you Amanda! I didn’t know about charity navigator. I sent it to my family. We are doing donations this year for Xmas and I added nature conservancy to my list. 😊 I didn’t know environmental causes were only 2% of the list. This article was super helpful and informative, as always.
Thanks Amanda for recommending my article! I really appreciate it.
I would love to get a gift of free labor in the garden or an offer to pick up and deliver things I need in town (I don't have a car). I've experimented some years with making handmade gifts, but then I panic that it's not enough -- that the person I'm gifting to will be disappointed. Even though I've been assured multiple times that it is enough and will make the person feel loved. I need to work on this.
Still, I try to be thoughtful when buying gifts so I buy something that delights the recipient rather than just adds more stuff to their homes.
Shame on Jane Goodall for coming out against the gifting of farm animals. People love animals more than plants. Look how happy it made your daughter. Gifting through Heifer ensures that those most capable of caring for animals receive them. Besides, the methane farm animals release is consumed by methanotroph bacteria to feed local food pyramids. When you give a gift through Heifer, they provide the cutest gift cards. It's much better than giving a gift card to go out and buy something. Overconsumption gift shopping problem solved.
The methane molecule is about 30 times as heavy as CO2 so they call it powerfull. Atmospheric carbon is a high 420 ppm while methane is 0.4 ppm. Carbon last 1, 000 years before it breaks down out of the atmosphere. Methane about 12 years. Fossil fuel carbon is emitted in to the air. Dairy and cattle methane is close to the grown and digested by bacteria unless a match is struck then it breaks down immediately. You are right lambs and rabbits are much cuter.
Here in California, the big dairy farms collect all the cow poo under big black mats and as the methane comes out, it is collected and used as a fuel for farm equipment. I think that's pretty cool.
I can see merit in both arguments. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and so not increasing the number of cows on the planet provides an opportunity to control methane. But we also need to reduce extreme poverty. So my idea is that it's OK to support Heifer as long as it's a lamb or rabbit and not a heifer. It's good that they provide a choice.
Thank you for all the reminders on mind-shifting what it means to give. I am trying to buy less this year and am asking for my loved ones to only buy me used things or to do something with me instead.
Yes, the "return of the light" is when it all turns around. I thought to myself as I wrote this, how are we any different than the bears and squirrels and jays, who we can watch so busily following what the waning light tells them to do, and yet we don't realize we are so much like them.
Spot on as always .. I think you've nailed the observation that consumerism (and perhaps therefore 'scarcity', and competition...) is learned, while empathy (and perhaps therefore cooperation and gratitude) is our natural inclination toward others in the world. I really admire how you pair your essays with actionable suggestions and some motivating examples of good news.
Thanks, Doug. Finding solutions is a task I've assigned myself. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's hard.
Lovely, timely reporting, Amanda. It often feels like we’re hardwired to buy,buy,buy. Your reminder that consumerism is a relatively recent development is helpful.
Imagine a time before commercials. Or, imagine if every commercial, not just pharmaceutical commercials, came with a warning: This ad might leave you feeling empty and wanting.
A pin pricking a hole in the soul.
A poem
A gif
I wear
Wool socks
Return thread
Bare.
💗
Dear lady! Just to reiterate- here is a “truth” that will never be addressed: these “unmet desires” are fanned and created by commercial advertising, which funds all media and is at the root of the problem. In the face of the advertising onslaught, we are all like Pavlov’s dogs.
Hell! If I have to listen another person I otherwise admire try to sell me plastic surgery or underwear, I may have to scream, dear lady.
You speak the truth.
I may speak it - but most people seem more than happy to continue with the perversion wrought by commercial advertising, ad-infinitum. What choice do they have?
It’s so inescapably obvious that commercial advertising undermines the credibility of every platform and person involved, that the topic rarely sees the light of day.
The media is implicitly and explicitly complicit!
Reducing consumerism also reduces the impact of the petrochemical industry and the damage done by all forms of resource extraction. Mother Earth is sick and tired of the Human Vampire.
Yep! Thanks for being here, Maurice!
My pleasure Amanda. Well written pieces on precious concepts are a joy. I shall continue to promote you. Peace, Maurice
Deep ideas here. Thank you. Thank you for reminding me I’m more than just a “consumer.” In fact, I have to be. It’s my mandate, as a spiritual or spiritual-leaning person of the 21st century.
We are so much more than we give ourselves credit for.
Thank you Amanda! I didn’t know about charity navigator. I sent it to my family. We are doing donations this year for Xmas and I added nature conservancy to my list. 😊 I didn’t know environmental causes were only 2% of the list. This article was super helpful and informative, as always.
🙌🏻
You are a gift, Amanda. I hope you know that we know that. Thank you, once again for a helpful re-frame.
Thank you. You are wonderful, David.
Thanks Amanda for recommending my article! I really appreciate it.
I would love to get a gift of free labor in the garden or an offer to pick up and deliver things I need in town (I don't have a car). I've experimented some years with making handmade gifts, but then I panic that it's not enough -- that the person I'm gifting to will be disappointed. Even though I've been assured multiple times that it is enough and will make the person feel loved. I need to work on this.
Still, I try to be thoughtful when buying gifts so I buy something that delights the recipient rather than just adds more stuff to their homes.
Shame on Jane Goodall for coming out against the gifting of farm animals. People love animals more than plants. Look how happy it made your daughter. Gifting through Heifer ensures that those most capable of caring for animals receive them. Besides, the methane farm animals release is consumed by methanotroph bacteria to feed local food pyramids. When you give a gift through Heifer, they provide the cutest gift cards. It's much better than giving a gift card to go out and buy something. Overconsumption gift shopping problem solved.
Methane from oil rigs and pipelines is a problem
Yes, big problem.
The methane molecule is about 30 times as heavy as CO2 so they call it powerfull. Atmospheric carbon is a high 420 ppm while methane is 0.4 ppm. Carbon last 1, 000 years before it breaks down out of the atmosphere. Methane about 12 years. Fossil fuel carbon is emitted in to the air. Dairy and cattle methane is close to the grown and digested by bacteria unless a match is struck then it breaks down immediately. You are right lambs and rabbits are much cuter.
Here in California, the big dairy farms collect all the cow poo under big black mats and as the methane comes out, it is collected and used as a fuel for farm equipment. I think that's pretty cool.
Very cool 👍 I worry about the big farms with so much poo.
I can see merit in both arguments. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and so not increasing the number of cows on the planet provides an opportunity to control methane. But we also need to reduce extreme poverty. So my idea is that it's OK to support Heifer as long as it's a lamb or rabbit and not a heifer. It's good that they provide a choice.
Thank you for all the reminders on mind-shifting what it means to give. I am trying to buy less this year and am asking for my loved ones to only buy me used things or to do something with me instead.
It is nice to not feel alone in this pursuit!
Now I don't feel alone either!🙌🏻
Yes, the "return of the light" is when it all turns around. I thought to myself as I wrote this, how are we any different than the bears and squirrels and jays, who we can watch so busily following what the waning light tells them to do, and yet we don't realize we are so much like them.