Global Consumersim and Environmental Distruction - Research Paper Example

This paper analyses the role of global consumerism in destroying our environment. Competition has increased a lot after the introduction of globalization. At present organizations are competing heavily for getting dominance in the globalized markets. New products and services are introduced in the market at a rapid rate by organizations in order to cement their places in the market. The introduction of new products often results in the disposal of older products. For example, the introduction of smartphones forced many consumers in the world to dispose their old mobile phones.

Disposal of old goods, especially electronic goods such as computers and mobile phones with lead batteries and radioactive materials is a big problem in developed countries. Developed countries often export these wastes to developing countries. “While developing countries were in need of the income to be gained from accepting toxic waste from the West, in nearly all cases they were not equipped to handle those wastes in such a way as to protect peoples' health and the environment” (Clap 1994:505).

In short, wastes produced by the developed countries are often accumulated in developing countries and causing severe environmental and health problems. “The average person living in the United States uses 300 shopping bags worth of raw materials every week - weighing as much as a large luxury car” (Consumption Fast Facts and Quick Actions 2012). At the same time, many of the people in African countries are struggling to eat food at least once in every day. At the same time, African people forced to become the victims of high consumerism in America and other western countries.

Since natural resources are limited in African countries, they forced to accept toxic wastes from developing world. “Most waste dumping incidents in the developing world were environmentally devastating, as the conditions under which most of these wastes have been dumped were far from idea” (Clap 1994:507). Developing countries do not have the necessary technologies to process wastes without causing any damages to the environment and the people. They often leave these wastes unattended and as a result of that severe environmental problems were generated in developing world in the past.

“In August 2006, some 600 tons of caustic soda and petroleum residues were dumped at 18 open-air public waste sites in Abidjan, the main city of the western African nation of Ivory Coast”(White 2008:109). Investigations revealed that a Dutch company was responsible for this incident. Since Ivory Coast is a poor country, Dutch company escaped from severe punishments. However, this issue revealed that developed countries are disposing toxic wastes in underdeveloped countries both in legal and illegal manner.

Many people have the illusion that growing population is the major reasons for environmental problems. In reality, growing consumerism is the real villain behind environmental issues. “Even accounting for population growth, from 1960 to 2006 the per capita consumption of natural resources globally tripled. In accomplishing this, metal production grew six times, oil consumption eight times, natural gas use 14 times” (McDermott 2010). Another interesting fact about global consumerism is that “