7.2 Social Problems in more economically developed countries
7.2
Social Problems in more economically developed countries
Our enormously productive
economy demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the
buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction,
our ego satisfaction, in consumption... we need things consumed, burned up,
replaced and discarded at an ever-accelerating rate.
Vicotr Lebow (1995) [see reference 11]
The general trend of
increased wealth has been that of increased consumption - of food, fossil fuels,
materials and goods. The environmental impacts of this increased consumption
have been covered in previous chapters, but there are social problems too.
Firstly, the pursuit of
wealth as the primary concern for individuals leads to increased stress, breakdown
of family and community and a spiritual chasm. Rates of divorce are rapidly
increasing in more economically developed countries and families are not as
close as in previous generations, as children will be more likely to move away
from parental homes seeking economic betterment.
A general trend is of
individualism, where people place themselves at the centre of importance which
can lead to mistrust of others, fear, and isolation. Mental illness is also on the rise in more
economically developed countries and it could be argued that this isolation is
one contributing factor.
Health issues were covered
in the food chapter; cases of diabetes, obesity, heart attacks and cancers are
all on the rise, caused by poor lifestyle associated with rich and excessive
food and lack of exercise often attributed to computer addiction or technological
innovation reducing physical activity.
People are generally less
connected and have less knowledge about nature; children often do not know
where food comes from further than the supermarket. The majority of the population live in cities
surrounded by concrete and have a lack of access to green space.
The following passage sums
up what we should be aiming for but are still far way from:
(We need to) Recognise
that people hunger for a world that has meaning and love; for a sense of
aliveness, energy and authenticity; for a life embedded in a community in which
they are valued for who they deeply are, with all their wants and limitations,
and feel genuinely seen and recognised; for a sense of contributing to the
good; and for a life that is about something more than just money and
accumulating material goods.
[see reference 12]