Psychology and Desires of Consumerism

Individuals in the American society desire certain luxuries in life, to fill in the missing component of love. Based on certain tactics of the media such as psychology , it is seen that those who lack status need to consume goods in order to have satisfaction in life. According to certain pieces of media such as the text “The All-Consuming Self” by Allen D. Kanner and Mary E. Gomes and the short video “The Story of Stuff” by Annie Leonard it is seen that the consumption of materialistic objects creates an ego of satisfaction.
In the article “The All-Consuming Self” by Allen D. Kanner and Mary E. Gomes it discusses how investors, marketing experts, and advertisers find it easier to make Americans individuals desire materialistic needs based on the mind stealing skill of psychology. In the article it states “The American economy, having reached the point where its technology was capable of satisfying basic material needs, now relied on the creation of new consumer demands-- on convincing people to buy goods for which they are unaware of any need until the ‘need’ is forcibly brought to their attention by the mass media.” ( Kanner 81). Kanner is suggesting that in order to keep the economy going the media and distributors of technology make the unaware citizens of America purchase products no matter the ranking of social class. Hence , the fact that individuals will always continue to buy products just to fill the lack of love.
The short video “The Story of Stuff” by Annie Leonard is a perfect example to illustrate the psychology and desires of consumerism. According to the film “Our enormously productive economy…Demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of gods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual staisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption… we need things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever-accelerating rate.” Based off this quote stated by Victor Lebow, it is shown that individuals who lack ranking in society seek high positing; one the account we need certain aspects in life such as love to cover up our true class ranking.

A Picture to Remember

The photo of Pittsburgh taken by Ryan Southen is an image that can be viewed in many different perspectives. The picture taken Ryan Southen is a photo viewing the fascinating skyline of the city of Pittsburgh. When I first took a glimpse at the photo, I thought it was just another picture of New York City’s skyscrapers. However, when I actually took focus on the picture I realized not only that it wasn’t New York City, but that it was also a view on world value. The reason why I believe this photo deals with world value is, because when I actually examined the picture the thought of global warming came to mind. Usually when I look at a picture I don’t search for scientific concerns such as global warming. Consequently, since my main focus within the world right now is global warming, I try to relate every general topic as possible to global warming. Southen’s picture is an example of my deep cross examination. For example, there is no arguing that this picture isn’t astounding. The picture simply shows the many elevated building structures within Pittsburgh along with bright lights and beautiful captures of the moon along side the buildings. On the contrary I see the picture showing what will be lost in a matter of years due to the lack of concern of global warming. Considering the fact that the increase of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere happens excessively, there is only a mater of time before Pittsburgh and many other beloved cities will be destroyed. I now sit and ponder upon photos such as Ryan Southen’s picture of Pittsburgh, coming across the assumption that soon the world will only have pictures to remember these moments.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/southen/3739271474/

In Class Assignment

The uncontrolled population growth of humans within America creates numerous effects that destroy the natural environment. The major effect that America views most by population increase is the contributions to global warming. According to the video clip, “The Impact of Immigration Policy on the Environment” Leon Kolankiewicsz a wildlife biologist and environmental planner, he suggests that the rapid growth of population through short periods of times creates major impacts on the outcome of the environment. In the film, Kolankiewicsz describes an equation published by the general science called the “I = PAT equation”. The I=PAT equation simply states “if you multiply the size of the population, times the level of affluence of that population times the technology that is delivered. We can find the impact of the population growth.” Furthermore, it is discovered that the amounts of immigration and child birth increase our population rapidly; creating future issues for the environment. Some of the effects of the population growth are the releases of greenhouse gases and over use of energy. Pursuing this further, according to a New York Times article entitled “In Shift, 40% of Immigrants Move Directly to Suburbs” it states, “about 4 in 10 immigrants are moving directly from abroad to the nation’s suburbs, which are growing increasingly diverse, according to census figures released yesterday..." The similarity between these two pieces of media is that both the New York Times article and video “The Impact of Immigration Policy on the Environment” show how increase in population at any formation cause damage to the environment based on the factors that more oil and gas will need to be provided to keep the environment at suitable living.
The fast expansion of humans within America has always been a major concern. However, now the new ideal question of concern is whether America should force the restriction on limits of children or place tight security borders from immigration.

