-
-
Pope hits out at consumer culture
Pope Benedict XVI has attacked popular culture and consumerism in a formal address to tens of thousands of young Roman Catholics.
The pontiff also warned that natural resources were being squandered, in the speech in Sydney, Australia.
The pope is visiting the city for World Youth Day, a six-day gathering of young Catholics from across the globe.
Security is tight for the visit - during which he is also expected to apologise for sexual abuse by priests.
Earlier Pope Benedict met top leaders and praised the Australian government for apologising to the country's indigenous people for past injustices.
He called the apology a "courageous decision" that had offered hope to other disadvantaged people around the world.
'False idols'
The Pope travelled by boat across Sydney Harbour to the site of his address in the suburb of Barangaroo.
"Our world has grown weary of greed, exploitation and division, of the tedium of false idols and piecemeal responses, and the pain of false promises," he told the crowd.
There were numerous signs something was amiss in modern society, the pontiff said.
He highlighted drug and alcohol abuse as examples of modern woes, and hit out at television and the internet for promoting sex and violence as entertainment.
"I ask myself, could anyone standing face to face with people who actually do suffer violence and sexual exploitation explain that these tragedies, portrayed in virtual form, are considered merely entertainment?" he said.
The 81-year-old pontiff also called for greater protection of the environment for future generations.
He spoke of "scars which mark the surface of our earth - erosion, deforestation, the squandering of the world's mineral and ocean resources in order to fuel an insatiable consumption".
Abuse row
Later today the Pope will travel by car through the streets of Sydney.
It is the headlines that arouse anger rather than amusement that are impossible to ignore
The BBC's Nick Bryant
He will stay in Australia until Sunday, when he is to preside over an open-air Mass at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse before hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.
During the course of the visit - his ninth outside Italy - he is also expected to apologise for decades of sexual abuse of children by priests.
Rows over alleged cover-ups of abuse overshadowed the run-up to his visit.
Speaking to local radio early on Thursday, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that abuse by the clergy had caused enormous damage to victims and their families, and called on the Church to respond to each individual case Pope Benedict XVI has attacked popular culture and consumerism in a formal address to tens of thousands of young Roman Catholics. ... more -
Pope hits out at consumer culture and condemns sex and violence in the media
Pope Benedict XVI has attacked popular culture and consumerism in a formal address to tens of thousands of young Roman Catholics. The pontiff also warned that natural resources were being squandered, in the speech in Sydney, Australia.
The pope is visiting the city for World Youth Day, a five-day gathering of young Catholics from across the globe.
"Our world has grown weary of greed, exploitation and division, of the tedium of false idols and piecemeal responses, and the pain of false promises," he told the crowd. There were numerous signs something was amiss in modern society, the pontiff said. He highlighted drug and alcohol abuse as examples of modern woes, and hit out at television and the internet for promoting sex and violence as entertainment. "I ask myself, could anyone standing face to face with people who actually do suffer violence and sexual exploitation explain that these tragedies, portrayed in virtual form, are considered merely entertainment?" he said.
The 81-year-old pontiff also called for greater protection of the environment for future generations. He spoke of "scars which mark the surface of our earth - erosion, deforestation, the squandering of the world's mineral and ocean resources in order to fuel an insatiable consumption".
(Excerpts / BBC News)
---
Is the Pope right in addressing these non-religious issues and do you give him credit for using his voice to talk about important problems? Or do you think it is slightly hypocritical of him to talk about consumer culture given his own plush lifestyle and to attack sexual exploitation and violence considering the fact that Catholic priests have repeatedly been blamed for sexually abusing children?
Pope Benedict XVI has attacked popular culture and consumerism in a formal address to tens of thousands of young Roman Catholics. The ... more -
"I'll punch you in your dick"
The continuing saga of one man's desire to drink his espresso over ice, and a coffee shop's desire to thwart him in the name of quality control. The continuing saga of one man's desire to drink his espresso over ice, and a coffee shop's desire to thwart him in the name of qualit... more
-
The World’s Largest Mall Offers a Lesson
Tell us why this is intereSouth China Mall is the world’s largest shopping mall, according to this article in The National.
At over 7 million square feet, it is double the size of the gargantuan Mall of America in the United States. It has an amusement park including a roller coaster; an indoor rain forest; and Las Vegas-style replicas of famous places, including a Venice canal and the Arc de Triomphe.
