Golden Arrow in The Story of Stuff - Essay Example

Planned obsolescence means something is becoming obsolete. Recycling is becoming obsolete because it does not totally eliminate our waste issue. The recycled waste is now becoming more of an issue because the point is that the recycled waste builds as well, making the entire system larger and more costly. 3a. Do you think that planned and perceived obsolescence are real? Explain your answer.Perceived obsolescence is a concept which means that something has seemingly gone out of style but it has not yet.

In other words, basically recycling should be planned obsolescence, because as we become a garbageless society the recycling system will be perceived obsolescence and recognized as such within society, without a doubt. These are real concepts.3b. According to the video, why does recycling not get to the core of the problem?Recycling only compartmentalizes garbage. We have increasing amounts of recyclable garbage to compartmentalize and reuse, therefore we must realize that when we “throw away,” there is no away, per se.

The garbage is either being added to the amount of recyclable garbage in circulation or is added to the landfills.4. Since we “cannot run a linear system on a finite planet indefinitely,” what is the solution if we are to become a sustainable society? Another way to say this is you can’t have unlimited economic growth with limited resources.If we become a sustainable society, we will be far less wasteful as a society. Once our resources become scarce, we are going to have difficulty finding new revenue sources.

The problem is, we can no longer depend on foreign oil to help our livelihood. Part II.A. What does this mean for the future of the U.S. economy? The economy will not recover if we consistently fail to use our resources wisely. So, in effect, we must galvanize as a nation in order to use them with caution and very sparingly. In order to accomplish this, we must reign in our spending and not make waste and increase revenue.B. What changes are needed to ensure that our economic system supports, rather than undermines, the planet’s biological systems on which we depend?

We need to ensure that the economic system is sustainable environmentally if that makes sense. Our policies should reflect ecological realities. The biological systems on which we depend should be supported by policies. If they are not, we will have future problems for sure.C. Where, along with the system, are the decision-makers who can change the current patterns of production and consumption?The political action groups (PACs) that lobby Congress must “go green” and become environmentally conscious and savvy and “in the know” about what we are doing to our environment.

It is not enough to lobby just for political reasons, but also for the economical side of things, too.D. How would one influence decision-makers at each stage along the way?Letters should be written to Congress, both the house and the Senate, as well as to the President himself too. It is no longer enough to simply rely on PACs. One must engage with the material we have at our disposal. Otherwise, we aren’t being good stewards of our environment.E. Which decision-makers have the potential to most influence the system?

The President must take hold of this issue and confront it. If nothing is done, then we’re all at risk. The President has the authority to change many peoples’ minds. We must change the way we define and view sustainability. Otherwise, we are bound to keep repeating the same mistakes.F. Who are the people that have the most say in how this system works? Who are the people that are most affected by the loss of natural resources and pollution? Who are the people that work in the different parts of this system?

Where are you in this system?The people that have the most say in how things are run are the politicians; meanwhile, the average person is mainly affected. Bourgeoisie politicians and the proletariat are the two entities rivaling within the system. I contribute to the current system as someone who separates garbage and recycles, but I am also part of the solution to be a garbageless society.