Summarize Suburbia

The social and cultural aspects of life in the suburbs seem to be my belief of why natural problems occur within the world. Indicated within the group of videos such as: “Sprawl City”, “Radiant City: Suburban Landscape” and “End of Suburbia: Trailer”, it is seen that the essential issue of separation of individuals causes larger problems. Some of the issues that I came across while viewing these videos were that the growth of population is contributing to the effects of global warming, and that humans have no concern when it comes to there environment. The reason why I came to such conclusion is simply based upon the facts illustrated within the films. Moreover, these videos have provided me with the information to come to the sense that distance creates future complications within a society.
The YouTube video “Sprawl City” is a useful piece of information to show how a social aspect of life creates more life problems. In the video, Leon Kolankiewicz an environmental planner discusses the impact of world population. Within the video, Kolankiewicz talks about a formula called the I=PAT equation. This equation was made to simply create the foundation that the population of people multiplied by affluence then multiplied by technology equals to a huge impact. This impact is then later resulted into economical growth falling below standards. Based on the indications of this film, I believe that this is showing how humans contribute to global warming. Considering the fact that the growth of human population is creating an impact on society along with the major assistance of technology, the increase in the habitat is assisting global warming. One example can be the fact that if the population continues to grow out environment will have to create more factories and produce more oil and gas; creating more air pollution.
Pursuing this further, the video “Radiant City: Suburban Landscape” is another clip that shows how one problem develops into further more conflicts. According to the film, accidents occur frequently within the inner city. The believed reason for these accidents is due to the commute of individuals going from home to work and other destinations such as school. The chain of issues within the video is that manufactures keep producing vehicles, which later produces toxic gases into the atmosphere; similar to the concept of greenhouse gases. In addition these manufactures create vehicles which later result in more accidents, because there are more cars on the road. Casting more cars is leading to the increase global warming damage, since there are more individuals who transport form one destination to another.
Lastly, “End of Suburbia: Trailer” is a video that completes the thought of social and cultural aspects creating struggles. In the film is states” normal is living in suburbs. Normal is consuming like there’s no tomorrow.” In my opinion this quote is stating that Ameericans choose to only live for the moment, not caring about the outcome of there actions. One example of this the way Americans focuses mostly on current issues such as if there car has enough oil or if there homes have the latest fashion. However, this shows that people don’t care about their environment, because they are strictly adjusting to useless materialistic possessions. As the film stated “America took all of its wealth and invested it, in a living arrangement that has no future.” You may ask yourself why America doesn’t have any future. The answer to that question is connected to the reason why humans aren’t concerned with their own natural surroundings.
The video clips “Sprawl City”, “Radiant City: Suburban Landscape” and “End of Suburbia: Trailer” are three films that are made to suit the topic of suburbia; however, these videos bring up other issues of how conditions in life create other dilemmas. These problems consist of issues pertaining global warming and the lack of there preparation. In final consideration, separations of groups of people based on various accounts create a domino effect of issues.




Viewing: “Sprawl City”
http://www.sprawlcity.org/
YouTube:
“Radiant City: Suburban Landscape”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCeWCVWZbdo&feature=fvw
“End of Suburbia: Trailer”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHr8OzaloLM

