we are spoiled...we dont need many many things...for example i hate ppl with dryers...)sorry for those who have them...nd many other things...right now im in sweden nd ppl are on bikes no mater how cold is outside..which is cool)

Your right I dont use driers either; anymore for clothes washing or hair I dry everthing naturally nowadays.
It is more healthy and LESS expensive

well...in uk i saw that almost every house had a drier..it freak me out....they dont have winter nd still they use those machines.
believe it or not Bulgaria turns to be very very eco friendly..why?cause the electricity is so dir we use heating machines in one room or we use fireplaces..we dry clothes out..no matter winter or summer...we have one car per family ,cause it cost us way way too much...then comes the organic food in every garden i have seen we have fruit trees nd vegetables...many of us do not buy any veg from the market...nd if we do we buy it only from direct producers...we dont wash carpets on dry cleaner..we do that in the winter when the snow falls...u take it out nd beat the dust out...its relief for u nd freshness for the hous ))

It's funny, we often see what others are not doing to pull their weight to reduce their carbon foot print. There are so many things that contribute to it. Excess use of paper and plastics, driving your car on small trips, using your dryer, flying in airplanes on pleasure trips, smoking, heck, even as artists we use materials that are bad for the environment. Our computers use electricity. Obviously we have to weigh the options about what we feel are important to keep and what we decide we need to reduce.

The point is that as individuals, finger pointing will get us no where. We need to point those fingers at ourselves. As groups we should point our fingers at our Governments, and Corporations,and other organizations that effect policy regarding this issue. I can complain about you, or you, or you. But where real change happens is when I stop and do simple things in my own world. I try to make responsible decisions, I sign petitions, I talk to people about how I do things to help.

The easiest way to get someone to not do something is to tell them they have to. It's human nature. Believe me, I know, I have two kids. The biggest changes I have made in their lives, and they are almost grow now, are caused by what they witness me doing.

I hate to use an old and tired cliché, but... "Be the change you want to see in others." ok gag... but it's true.

Cheers and I can't wait to see what you all create next!

true..its easier to point finger...
however iwas thinking that how smtg big could be changed...lets say big companies will make cars more expensive so we cant afford buying them?!u see that possible??u see that somebody will say fine I ll not anymore use my jet,cause my bussines is going eco friendly..nd im loosing some money in the name of saving the planet...do u see that as possible option for the very rich sharks??i personally dont..nd those are the ppl who rule the world nd who could make the big step..
myself nd my husband are trying to organize our life around some simple ways of making it different.nd it feels right.of course we have fridge nd a car...of course we forgot some light here or there,but slowly that will become a habit nd i believe many ppl will do the same

i have another question...have u guys thought about the production in the stores??why there are billions of shampoo botles??how often u buy shampoo urself nd in what time we can use (all together) the present stock on the market??i think ll be enough for about a year,but they still produce it nd isnt it weist??nd u can pick up any product nd have a think.im curios ))

I think that price will drive the market. They lower prices when people stop buying cars. Except for luxury cars of course.
As for items on the shelf. The corporations have no clear idea of how much of each item folks are going to buy at a given time. TO keep supply up and have products available, they overstock. There is going to be waste. I know here in the states if a shopper goes in to buy something and the stores are out of it they start getting angry. I am not saying this is right, I am just saying that the businesses know that folks want their desires met instantly.
Anyway... until people can be less selfish and in need of instant gratification, not much is going to change o that front.

im aware of what u say,but that wasnt my point...sure we have buy one get one free...the point is DO WE NEED THE SECOND ONE AT ALL?!
the point is not about lowing prices..the idea is to bring them up so nobody buys!!nd that was the thing i was saying....not to go for sales,but for saving the planet!

I understand, but corporations will not do that. They want you to buy and will do everything in their power to make sure that you do. Of course we do not have to. We do not have to react like Pavlov's frothing dogs, but too many people do. Unfortunately too many of us are driven by greed and not need. We all want to be comfortable.
Now I know that if we make this planet a horrible place to live, no one will be comfortable. Animals will die. Terrible things could happen, not the least of which being that we all cease to exist. I am just saying that with the power structure as it stands we can do little to change the minds of these people. I am not saying don't try, I am just saying don't count on them raising the price of cars to $1,000,000 for a Honda Civic to keep the Jones's from buying a second one. The Jones's are going to have to decide that even if they could buy it that they shouldn't necessarily do it. Maybe they should invest in solar energy or educations for their children or healthcare...

i agree Franklin, greed not need. There are households in my street with more cars than family members! And that phase 'retail therapy' what does that say "if your unhappy go out and buy stuff" if buying goods is therapy why are we in the west some of the unhappiest poeple on the planet? The uk came 41st in a pole of unhappy countries.
People who live in countries where clean water is a three mile hike are more content! We are getting more stressed trying to 'keep up with the Joneses' buying crap we don't need, food we don't eat, filling up landfill sites with waste; then troting off to the doctors for some Prozac to ward off feelings of inadequacy and disatisfaction with our lives! so what is the answer? i dont know, living within our means, trying to be content with our lot instead of aspiring after impossible dreams.

