This website www.storyofstuff.com centres on a nice little animation showing how our linear production / consumption 'cycle' is no good as we live on a planet with finite resources. It shows in very plain english how we are exploiting both the planet and each other in the cause of consumerism, not only by over producing, but alo through the pollution caused along the way. A lot of the figures are about the USA, but the principles apply further afield. I particularly liked the expression "designed for the dump" for planned obsolescence - the way in which goods are made so that they break and have to be replaced.
(One way out of this wasteful cycle is the use of leasing. If you leased, say, your washing machine, it would be in your interest for it to be cheap to run, reliable, cheap and easy to repair and effective, but crucially it would also be in the lessor's interest, too. )
The story of stuff also shows how 'perceived obsolescence' - the idea that you need a new whatever is created and supported by advertising.
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