Persuasive Blog

Dear Dennis,

What do you actually believe is the cause of global warming? I absolutely pray that you don’t listen to the bull crap your mother tells you about global warming. Before, I explain the actual reasoning in terms of why you should believe me. I ask that you take into consideration the fact that you are also a human being living on Earth. I understand that your mother is a CEO of a big major oil and gas company; however, human contributions are known to be the main cause of global warming.
The belief that global warming is just a natural climate cycle is the biggest deception in the history of mankind. Global warming is caused by human behavioral activities. Human actions that generate global warming to become worse are the release of greenhouse gases in our Earth’s atmosphere, deforestation, agriculture, construction, transportation, and industry/companies. This information may seem vague to the sense that there is no major example of humans partaking in global warming. Nevertheless, a basic everyday human activity such as driving a vehicle to work is apprehensible. In the article entitled “What do the skeptic say?” by Mark Maslin, it states published information form the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) about greenhouse gases partaking in global warming. According to Maslin, “From the huge amount of published scientific evidence the IPCC (2001) has concluded: ‘In the light of new evidence and taking into account the remaining uncertainties, most of the observed warming over the last 50 years is likely [ 60-90% confidence] to be due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentration. In the light of the fact that scientist have made conclusions, it is easy to see that human contributions are causing global warming.
Dennis, you’re probably reading this saying “How does this relate to me?” In order, to make sure that you believe the information that I ‘m stating to you; I suggest you stop listing to the false information scientist provide about the causes of global warming. One particular video that you may have listened to that could have provided you with altered information is the YouTube video “The Climate Change Denial Industry.” Although, the information in this video may be useful, there is certain scenes within the video that gives you wrong information The scene where Dr. Ball talks about global warming being a natural cycle, is incorrect. Although he is just stating an opinion, the actual definition of climate change is drastic measure in temperature. Consequently, this shows that Dr. Ball is just stating an opinion not facts; compared to other research showing how global warming is caused by humans.
Your mother is telling you wrong information. I’m sorry to tell you, but Dennis you along with millions of other individuals cause global warming. I suggest that you take the timeout and go speak to your mother about global warming. I understand that she may just be defending her title as a CEO. However, I ‘am thankful that you took the time to read this letter. The truth is now in your hands, I hope that you take this information and join me in becoming more cautious about global warming.

Sincerely,
Devin Dixon

Maslin, Mark. Global warming: A Very Short Introductions (Very Short Introductions). New York University Press, USA, 2008
Global Warming: junk science vs. real science. Dir. k21desmog. Perf. Dr. Andrew Weaver, Tim Ball. 2006
The Climate Change Denial Industry. Dir. k21dsemog. Perf. Chris Gailus, James Hogan, Tim Ball. 2006

View on Nature

Over the past few days, my perception of nature has changed. The actual concept of nature use to be a simple word for the physical universe; in which I live in. However, through deep examinations of the world, and readings of useful text such as chapter three of “Your Viewpoint Determines the Future” by Mark Maslin my perspective of nature has changed. Furthermore, my attitude towards nature has switched to a more caring and concern individual for my environment.
In the article entitled “Your Viewpoint Determines the Future” it discusses the importance of individual’s views on nature. According to the article “each individual views risk in particular how we view ‘nature’ as a risk.” I found this quote to be the most interesting, because I interpreted the quote to state that human beings are scared of the outcome s of what nature can bring. In addition, the concept of global warming taking over the world is an example of humans being afraid of what can happen. Nevertheless, I have always been an individual who wasn’t concerned or frightened about the effects of my environment. Due to, this I believe that I fit into one of the four myths stated by Mark Maslin. Maslin described in her article four myths affiliated with human nature, based on their views of nature. Looking into depth at which myth I actually fit in I’ am considered to be categorized with the myth of “Fatalist”. The “Fatalist” is known to be a myth of “minimal control over their own lives. They belong to no groups responsible for decisions that rule their lives. They are assigned to their fate and everyone else’s, and see no point in trying to change it.” Considering the fact that Maslin is making categories based on the factors of humans, I now consider myself to be more open minded and cautious about nature. In final consideration, I’ve realized that my environment and nature is very important.

Maslin, Mark. Global Warming: A Very Short Introductions (Very Short Introductions). New York University Press, USA, 2008

Webpages

Webpage 1
What Manhattan might look like if sea levels continue to rise?
When I first saw the picture of Manhattan New York City under water I thought the picture was a false image. The reason why I found the picture to be false was, because it looked like an exaggeration of what could actually happen to Manhattan. This image is pretty straight forward. It shows the outcome of what could potentially happen if sea levels would continue to rise in the area of New York City. Although I found the image of New York City Building’s to be an exaggeration; it still made me re-consider the outcomes of global warming. I find this image to be really frightening. However, it places the actual concept that New York City could be placed under water if sea levels continue to rise.


