Lab+4

extraction, production, distribution, consumption, disposal, another way.

Extraction- Fancy word for natural resource exploitation. Using too much stuff. One third of the worlds natural resources have been consumed over the past three decades. So since we don't have enough, we go to the third world for more resources. 75% of global fisheries are over or at fishing capacities. In the amazon, we are losing SEVEN football fields of trees every MINUTE. This a ridiculous and unsustainable pace that we seem to think will last forever.

Production- Use energy to ad toxic materials. 100, 000 synthetic chemicals in use. When you put toxins into making the materials those toxins will make it into where ever those materials go. We use BFD's (neurotoxin) into everyday materials (pillows, laptops). Factory workers deal with the harshest conditions (being exposed to toxic fumes and materials). Not just resources are wasted but so are people. What happens when developed nations can't pollute in their own back yard? they throw it somewhere else, like poor developing nations.

Distribution-How do we keep the prices down, to keep people buying and keep the inventory moving while still making money. An example would be a radio. You could go to Walmart and buy a little radio for no more than $5 but there is no way that $5 could pay for that radio to get to your hand. So if you're not paying who is? All of the workers involved in the process of gathering the materials and putting it together.

Consumption- Our primary identity has become consumers. After 9/11 bush didn't say pray, or mourn, or offer any comfort but rather suggested the American public should shop. The way we determine value in our society is based on how much we consume. 99% of the stuff that we think we "need" is trashed within 6 months. How is a system that wastes so many resources and people supposed to sustain itself?

Disposal- So how do we get rid of all of this stuff? Out of sight, out of mind seems to be the preferred plan of attack for disposal. All of this garbage gets stuffed in a landfill or burned in an incinerator and then dumped. This is a multifaceted pollution system that affects the air, land, water and the climate in general. So rather than burning all of their garbage companies have begun to 'export' their disposal. Not only do we waste the products that we buy but in order to produce those items 7x as much waste is produced. Because of this fact and the fact that some products just can't be recycled has rendered recycling not a viable solution alone.

Another way- Green Chemistry, Zero Waste, closed loop production, renewable energy, local living economies are all ideas for change in the right direction. It's not like things got the way they are because it was fate. WE did this and WE can fix it. I have more than enough confidence in human nature and the human race as a whole. Yes, there are some bad people that do stupid things and stupid people that do bad things but I think that once the public truely has their eyes opened and their minds broadened by the facts and the truth, a new way of thinking will prevail.