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Over the last 2 years the One World Centre has run awareness raising campaigns on the issues of climate change and contemporary slavery. We've encouraged the reduction of carbon emissions and ethical consumerism.
This year we are developing both themes in our Hey Big Spender campaign.
Did you know that shoppers in the UK spend on average £2400 every year on non-food items? This is a huge £144 billion a year on things like furniture, clothing and gadgets. It seems we are living in a consumer society in which everything is disposable and renewable. People are choosing to buy new to replace existing items at a rate that is increasing 5 times the speed of global population growth. It seems that we are sufficiently wealthy to allow the power of advertising to convince us that following every new trend is a necessity and we just need more...
Our obsession with spending may be good for the economy but it is not so good for the environment or the people of this planet, and our demand on natural resources is just not sustainable. Our shopping habits have direct impact upon the majority population of the world; we have the choice if it is a positive or negative impact. In talking about carbon emissions people often point their finger at China saying it is building 2 power stations every week... surely that is where the real problem lies? They seem to forget that the power stations are providing the energy to produce all those cheap "made in China" products that we so readily buyOur supermarkets and high street stores may be are offering us lower and lower prices, but at what cost? With increased production the planet faces increased carbon emissions, whilst men, women and children are often working in slave like conditions in sweatshops or on local farms to supply our "needs". The mantra to reduce, reuse and recycle are well known; Reuse and Recycle are slowly catching on, but what about the third and most important element, to reduce.
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