Webpage 2

Northeast climate impacts

The webpage entitled “Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment” seems to be a very helpful site. This website has a lot of useful information, in terms of constructing a research paper. According to the webpage it shows an organization committed to research for climate change and global warming. The Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment is a useful website in order to find a solution for global warming in certain selected areas which in my opinion is a useful l way to solve climate change.

Disastrous Global Warming

The world is changing. The issue of global warming is the cause of climate change in recent temperatures across the world. From the time of the 20th century, this world concern has taken over the minds of many individuals. In the film An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore: the 45th Vice President of the United States and American environmental activist, he discusses the importance of climate change within global warming. According to Al Gore, global warming “has shaken the world and taken everything from inside.” Consequently, vast majority of the world will experience devastating and disastrous consequences due to the results of global warming. The actual cause of global warming is believed to come from natural events such as forest fires and volcanic eruptions, along with human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels which releases toxic gases of carbon dioxide into the Earth’s atmosphere. However, although carbon dioxide and the burning of toxic gases may be assisting to the damage of global warming it still is beneficial. Carbon dioxide and other gases help heathen the surface of the Earth creating a trap which keeps solar heat inside the atmosphere. Global warming is already taken place in our current world. The changes that are displayed within our environment consist of the melting of glaciers, extinction of animals such as the Polar bear, and various amounts of hurricanes and droughts that affect the lives of millions. Furthermore, global warming has connections politics and the attitudes of our global community. As Gore stated in the film “pressure on the earth, pressure on the demand of food and pressure on the demand of water.” From Gore’s assumption it is seen that global warming constructs more than a scientific issue it also brings up the question of survival. The failure of individuals concerns with creating change in order to avoid the issue, primarily suggest that our government and society doesn’t consider the long terms affects of global warming. Global warming will always remain a major problem, however if scientist and government officials use their data and historic information they will be able to escape the perplexity of world issues.

An Inconvenient Truth. Dir. Davis Guggenheim. Perf. Al Gore. DVD. Paramount, 2005

Disaster of Climate Change

Since the time of the mid 20th century, global warming has turned into more than a scientific concern, it has developed into dramatic measures of survival. Major aspects of global warming such as climate change, deforestation, and human activities have been claimed to be the causes of the tragic disaster to come. However in the article “The Climate of Man-I” from the magazine The New Yorker by Elizabeth Kolbert it implies that climate change is one of the major conditions to worsen global warming. The climate change in temperature has been recorded by scientist to taken place in areas of the Northern Hemisphere and Antarctica. However, Vladimir Romanovsky, a geophysicist and permafrost expert at the University of Alaska stated “It’s very difficult to look at trends in air temperature, because it’s so variable.” From this it is seen that the actual certainty of how the actual climate is changing is unclear.
According to the article the lack of evidence of how climate change is affecting our Earth is not the only issue to mainly focus on. Another primarily important issue is the actual focus and concern about our planet. In the article Kolbert states “Americans have been alerted to the dangers of global warming so many times that volumes have been written just on the history of efforts to draw attention to the problem.” Based on this particular piece of information, it suggests that individuals have not been focusing on the importance of the scientific issue. Although individuals did not focus on the care of global warming right away, Romanovsky however did have a discussion with Elizabeth Kolbert where he stated how individuals did eventually give into the topic of global warming once they realized the affects of its cause. “Ten years ago, nobody cared about permafrost,”” he told me. “Now everybody wants to know.”
From this it is seen that individuals are not equip to the knowledge of climate change, therefore we do not consider the consequences of our behaviors.

Kolbert, Elizabeth. "The Climate of Man- I." The New Yorker. Copyright 2005, The New Yorker.

Global Warming Uncertainty

Global warming is essentially becoming more than a scientific issue, and is now becoming a natural human concern. The controversy behind global warming is due, to the actual cause of its affects. Certain claims and assumptions behind particular scientist define the preparation and stratergy of important issues.