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This is a Lana Del Rey song that I really enjoy but now I finally understand the full meaning behind this line in the song. Money really does own your soul.
This quote from a well-known song rings true to our society.
More money = better quality of life?
This specific tidbit of lyrics from a popular song by Lana Del Rey states a point of unfortunate truth. Money really is the make or break to everything.
Labour Unions
On November 27, 2013, an article was posted in the Edmonton Journal regarding the tension between the Redford government and Alberta's biggest union. The sudden placement of Bills 45 and 46 ignited the flame of a fiery protest. The first bill, which is Bill 45, the Public Sector Services Continuation Act, intensifies the already serious conditions and penalties individuals who are apart or even threaten a strike must undergo. Bill 46, the Public Service Salary Restraint Act, sets a strict deadline of Jan. 31 for an agreement to be settled. If this agreement does not reach the deadline, a four-year deal is pressed that includes a pay freeze for the first two years and one-per-cent increase for each of the next two years.
I distinctly chose this current event to base my specific post on because it is an issue that is very connectable to all of us reading, therefore making it that much more important. As a simple bystander of this matter, I do support the protesters. If rights are violated, then Unions should most definitely be allowed to stand up for themselves, even if it is in the form of a protest. It is simple human rights.
To read more about this, please take a look at this article:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Unions+rally+Alberta+government+poised+through+labour+bills/9220006/story.html
Here is a short video of a cautionary rhyme called "I Know A Young Lady".
Enjoy!
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSznbYe2H0k
via: http://glasstireauction.com
This sentiment is extremely true, check out this post for more insight on the topic!
This image conveys the statement that true happiness can only be purchased with money.
Here is a link to a rather intriguing article regarding the on-growing crisis of consumerism in America.
Swapcity
Today our class of fifty students participated in our very own Swapcity. Each and every one of us were advised to bring in our own material good or service we value, and hope to find something to exchange it for with one of our fellow classmates. The Swapcity experiment was such a unique and wonderful experience! By exchanging these assortment of material goods and personal services with our peers, we were able to participate in and get our own little taste of the system of bartering. I came into class with a necklace I had owned for years now and exchanged it with a different necklace with Aidan. After discussing the activity with the class, I was pleasantly surprised to see how successful the whole activity was. When Miss Groeler and Miss Waite asked us to raise our hand if we thought we exchanged our good or service with something that was of more value to us, everyone raised their hand. The event also generated a lot of positive vibes from everyone, which was lovely to see. We were all encouraged by each other to discuss different trading possibilities and have an open mind to consider all options. In other words, it felt like we were all apart of one collective consumer identity.
I personally feel, along with many others I assume, that it would be an excellent idea to plan a Swapcity-type affair in our very own city. So much money would be saved and it would be a great way to encourage an even friendlier local community in Calgary. For guidance of any sort, we could easily look to the extremely successful Swapcity that occurred in Toronto this past summer. All in all, I can easily say it was a lovely experience filled with learning and quite a lot of fun.
Here is the link to an article that was written about the Swapcity in Toronto that I mentioned above:
http://www.swapsity.ca/posts/view/collaborative_consumption_in_toronto_creates_100000_in_swapper_savings
Due to being absent for the Canada vs. USA debate, I was advised to listen to a debate of choice which was conducted by my fellow classmates, and write a reflective post on it. For my post, I decided to listen to Osereme, Jada, Inaara, Steven, and Jacqueline's debate. Osereme, Jada and Inaara were speaking on the side of Canada and Steven and Jacqueline were on the side of USA.
There were several strong points that were brought up throughout the debate. For Canada, statements regarding crown corporations, public health care, senior citizen pensions, and education were the main subjects being discussed. This side delved into how beneficial each of these programs are and how they each play a role in shaping the Canadian lifestyle as a whole. In Canada, taxes are dealt with better to support the well-being of all citizens. Our economy values the public good. Osereme, Jada and Inaara’s point that stated how the market economy of the US was more of a business than an action to better the lives of citizen really clashed into the opposing side. In return, Steven and Jacqueline brought up how Americans paid less taxes and had more economic freedom. Having this economic freedom allows companies to have no limitations and make their own decisions.
In the open debate portion, more factors were brought up. The side supporting the US mentioned that in Canada, people were paying for things they may not even need. In return, the Canadian side stated that while this may be true in some cases, a large amount of Americans who were in desperate need for serious health care assistance were not able to afford it all by themselves. The Canadian side also touched upon how Canadians had better coverage and therefore better outcomes. Although the taxes may be heavier, it was well worth it in the long run.
