All throughout our history of existence people have suffered; people have been victims to oppressive governments and kingdoms. Civilization or the beginning of organized power brought tremendous negative effects to people. Nevertheless, after the industrial revolution a new kind of oppression has arisen. “Corporate oppression” is the new source of brutality. This form of oppression is very different from all the preceding ones; it now not only affects people, but also all other living creatures on Earth. It is a universal oppression, which only temporarily benefits a small select group of people.
To some this might be an odd statement but, maybe if we were still living like the ancients did, we might have had a chance of surviving. Immediately, I can envision people saying that the latter statement is outrageous. Because, how can something other than “democracy” and capitalism allow people to survive longer; weren’t these people always under constant threat of being killed and oppressed by the tyrannies of their time? Well, the answer is yes, but today we are experimenting something very different. Corporations (the entities of power of our time) not only affect people or the people in their respective countries but they are also destructing our planet.
However, what I am proposing is not a dilemma. In other words, I am not suggesting that we must either choose to live like the ancients and save the environment, or continue to live as we do and eventually destroy the environment. I must acknowledge that in many ways industrialism and modernity have brought about many good things. Advances in science and medicine have tremendously benefited people. Nevertheless, what we need to realize is that corporations are guided by only one goal: to get the greatest output with the least input. Simply put, they want to make as much money as possible with as little investment as possible. In no way are considerations for the environment and other people part of their equation.
Corporations are the main contributors to the destruction of the world. They are causing, deforestation, pollution and in turn global warming. But, what hurts Americans the most is that they are the major contributors to global warming. Corporate America now utilizes over 30 percent of the world’s resources. And as was said in the “Story of Stuff” film we are using a linear system in a world of finite resources. We are rapidly running out of materials. In other words, we are just extracting resources without putting anything back in the system. As a matter of fact we aren’t even recycling enough so that we can continue to reuse the available resources. Instead, we have chosen to take and take from the environment without considering that we will eventually run-out of resources.
The truth is that it is not only much more profitable for corporations to continue to do this but also much easier for the people. Consider, for instance, recycling. This would mean a much higher cost of production for corporations. Things would need to be recycled from American homes. In turn, this would mean that companies would not have the option of cheap labor as they do in other countries. Instead they would have to opt for “high-wage” working Americans and hence a reduction in profits. Moreover, this would also entail that Americans would have to spend a considerable amount of time recycling; not something many are willing to do.
So what then is the solution to the problem? Well, the solution is simple. We would have to recycle and stop exploiting the natural resources of the environment. We would have to create reconstructing campaigns so that our environment could be restored. Nevertheless, by doing this there is something we would have to give up or at least some people would have to give up: that is wealth and profits. Yes, corporations would have to stop being the blood-sucking vampires that they are today. They would have to stop getting wealthy at the expense of people and the environment.
Check-out the film: "THE CORPORATION."
To some this might be an odd statement but, maybe if we were still living like the ancients did, we might have had a chance of surviving. Immediately, I can envision people saying that the latter statement is outrageous. Because, how can something other than “democracy” and capitalism allow people to survive longer; weren’t these people always under constant threat of being killed and oppressed by the tyrannies of their time? Well, the answer is yes, but today we are experimenting something very different. Corporations (the entities of power of our time) not only affect people or the people in their respective countries but they are also destructing our planet.
However, what I am proposing is not a dilemma. In other words, I am not suggesting that we must either choose to live like the ancients and save the environment, or continue to live as we do and eventually destroy the environment. I must acknowledge that in many ways industrialism and modernity have brought about many good things. Advances in science and medicine have tremendously benefited people. Nevertheless, what we need to realize is that corporations are guided by only one goal: to get the greatest output with the least input. Simply put, they want to make as much money as possible with as little investment as possible. In no way are considerations for the environment and other people part of their equation.
Corporations are the main contributors to the destruction of the world. They are causing, deforestation, pollution and in turn global warming. But, what hurts Americans the most is that they are the major contributors to global warming. Corporate America now utilizes over 30 percent of the world’s resources. And as was said in the “Story of Stuff” film we are using a linear system in a world of finite resources. We are rapidly running out of materials. In other words, we are just extracting resources without putting anything back in the system. As a matter of fact we aren’t even recycling enough so that we can continue to reuse the available resources. Instead, we have chosen to take and take from the environment without considering that we will eventually run-out of resources.
The truth is that it is not only much more profitable for corporations to continue to do this but also much easier for the people. Consider, for instance, recycling. This would mean a much higher cost of production for corporations. Things would need to be recycled from American homes. In turn, this would mean that companies would not have the option of cheap labor as they do in other countries. Instead they would have to opt for “high-wage” working Americans and hence a reduction in profits. Moreover, this would also entail that Americans would have to spend a considerable amount of time recycling; not something many are willing to do.
So what then is the solution to the problem? Well, the solution is simple. We would have to recycle and stop exploiting the natural resources of the environment. We would have to create reconstructing campaigns so that our environment could be restored. Nevertheless, by doing this there is something we would have to give up or at least some people would have to give up: that is wealth and profits. Yes, corporations would have to stop being the blood-sucking vampires that they are today. They would have to stop getting wealthy at the expense of people and the environment.
Check-out the film: "THE CORPORATION."
2 comments:
I guess the questions to ponder are
Why do we allow this to happen? Are we lazy (and if so, why are we lazy)? Are we easily swayed? Are we confused?
As you show in your post, we obviously do not lack understanding, but why do we lack action? What is our problem?
Hi,
Your blogs appear to show your knowledge about the topics you are talking about. In addition, it seems that you are very concern with the environment. Your blog mostly consists of asking questions and then answering them. You give a couple of examples to support or describe your main ideas. Your blog it is clear to understand its separate ideas because you have it in an essay format. You have a little intro, ideas and the conclusion. The font is perfect since you write a lot and does take a lot of space. Also, the color that you picked it makes it easier to read since you have dark color for your background. The picture you have demonstrates a lot of what it is happening to different landscapes. I think you should change your About Me. It should go at the top so they could see right away who they are reading about. Also, I think you should include a little description of yourself besides your address. You have all the 23 blogs from our classmates. You are doing a great job. I hope my confuse comments will help you.
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