I feel you are going slightly of track here. I dont think you can dictate to people what they and how they buy their products.
it is still a free world, well it was when I woke up this morning
and each person should be able to choose freely.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
we can, as artists, do what artists have for centuries and get the MESSAGE to joe public through our artwork and exhibitions we put on either virtually (web) or reality ( I was invovled with one of these exhibitions this weekend).Then let them decide what they wish to do about it; within their scope and capabilities to make their individual difference.

Indeed, it's all abut balance and moderation. We advance as a species. We want new and nice things of course. I guess the trick is finding a balance. Again with the quotes... moderation in all things.

And you are quite right Georgia. Artists have been influencing thought for hundreds or thousands of years. So we can and if our convictions lean that way, should create art to address the issue.

Remember, there are still folks who believe Global Warming is a left wing creation to attack poor little big business. It's going to be difficult to convince them that it's a real thing, much less to do anything about it.

I dont remember telling people how and what to buy, of course it is up to the individual if they want four cars, a hundred pair of shoes whatever, my point was that, apparenty mass consumerism dont make people happy, the reverse is true.

I agree Tracy. Buying things for the sake of buying things is hardly fulfilling. I actually resist the urge to shop at all costs. WE are taking care of my wife's mother and there are three adults in the house. We have two cars. One is primary and the other is only used for emergencies or as absolutely necessary.

I am also disturbed by the rising use of drugs to treat symptoms of problems rather than addressing the problem.
Bandages for social issues will get us no where.
You are correct that buying stuff for the sake of buying stuff is horribly wrong and only good for corporations.

I think I was missunderstood somewhere in there. I agree with you both, monetary things do not buy happiness and for what is worth I personally hate shopping and perform the act as little as possible.

my point was if we cant control ourselves ...maybe we should be..for the sake of our existing...yes,we are free at some point,but we became most egoistic creatures on this planet.true we buy what we do not need nd we buy more nd more ..

Ekaterina,
I agree with you on most points. I am really working hard every day to do what I can to stop this problem or slow it down. I am careful about how I use resources, I talk to other people and try to influence them, I write my government representative, I write corporations, I recycle, I don't drive any more than I have to, and I tell others when they are doing things that are blatantly harmful. I try really hard. I do all these things on a daily basis. I care a lot. I honestly do.
The fact is that the thing that is going to convince the fat cats with all the money is when their children start gasping for breath or starving... That's it. That is what it takes for the Rich and well healed to notice. I wish it weren't so. But the sad and horrible truth is that it is. They will sacrifice everything, EVERYTHING, until it stats effecting what is inside their own doors. Now I need to go to the Blackened Voodoo Pub for a friggin' drink.

I think I wake up every morning just to VOODOO.....
I was everything everyone hated (so to speak) in this thread. I can admit it now. I had 3 SUV's toys of all kinds and was part of a big company that was building over 100 new strip malls a year. I gave it all up last year and my wife and I have decided to try to live a better (for the Earth) life. We are still trying to figure out what that is but I know it involves traveling and taking as many pics of what natural perfection the world has left. I guess that sounds a little cheesy but it is what we want to try.

Richard I dont think it is just the taking of pictures of nature and its perfection; it is to live it,breathe it,wonder at it, enjoy it, observe it,and realise nature will be there in some format long after we are gone.
You dont have to travel too far I just step into the garden, and it is all there before me.

But dont get me wrong I love to travel, meet new people and make new friends, in different environments and cultures.
Which makes me a hypocrit because that involves using trains,boats,planes and cars; which does not help carbon footprint.

Georgia you have a good point

Yeah, sometimes i wonder if the little I try to do really makes a difference, especialy when I,m standing at my sink rinsing out Marmite jars and I hear on the radio someone in a powerful position wants to start drilling for oil in Antarctia, then on the same show some top science bloke says even if everyone on the planet recycled this would only delay the inevitable by 7 hours! lordy this is getting a bit too doom and gloom, back to the jokes me thinks!!