by Alexis Elizabeth

Created on: March 23, 2009

American Culture

The media and advertisement campaigns have been responsible for influencing American culture since before the industrial revolution. Commercials showed us what to wear, how to clean, what our husbands wanted for dinner, and what our wives wanted for Christmas. Additionally our television programs demonstrate the importance of accumulating lavish material goods from the 'Beverly Hillbillies' cherished cement pond to the multiple pools and hot tubs featured on MTV's 'Cribs'.

The Effect

The desire to live beyond our means continues to be fueled by the media to this day. Movies, shows and commercials depict families with spotless homes, lush gardens and large pools. Women take long showers, men take baths in over sized tubs and the kids wash the car, hose down the dog and then squirt each other. Because of the media, for Americans, these water consuming activities are viewed as common place. Considering the fact that only five gallons of water a day per person is necessary to survive, this use of water can only be described as wasteful.

What Can Be Done

Such wastefulness of a natural resource like water will eventually lead to a shortage. Before we find ourselves in a position where five gallons of water is no longer available there are several measures that we can take to help preserve this vital resource.

Although Everyone enjoys a clean home at all times, waiting until you have a full load of laundry or dishes before running the washer can help conserve a great deal of both water and energy. When purchasing new appliances make sure they are Energy Star qualified. These high efficiency products use between ten to fifty percent less energy and water than other standard models.

Other helpful tips include making sure your home is leak free, not running the water while shaving or brushing your teeth, shorten your shower time, install water saving shower heads and replace toilets with an ultra low flush model.

Bottled Water

Marketing strategies aim to increase the sales of bottled water by manipulating consumers so that they believe that this water is better for them than water from the tap. Advertisements also prey on our cultures' desire for the finer things in life. One example is the slogan for FiJi bottled water, "The choice of celebrities." According to a report published by Food and Water Watch titled Take Back the Tap' consumers will find that bottled water generally is no cleaner, safer, or healthier than tap water. Forty percent of bottled water

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