Consumerism And The Rise Of Localism Flashcards
What is a consumer society?
A society in which buying and selling of goods and services is the most important social and economic activity
What happened in the Rana plaza building?
The building collapsed in Bangladesh in 2013
What was produced from the Rana plaza building?
Fashion items-
What were the effects of the Rana plaza building collapse?
Many people lost there lives as the upkeep of the building was neglected instead the production of clothing was focussed on
What has globalisation done to produced goods?
Means goods can be produced cheaply and then easily cross between continents
What has low production costs caused?
Global levels of consumption have increased as prices have fallen
What is another factor that has increased consumption of products?
There are more consumers global population has risen from 3.7 billion in 1970 and is predicted to reach 10 billion in 2050
What has happened to coffee production since the early 1960’s?
It has doubled
What is the problem in the coffee production industry?
Although production has doubled an estimated 25 million coffee growers are at the mercy of extreme price volatility
How has car production affected the earth?
There are now over 1 billion cars contributing to a rise in green house gases and a reduction in air quality
What environmental issues come form importing goods?
Goods that were once sourced locally are now imported due to globalisation this mens there is greater emissions coming from transporting these goods
How many people form Africa, Latin America and Asia have attained ‘new middle class’ status?
1 billion in the last 30 years
2 billion not far from this
What are some examples of how globalisation is causing environmental stress? (Don’t need all just remember one or two)
- 2050 food demand is set too double worldwide (moe meat and dairy as more middle class)
- Global commodities (wine and chocolate) have a high water foot print
- 2013 ppm was 400 resulting in higher temperatures
- Animal husbandry and crop production water intensive (depletion)
- More urbanisation= more water used
- 2035 50% increase in energy usage (fossil fuels)
- Carbon footprint increased as more people buy more goods
What is the problem with consumerism?
The negative impacts of consumption are experienced in places distant from where the consumers live
Why are consumers not the problem when it comes to consumption?
Consumers often do not know the full FOOTPRINT of the products they are buying
What are some examples of the FOOTPRINT of a product?
Embedded water in a t-shirt
Pesticide exposure to cotton farmers
Or devastation from cutting down trees for paper
What is localism?
A range of political philosophies that prioritise local over regional and global
What does localism typically support?
Local production and consumption
Local control of government
Promotion of local history
Local culture and identity
What is the Bristol pound?
A local currency created to improve Bristol’s local economy
What is the primary aim of the Bristol pound?
Support independent traders
Maintain diversity in business around the city
Who created the Bristol pound scheme?
Non-profit scheme between
Bristol Pound Community Interest Company
Bristol Credit Union
What are some of the advantages of the Bristol pound?
It keeps money in Bristol
More then can be invested into improving the area and quality of life
Mutually supportive trading network
Allows local restaurants to buy local crops from surrounding area (reduced food miles)
What is WinACC?
A local group that is promoting actions to mitigate the negative effects of globalisation (consumerist society)
What is an example of what WinACC do?
Local transport plan 4.
Shift to zero carbo transport across Winchester District
What are transition towns?
Settlements where individuals and businesses have adopted ‘bottom-up’ initiatives to make their community more sustainable and less reliant on global trade
Where was the worlds first transition town?
Totnes Devon
What are the advantages of transition towns?
Brings groups of people together
People work together for a common goal
Allows local business to survive without being outcompete by large chain stores
What is ethical consumption?
Deliberately choosing a purchase because of the products ethical nature or a moral boycott
What is a moral boycott?
Not buying a product because of concerns of its ethical nature
What is the aim of ethical consumption?
Reduce the inequalities of global trade and improve to working conditions for disadvantaged groups
What company is a good example of being an ethical brand?
Patagonia
How ethical are Patagonia?
No longer wants to be seen as sustainable as its still part of the problem
A high number of reduces are made from recycled materials
Discourages customers from buying too many of its products (“don’t buy this jacket’)
Making good efforts for workers with good policies to audit suppliers
What is the aim of the international fair trade system?
Promoting fair terms of trade to benefit farmers and workers
Based transparency and respect
What does the fair trade mark guarantee?
That the products ingredients have been produced by a small scale farmer, organisation or plantation that that meet fair trade social, economic and environmental standards
What are some advantages of fair trade?
Producers get more pay
Increased QOL for farmers local area
What are some disadvantages of fair trade?
Producers may look for other suppliers which will offer cheaper prices
Farmers who are fair trade will have reduced income might have to only subsistence farm
What are EU countries aiming to do with municipal waste by 2020?
To recycle at least half
What does recycling more waste mean?
Waste is diverted from landfill and raw materials will be reused for new consumption offering lower environmental costs
How much energy is saved by recycling an aluminium?
95% energy compared to making a new can
How much were emissions reduced between by 2001 and 2010 by the successful recycling in the EU?
56%
How is the reduced emissions in the EU from recycling misleading?
Average- 56%
Germany- 62%
Romania- 1%
When was the keep Britain tidy campaign developed?
1954
who formed keep Britain tidy?
National Federation of Women’s Institutes
What was the aim of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign?
Address the rising problem of litter in an emerging ‘throwaway society’
What iconic image was created by the keep Britain tidy campaign?
The ‘tidy man’ logo
What are some of the ways Keep Britain tidy have succeeded?
Over 1 million bags of litter collected
9 billion fewer single use bags
2,208 green flag award parks