In conclusion, I found that the Canadian side had a stronger argument and won the debate. So with that being said, I would like to congradulate both sides on their very well executed debate!
We believe we are the consumers, but we are the consumed.
Bryant McGill
Unfortunately, the inner message of this image is true. We are no longer consuming, we are being consumed.
Source of Image: http://michaelgeorgeson.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/consume-poster/
We no longer live life. We consume it.
Vicki Robin
We live in a world of consumerism. We are driven and influenced by our constant desire to buy. We buy and we buy and we buy. It happens every day, all around the world. The image above displays our world map filled in with a variety of different brand logos, such as Starbucks, FedEx, Coca Cola, Nike, Mickey Mouse, McDonalds, and many more. When we think about consumerism, we often think about and focus primarily on first world countries like the United States, Canada, and Europe, but we tend to forget that consumerism is an act that occurs all over the world. This past summer, when I travelled to Morroco, a country so rich with culture, I was so surprised when I discovered that Coca-Cola and other soda pops like Fanta were sold all over the place. Consumerism is a universal concept. It plays an immense role in all of our everyday lives. Although the values of those living in third world countries may vary greatly differ from the values of individuals who live in first world countries, we all have consumerism in common.
Source of Image: http://www.glogster.com/edwardsilentjohnson3142/consumerism-glog-by-tom-maunder/g-6ksrp99f94204m5qraadma0
For my second free choice post, I chose to analyze the image above. This image, and the message it is conveying, really struck me when I first came across it. On the counter at the top of the picture, there are thirty five empty cups of coffee laid out. Beneath it, there is an image of a home and the Starbucks logo. Beside both of the images are prices. Although the price is portrayed in European currency, we can still get the general idea. This image does an excellent job of exemplifying how naive consumers can be when it comes to purchasing products as simple as coffee. At home, thirty five cups of coffee is around $4.00, while at Starbucks, it would cost over $80.00. Thousands of questions began circling through my mind. Why would we pay so much more for something we can just get at home? Why would we waste our money like that? Well, after thinking about it some more, I came to realize that we, as consumers, have been brainwashed to believe that the worth of things depends on their brand. We have been brainwashed to believe that since the coffee is from Starbucks, it will be superior to the cup that could be made at home. By choosing to get a cup of coffee at Starbucks, you are not only wasting money, but precious time and fuel is also being wasted, which negatively impacts the environment and human population on a global scale. In this case, consumers are valuing and being influenced by the brand name of the product.
For my first free choice post I decided to connect what we are learning about to a song I have been rather fond of ever since I was a young girl. The song I chose is “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Bestfriend” by Marilyn Monroe. As a whole, the song states how material wealth is valued over love, which is looked at as simply a luxury, by women. A prime example of this from the song is in the second stanza: “A kiss on the hand may be quite continental/But diamonds are a girl’s best friend/A kiss may be grand but it won’t pay the rental on your humble flat/Or help you at that automat”. In this specific piece of lyrics, she is stating that no matter how lovely affection may be, material goods and financial sustainability is far more significant. At the beginning of the third stanza, she alludes to two real-life companies, Tiffany’s and Cartier. However, this is not the only allusion I came across. At the very beginning of the song, there is a tidbit of lyrics that alludes to the french. It is: "The French are glad to die for love/They delight in fighting duels/But I prefer a man who lives and gives/Expensive jewels”. This bit of lyrics regards the same message behind the other lyrics I noted above. To some, this song may be looked at as a bandwagon effect. Marilyn Monroe was and always will be an international icon and if she writes a song sending a message to women, people are going to listen, whether they support what she is expressing or not. Evidence of this is how happy popular the song was and still is. It has been featured in many T.V. shows and films, such as Moulin Rouge and Glee. By creating this song, I believe that Marilyn Monroe is trying to capture how consumerism has such a strong influence on our values.
GINS/Consumerism Tumblr Mashup
My novel, The Kite Runner, regards the way Afghanistan once was, before the Soviet Union invaded, and how the country changed forever afterwards. Before the harsh winter of December 1979, the economy in Afghanistan was flourishing. In the 1930s, Afghanistan advanced and embarked on an economic development program. They founded banks, expanded primary, secondary, and technical schooling, instituted a university, and pushed students toward a good academic future. With these new progresses, a large population to fulfill jobs of all sorts and a strong country-wide work ethic, Afghan-Shia families of all social classes were thriving. Unfortunately, this prosper did not go for Hazara’s. All Hazara people could do is simply stand by helplessly and pray they would be taken under the wing of a considerate Shia family; like Hasan and Ali had been with Amir and Baba. Since the Shia were blooming, someone had to pay the price. When one takes so much, there will be less for another. However, the invasion disrupted their economic patterns. With loss of labour and a disturbance in trade and transport, Afghanistan was struggling to keep their once stable economy standing.