But it has one big problem: it’s nearly empty.
South China Mall is designed to have 1,500 stores. Unfortunately, only a handful are currently occupied.
The developers expected 100,000 visitors a day. Instead they get 10,000, if that.
Opened in 2005, it was once hailed in the New York Times for exemplifying China’s new consumer middle-class.
Then something went terribly wrong. What went wrong is that the shoppers never materialized.
Recently a number of articles and blog posts have been written about the deserted South China Mall. Various points have been made about conspicuous consumption and building projects in China.
sting Tell us why this is intereSouth China Mall is the world’s largest shopping mall, according to this article in The National. ... more -
WALL-E film's 'fattist' satire angers fat pride groups
New animated film WALL-E has got rave reviews for its satire on consumer culture, where future humans are depicted as a group of obese gluttons who never leave their padded floating arm chairs.
But one group is not amused - the swelling ranks of fat pride groups, who believe the film propagates anti-obesity hysteria comparable with the quest for the perfect body by the eugenics movement in Nazi Germany.
The US is the epicentre of the movement, where pro-weight "fat-tivists" are campaigning for human rights for the full of figure.
Fighters for fat rights are calling for legislation to ban weight discrimination in the workplace, denouncing airlines that demand they buy two seats and car manufacturers whose seat belts are too small. They are also battling doctors who won't treat patients who refuse to lose weight and companies that won't insure them. They seek to reclaim the word "fat", dismissing terms like "overweight" and "obese" as morally loaded.
Research published in April by Yale University's Rudd Centre for Food Policy and Obesity suggests they might have a point. It found that one in eight people now complain of weight discrimination, up from one in 14 a decade ago. The report compared the impact on victims compares with racism and sexism.
Fat-ivists argue that our genes not our lifestyles determine the broad parameters of our weight, and favour the 'health at any size' argument that is supported by sceintific research (a study by The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research found that even the obese who exercise are less likely to die from heart attacks, strokes and cancer than sedentary skinny people.)
They argue for greater acceptance of fat people.
"Overweight people tend to have very low self esteem," says Shelley Bovey. "I have never met anyone who I believe is totally happy with being very large. However much self confidence they have, if you live in a society that hates overweight people it is very, very difficult to be yourself."
Rachel Richardson of the Coalition of Fat Rights Activists (Cofra) objected that the WALL-E film "singles out and targets obese people as the primary cause of mankind's demise."
Miss Wann (41 years in age and 20 stones in weight) is America's best known fighter for fat rights. She told The Sunday Telegraph: "It's the classic stereotype that fat people are stupid, smelly, lazy, disgusting and out of control. These are the same stereotypes that have been used for every group of outsiders: whether it's people of colour, or the disabled, or immigrants."
Miss Wann said the film company would never have considered stereotyping black people "dancing a jig" in the way they have done so with fat people.
She added: "Pixar should be out of business for portraying this level of prejudicial bigotry-mongering. These are 19th-century hatreds repackaged in modern animation. It's amazing."
Is fat-ism really comparable with racism or sexism? Shouldn't we just leave each other alone to get on with our own lives free of prejudice and stigma, regardless of our size?
New animated film WALL-E has got rave reviews for its satire on consumer culture, where future humans are depicted as a group of obese... more -
Lawmakers assail digital TV effort due to "lack of planning"
A billion-dollar program to help consumers prepare for the upcoming switch to digital television has been mismanaged and is running out of money, key lawmakers said, prompting concerns that millions of TV viewers could be left in the dark.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an agency within the Commerce Department, is in charge of a $1.5 billion program to distribute $40 coupons to help consumers pay for the converter boxes they will need to continue watching on analog TVs. The boxes typically cost $50 to $80.
Last year, the NTIA awarded IBM a $120 million contract to perform administrative duties for the program, including taking coupon orders and mailing them to consumers. But IBM's contract does not include enough funds to process and mail the recycled coupons to consumers, according to a letter sent to the NTIA yesterday by Democratic Reps. John D. Dingell (Mich.), chairman of the House Commerce Committee, and Edward J. Markey (Mass.), chairman that committee's telecommunications and Internet panel.
