by Jane Smith

Created on: December 10, 2009

In the developed world we have a very privilaged life-style at least in the material sense, but the continual growth of our desire for material things is not only unsustainable, but in a generation or two could mean the difference between our children's life and death.

Everything we buy represents a cost in terms of carbon dioxide released into the atmoshpere, in its manufacture, transportation and disposal. As we buy one thing we discard another so that our possessions don't crowd us out.  This is a large part of the lifestyle of the developed world.

I am not sure how much each person spends on useless stuff which is then discarded, or even useful stuff which is then discarded. Billions. More than entire population of the world a hundred and fifty years (or so) ago when the industrial revolution started.

While we are doing this, using coal based and oil-based energy and contributing so much to the warming of the atmoshphere, whole countries are sinking beneath the ocean due to rising sea levels. Nice, ordinary families are losing their homes, and no-one is putting up their hand to say they can come and live in their country. 

For the sake of things that we don't really need, it isn't right that people should be losing their homes and their lives.  I am sure people don't want to become refugees. If we have a more global perspective when we pursue our lifestyle, if we are more conscious of the impact of our purchases on the environment, if we each save energy, then this will help.

This is not to say that people should have a worse lifestyle than they do now. A good lifestyle does not equate to having a lot of stuff. I think this wake-up call could really be an opportunity for everyone to have a better lifestyle. Too much emphasis has been put on things rather than people in recent years.

Of course we need to maintain a certain amount of money circulating in the system so that the economy doesn't collapse, and I am not suggesting that we spop spending. But I think we could ask ourselves - how can we do this in a green way?

The economy keeps going through money circulating. I think it is important when buying things and services to make choices that are smart in terms of the environment.  If I want to treat myself these days, I'll often spend money on a service such as having someone come in to clean my house, do the garden, or a beauty treatment, a massage, something that contributes to keeping people in jobs and makes me feel much better than buying a material thing that is much more costly in terms of its carbon footprint.

As far as limiting lifestyle choices, let's face it. Governments already limit lifestyle choices through the laws that are in place to make our society a fair place to live. But this doesn't mean that we have a worse life. The aim is a better life for everyone.

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