Throw Away Society
I first posted this last fall. Some things bear repeating!
We are the definitive “throw away” society. I include myself, as I am in that group as well. We compose approximately 18 to 25% of the people on the planet. The other 75-82% may/will go without food, sanitary water, clothing, shelter. More than 5 billion if you’re into numbers.
So as I was saying, we are the throw away society. It is so very easy.
The interesting thing is we do this mostly without conscious thought of our actions. It is just what we do. Quicker, Easier, More convenient and so on. The value of what we eat, drink, wear, or where we reside is secondary to our convenience. Isn’t that interesting? A way of life. Just throw it away, replace as needed. Just about everything is expendable, price not withstanding.
We throw away life too. Another interesting thing. Also done without much thought. If certain criteria aren’t met, it seems the simple thing is to remove those (from your lifestyle) who interfere with the mode of “quicker, easier, more convenient methodology. And the rationalization used for being a “throw away” society stretches the bounds of incredibility.
I’m thinking included in this group can be the elderly, the poor, children, families experiencing a life altering transition in life (loss of income, illness or the death of a family member for example), those who may be viewed as handicapped or disabled in some way, minority groups or those who may not think the way you do, a country that isn’t up to speed yet as a throw away consumer themselves, animals, living plants and trees of the planet that are vital for keeping the ecological system running smoothly.
There, that’s about it. Thought you might like to know. But I do wonder? Who will we throw away tomorrow … or more to the point what will we do when we run out of things to throw away?
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Our choice – as always!
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Just a few things to ponder, I do believe I speak of all our tomorrows. Thank you for stopping by!
~ Penny
The Why About This 
This speaks to every fiber of my being. I am still surprised at how many people I encounter who do not even give this a thought.
Yes, you and I totally agree on this subject. However one of the blogs I follow has just the coolest blog all about living naturally with her family. Way cool LuAnn, when you get a chance check it out:
http://livingsimplyfree.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/friday-faves-august-30th/
I follow this blog also. When we were in Yellowstone for two years, I had the pleasure of working with and conducting some seminars for our Environmental Director. There was a woman who definitely walked her talk. 🙂
We need lots and lots more people like this out there!!! 🙂
That we do. 🙂
thought provoking article
with regards
An important issue for me! Thank you very much.
Reblogged this on aksharaalu – Best Collections and commented:
World is not a dustbin
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I’m glad you didn’t “thrown away” this post, Penny, because it’s excellent and the message you give to us…much to think about and much to do! Love to you!
I agree with you here totally. if we buy fresh things, pick apples and not buy the prepacked ones, would be a first step. Getting things without packaging, would reduce the need to recycle. Everything is packed so much and some things even twice, we do live in a world where we do not think about it unfortunately. We can only educate our children to this and eventually we go backwards and sell with less packaging.
If our society can dispose of people so easily – anything else is simply garbage 😥
Thanks for digging this post out of the archives.
Hoping for a better today & tomorrow…
xx 🙂 🙂 xx
Each day a new hope and a prayer, RoSy. I do believe in tomorrow! 🙂 xo
Excellent post, Penny.
Your last comment, in particular, brings to mind a post I wrote back in March. The thought of throwing away our elderly people sends nasty shivers down my spine, but it needs saying.
sarahpotterwrites.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/the-slippery-slope-to-compulsory-euthanasia/
I really enjoyed reading your post Sarah, thank you for caring for others! xx
Glad you liked the post and thanks for sharing the link on Twitter 🙂
so totally applies to domesticated animals, too. Also–what happens when there is nowhere to throw away things?
Yes, and no place to thrown things, that’s a thought that’s even scarier isn’t it Karen?
I love that you recycled this post 😉
It is a very important message that you have given. here and deserves to be repeated.
Yes I agree Alastair it needs to be recycled, in fact all of us could do with a good recycling! 🙂 xx
Very true. I hope when they recycle me, they leave out the broke bits
I think we all want that one!
Unfortunately I think there are more broke bits than people available so everybody has to get them
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.
PS – such a great blog about recycling – and warm person like you – http://livingsimplyfree.wordpress.com/
Thank you I will check it out Ye Pirate!
Very powerful post.
Thank you, I have strong views on this subject (you may have noticed, lol)!
That last line chilled me to the bone. Given my penchant for dystopian reading and writing, it sends my mind into a tailspin…
I wish it wasn’t so true Freya. Goodwill Thrift Stores, one of the largest recyling places in the U.S.A. where people can go to give the items they don’t need anymore for others to buy affordably, now throws away a fair amount of what they receive as it is too much for them to recycle! And their whole purpose is to help others (I witnessed this myself). A telling story and just a small piece of all the parts and pieces of a throw away society, on all levels! 😦
Goodness me, that is so sad. I know that charity shops here in the UK receive far more than they used to (I have donated so much myself in the last few years), and I do wonder if they can ever use it all.
I agree we do live in a world where consumerism is the norm. But not everyone has a disposable mind set. As a vegan I am pretty consious of how my choices affect others on the planet. I am vegan, I recycle, I do not buy products made with palm oil or products that are tested on animals. I use a filter pitcher and a stainless steel container for my water instead of buying plastic bottles. I donate what I no longer use in hopes that someone else can use it. The throwaway society can only thrive when individuals start to think that one person can not make a difference. As I get older I look for less things and to have more of life. I think about where the trash goes, I wonder what happens after one flushes the toilent–weird huh?! I see people chopping up trees in the name of tree “trimming” and wonder why? I see trees in parks and wonder why aren’t they fruit trees for everyone to enjoy? I see advertisements for circuses and zoos and wonder why?–why do those animals have to suffer. I think more people care but not enough are willing to speak out. For when you speak out people think you are weird and laugh at you. Well, I guess it’s a good thing my alter ego is Pinky the Clown who likes to gets laughs.
🙂
ivonne
I know you are Ivonne, I treasure that about you. You are true to your beliefs. An excellent way to be, and we need so many more. Speaking out is a good thing, most especially when the purpose is to engender change (and usually it is not well received for those who don’t want to change). And a clown/jester is almost always the character that steps outside of society to portray what they view. I do admire you. Just wanted you to know that my friend! 🙂 xx
It’s a very serious thing, to view life as disposable. It cuts to the core of our societal ethics– questions like ‘are corporations people?’ take up the national discourse, while ‘who feeds the poor’ and ‘are old people worth the trouble taking care of’ go untalked about, and certainly unanswered. damn the corporations– feed people, clothe people, take care of people.
This is a great post, Penny.
Yes, my favorite saying “A corporate or government entity, committee, etc. – is a body with many legs and no head”, so no thinking going on there! You are right my friend – we all need to just do it! xx