The letter asked pointed questions about how the error occurred and how much it will cost to fix.
"The NTIA's apparent lack of planning is a serious oversight, one that they must correct promptly and without dipping into the funds marked to help consumers purchase converter boxes," Markey said.
On Feb. 17, broadcasters will stop airing traditional analog signals as they upgrade to all-digital programming. So consumers who rely on antennas to receive over-the-air broadcasts will need a converter box for every analog TV. Each household can order two coupons for converter boxes.
The coupons expire after 90 days. Unredeemed coupons are supposed to be redistributed to other households.
IBM's contract calls for the distribution of 33.5 million coupons, according to the contract's requirements found on NTIA's Web site. The contract does not account for the costs associated with recycling unredeemed coupons but does cover administrative expenses.
A billion-dollar program to help consumers prepare for the upcoming switch to digital television has been mismanaged and is running ou... more -
QUICK QUIP: AMERICA - SWEET FREEDOM
I compare various aspects of beloved Americana (politics, news, consumerism, patriotism) to candy. This is probably the best, the funniest, the best, the least redundant, and the funniest critique of America I've ever seen.
Of course, I do watch my own stuff a lot... I compare various aspects of beloved Americana (politics, news, consumerism, patriotism) to candy. This is probably the best, the fun... more -
Buying Local: The Counter-arguement
With many brands selling themselves as local alternatives to big corporations, many fail to stop and think about the usual arguments for buying local, which are usually 1) cutting out the middleman, 2) helping the local economy, and 3) cutting down on transportation costs and thus helping the environment.
Elizabeth Spiers reflects on her own Brooklyn neighborhood where university educated, self-proclaiming liberals try to force the "buy local" mantra down the throats of consumers and realizes that these supposedly smart people fail to see that "buy local" is co-opted by big corporations as a marketing tool. With many brands selling themselves as local alternatives to big corporations, many fail to stop and think about the usual arguments f... more -
Worlds Cheapest Car
Tata Motors, India's top vehicle maker, has unveiled a car that will cost $2500, making it the cheapest new car in the world.. In this pod, vc2 producer Siddharth Chadha talks with some people who are anticipating the Tata Nano's arrival and hears from an environmentalist who thinks it's the wrong mode of transportation. Tata Motors, India's top vehicle maker, has unveiled a car that will cost $2500, making it the cheapest new car in the world.. In thi... more
-
Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood (Trailer)
"With virtually no government or public outcry, the multi-billion dollar youth marketing industry has been able to use the latest advances in psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience to transform American children into one of the most powerful and profitable consumer demographics in the world." "With virtually no government or public outcry, the multi-billion dollar youth marketing industry has been able to use the latest adva... more
-
How to live with just 100 things
Are two pairs of jeans enough? Does a pair of shoes count as one item or two? And should I sell my hamster? And other pressing dilemmas posed by a new grass roots movement in which people try to reduce their possessions to 100 things.
Is this an ill-advised attempt to wrest control over people's own lives - or a natural reaction to modern life?
http://guynameddave.typepad.com/david_michael_bruno/ Are two pairs of jeans enough? Does a pair of shoes count as one item or two? And should I sell my hamster? And other pressing dile... more -
Hell for Leather
Most of us think of leather as 'natural', but this shocking film reveals that the tanning of leather goods - everything from must have handbags to car interiors - can involve up to 300 different toxic chemcials. As this film shows, the leather we wear and use is often produced under appalling conditions by impoverished people in countires like Bangladesh, many of whom won't live past the age of 50 because of their day-to-day exposure the poisonous chemicals involved in bringing cheap leather goods to the masses in the developed world. The toxic legacy of these chemicals goes far beyond the factory, however, since the effluent from the tanneries is often discharged straight into the local waterways where it poisons local people who drink, wash and grow crops using this tainted water. A film that gives a whole new meaning to the idea of 'shoes to die for'. Most of us think of leather as 'natural', but this shocking film reveals that the tanning of leather goods - everything from must have... more
-
Everything you own, owns you
That is the ethos of the new voluntary simplicity movement. At the heart of this movement is the desire to rid oneself of unnecessary possessions. Perhaps John Lennon said it best, "Imagine no possessions." I can't imagine doing this, but I applaud the idea.
