Final Paper Blog 3

I have now complete my final paper and am in the revising and editing stages.  I really enjoyed the opportunity to develop my own thoughts on the green movement in regard to technology.  I personally believe that the green movement will not gain enough popular support for change to occur.  I explore this idea in depth in my paper.

One thing that I noticed when I was working on my paper was that even now the green movement hasn't really reached into technology.  What I mean is that when we hear people discuss what it means to go green, we often hear about reducing waste in terms of the short term products such as disposable paper towels, plates, cutlery, etc.  Rarely do people suggest buying a durable printer so a new one won't have to be purchased.  No one has ever said, "don't buy that computer because it'll end up in a landfill in two years".

To me, the need to reduce the technological e-waste we produce is as important as everything else the green movement preaches.  I completely am for the green movement and so it was interesting to write a paper explaining how I believe our society will not advance enough to change our ways.  I wish and hope that we will be able to, but based on the information in Slade's book about repetitive consumerism I just don't understand how it can happen.

A perfect example is as follows:  This year I bought a Pur water filter and told all of my peers I was going green.  Since that time, I have probably gone through five hundred paper plates, a thousand plastic utensils, and more than a football field of paper towels.  Similarly, I have bought two new pairs of headphones (over the ear and ear buds, because I am a repetitive consumer unfortunately), and a new computer (because Mac's have so much more technology).  The point is, I know that I am hurting the environment.  I am aware of the state of our planet as are many of the other people in America.  However, it is simply just too convenient to not use disposable products.  Similarly, when I look at my technological needs, I know I didn't NEED both pairs of headphones or a new Macbook.  However, I know how badly I WANTED these items.  To me that is what causes people to continue doing things that are bad for the environment.

I believe that we are all selfish in when it comes to our planet and I just don't see our culture changing because it would likely have a negative impact on America's standard of living and no one wants that to happen.