Another connection I found between my novel and economic systems was how contrastive the economy as a whole was for Amir and his father when they moved to America. Although it has not yet been established in the novel, I assume that the economy there was not as market as the United State’s market economy. In America Baba had neither the financial leverage nor the social stature he once had back in Afghanistan. For Amir’s birthday every year, back in Afghanistan, he would receive mountains and mountains of gifts he looked at once and did not give a second glance at. Ever since they moved to California, Amir treasures even the smallest of things, like the hot cup of coffee that kissed his lips every sunday afternoon at the market.
The Pursuit of Hapyness
The 2006 film, The Pursuit of Hapyness, was raw, charming, and heartbreakingly touching. With its witty, poignant and brilliant dialogue, the film was able to evoke emotion and thoughts I had never experienced before. In just two short hours, my view of the world around me changed and along with many other things, I learned how grateful I should be for what I have. I learned that in a matter of seconds, everything can change. I learned that happiness is the most valuable entity, and that once you have attained it, you must cherish it, for you never know when it will slip away from you.
Happiness is a universal matter. Happiness comes in all different shapes and sizes, and is found all over the world. The film delves into how no matter what the circumstance is, happiness can be reached. Throughout the film, the protagonist, Chris Gardner, and his five year-old son, Christopher, are faced with some of life’s most unpleasant affairs. They lose everything; their home, their mother/wife, and even at times, they almost lose their happiness. However, with the naive hope and love from his son, Chris perseveres through his struggles and finds hope. He uses his son as his own source of this hope, and through this action he uptakes happiness.
One thing I found myself very fond of was the characters. The writers did a marvelous job on characterization. Each character played a key role in the development of the plot and had a powerful impact on the film altogether. When encountering their hardships, Chris and Christopher's consumer identity's surfaced. They began to treasure what they had at a whole new level. An example of this is in a scene towards the end of the movie when Chris's boss asks him for a five dollar bill for a taxi ride. Two the man, five dollars meant nothing. To Chris, five dollars meant four meals for him and his son.
Something else that intrigued me was the spelling of the title. As you likely noticed, it is deliberately misspelled. The i in happiness is replaced with a y. This is also evident on the wall of the daycare Chris once sought to for care for his son. For some reason, Chris always took offence to the misspelling, claiming that he did not want his son to grow up believing this mistake was acceptable. He wanted his boy to bloom into a knowledgeable man who would be able to work and earn things for himself. As the film unfolds, the word itself symbolizes Chris's very own pursuit of happiness.
I personally struggled with fathoming the theme of this movie. However, after thinking about it some more I thought of this: With hope and perseverance, happiness can always be reached. No matter how unfortunate the series of event they went through, they were still able to obtain happiness.
Boycott Post
The Coca-Cola Company is an on-growing, worldwide . With a a clear mission, vision and values, I believe Coca-Cola is a glorious and well-fortified company. Throughout the years, Coca-Cola has 'grown' and 'developed' to be the 'brilliant' company it is today. Coca-Cola values leadership, collaboration, integrity, accountability, passion, diversity, and quality. After discovering all of this information, something struck me. How could a company so popular be so perfect? After inquiring into this thought even further, I discovered that The Coca-Cola Company is not as exemplary as they appear. Something major they do not mention on their website is all of the negative effects the company has on the environment. In 2003, when a pressing issue of pesticides in groundwater, The Coca-Cola Company was faced with a huge problem when an Indian NGO announced that their science facility had discovered cancer causing chemicals in Coca-Cola and many other soft drinks the company produces. If drinking these beverages basically pollutes your body completely in such a serious manner, why would consumers still continue to purchase and indulge in them? It is because most are unaware of the issue. In order to initiate a change, consumers must first become aware of these problems. No company will change their ways if nothing is pushing them to. So, as consumers, we should come together and stand up against these matters, and declare change. This is not the only issue that has occurred for The Coca-Cola Company, for over the years, they have faced many controversies and lawsuits related to many affairs. This made me realize that no matter how squeaky clean something may seem on the outside, there could be numerous issues occurring beneath the surface.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company#Criticism
http://us.coca-cola.com
