INTRODUCTION

This time we are going to work in a affair related with sustainability.
We think that it is an interesting opportunity to become aware of how much we consume in the society, especially in young people.
We hope you will enjoy this blog and that you will be more thoughtful when you buy things starting from now.
It is explained in a simply way so that we ensure that you will understand it perfectly well.

WHAT IS IT?

Consumerism can refer to the buy or consumerism of goods and services considered unnecessary. The massive consumerism in society compromises seriously in natural resources.

Consumerism idealizes its effects associating it with obtaining personal satisfaction and personal happiness.

That is why some people, few cases, suffer from shopaholic that is a illness related with buying a lot more than what you need. There are also other illness.



Here you have a video about different advertisements:

HISTORY, ORIGIN AND NOWADAYS

People buying goods and consuming materials in excess of their basic needs is as old as the first civilizations.
This consumer society started in the late 17th century. The change was made by the growing of middle-class because they create new ideas about luxury consumption and fashion, so they started buying for pleasure and not for necessity. These trend was mainly accelerated in the 18th century.




In nowadays consumer society, people replace their "old" goods with newer ones. They buy goods, use them and throw them away, instead of reusing and recycling them.

critics

Most religions and cultures are against consumerism. Some famous people such as, Francis of Assisi, Ammon Hennacy and Mohandas Gandhi are against consumerism. Social activists have linked materialism with war, crime, and so on. Fundamentally, the concern us that materialism can´t provide a real rationale for human existence.

Here you have a picture which explains the distribution of the wealth: 
At the same time you can  see that it is not fair that a small amount of rich people consume a lot of money when there is a big amount of poor people who consumes very few.

There are some organisations that are against consumerism. These organisations do some programs to make people aware of it, so they consume less and the world is a little bit more fair. Here you have some examples of organisations that are against consumerism:

         -The Korea Press Consumerism Organization(KPCO)
         -Green Muze
         -Greenpeace

examples consumisem in diferent ages

The consumerism affects differently depending to the age:

CHILDREN: Modern-day children are immersed in cultures of consumption. Every aspect of their lives is touched by a buy-and-consume modality. It becomes necessary to examine the impact of consumerism. Young people are receiving a lot of material messages encouraging them to buy. Indeed, children from the ages of 4 to 12 have been defined by with how much they consume. Girls especially are directed to buy a whole line of products they ‘need’ to imitate a  ideal women.There are evidences to suggest that the structure of childhood is changing and children are suffering from serious physical, emotional and social problems related to consumerism.

YOUNG: Nowadays it is very common in young people to consume. But in the last years almost everyone consume a lot with their budgets and so on. For example, with their mobile phones.
Parents have an important role to protect teenagers from consumerism. In addition, young children are specially vulnerable to missunderstand that advertisements are not always true.


ADULTS: A few years ago they had made an investigation that showed that 46% of the poulation have a roblem with consumerism. They said that it happens because we buy  a lot more than what we really need.
They also said that women have more problem with consumerism than men.

Here you have a link with more information about consumerism.

conclusion

What are the effects of the consumerism?
Consumerism is appreciated in Western economies since a person’s standard of living is valued by his or her material possessions.
Positive Consumerism Effects:

• A higher growth rate economy.
• More goods and services available.
• Increased production will result in more employment opportunities.
• A variety of goods and services to choose from.
• More comforts for a better living style.

Negative Consumerism Effects:

• Over-dependence.
• A car for each individual would mean gradual erosion of public transport.
• It also increases the bought of expensive gadgets. Thefts become common and daylight robberies take place.
• Personal relationships also get affected as people are busy trying to earn more to maintain their standard of living.
• Consumerism has also resulted in ecological imbalances. The natural habitat is being destroyed to create more goods. Global warming will eventually result in health problems. Industrial pollution is affecting people in many ways.
• People lifestyles have also changed in the sense they are "better", full of material comforts rather than focusing on simplicity.
• Consumerism is also finishing with the natural resources of the respective country.
• Psychological health also can get affected if one’s desires are not meant such as depression. Jealousy and envy can lead to crime.

To sum up, consumerism have some good things and bad things. In my opinion, it is ok to buy things but when we need them and not so many.