Could you truly go all the way back to basics or do you need your air-conditioned car and double soy latte to "survive?" That is the ethos of the new voluntary simplicity movement. At the heart of this movement is the desire to rid oneself of unnecessar... more -
Plastic bag policy 'a diversion'
Plans to ban or charge for single-use plastic bags are a diversion from the real environmental issues, one of the government's own advisers has said.
Waste and recycling expert Professor Chris Coggins said such a government policy allowed the supermarkets to pass on responsibility to customers.
He said supermarkets could be helping to influence packaging rather than shifting the problem on to consumers. Plans to ban or charge for single-use plastic bags are a diversion from the real environmental issues, one of the government's own adv... more -
Do you have a consumer conscience?
Is exercising a consumer conscience a middle-class luxury?
-
The cheeseburger apocalypse
Americans eat an average of 3 cheeseburgers per week, amounting to 150 cheeseburgers per annum for all 300 million citizens of the United States, totaling 45 billion cheeseburgers per year as a nation. The production of these cheeseburgers produces 200 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.... Americans eat an average of 3 cheeseburgers per week, amounting to 150 cheeseburgers per annum for all 300 million citizens of the Uni... more
-
What should be done about poverty? // Comments Picked for TV
Watch and listen to 3 very different viewpoints on what should be done about poverty. Thanks to jake_oliver, lib, and brandonsound for joining in. Watch and listen to 3 very different viewpoints on what should be done about poverty. Thanks to jake_oliver, lib, and brandonsound fo... more
-
From 0 To Debt Hell In Six Seconds
I've never subscribed to the philosophy of debt, which seems to be one of the leading sources of misery in the Western world. I've always valued the peace of mind that zero debt gives me far above the stuff that going into debt allows me to buy.
I'm not naive, I know for some it's hard to escape debt since a minimum wage hardly covers even the necessaries of life (which is obscene, and a whole other story). But most of us do have a choice: A new car and new debt vs. keeping your old car, and your peace of mind. A new flat screen TV and new debt vs. keeping your old tube TV, and your peace of mind. It's a question of values, and what you value more.
Americans are tempted and brainwashed into debt from a very early age, with credit and debit cards marketed to kids, and obligatory student loans ensuring that we embark on our adult lives chained and enslaved by our society of debt.
We all know to stay away from loan sharks, but few question the wisdom of "respectable" institutionalized debt, such as car loans, which are likely to be our biggest monthly expense after rent or mortgage payments.
We're conditioned to believe we can have the car we "deserve" now, rather than merely the one we can afford. Worse still, we are told if we don't drive the "right" car it'll harm our personal and job prospects, the “right” car for our social group inevitably being one that’s more expensive than we can really afford.
This form of corporate-driven peer pressure is truly insidious. Few realize that by subscribing to this philosophy, and something as seemingly innocuous as a modest monthly car payment, they may well be trading in their future financial security.
Do the math. If you saved up and bought a more modest used car cash down, and put the $400 a month the average American spends on their car payments in a high yield mutual fund that earns 12% annually, after 30 years you'd have a nest egg of well over $1 million.
So what does that BMW say about you now? Is the luxury car company really selling you "sheer driving pleasure" or "sheer debt forever?" I've never subscribed to the philosophy of debt, which seems to be one of the leading sources of misery in the Western world. I've alw... more -
Are food preferences political?
This is a fascinating NYT article about how pollsters from both parties are using consumer preference data, specifically about food and beverage choices, to predict voter behavior, and tailor their messages accordingly.
One good quote:
"For example, Dr Pepper is a Republican soda. Pepsi-Cola and Sprite are Democratic. So are most clear liquors, like gin and vodka, along with white wine and Evian water. Republicans skew toward brown liquors like bourbon or scotch, red wine and Fiji water. When it comes to fried chicken, he said, Democrats prefer Popeyes and Republicans Chick-fil-A."
Let's see... I love bourbon, scotch, and gin, both kinds of wine, think soda and bottled water are both huge wastes (though I do have a soft spot for Gerolsteiner mineral water, from Germany), and sadly have no considered position on fried chicken chains.
How will I vote, pollsters? This is a fascinating NYT article about how pollsters from both parties are using consumer preference data, specifically about food an... more
-
related topics
Consumerism
Contributors (306)
Consumerism
