from the pulpit
We interrupt our regular programming for a moral advisory…
I'm the Reverend Billy.
… Billy Bill Talen | 1st December 2004 Comment Consumerism Fundamentalism Advertising Products Consumerism Politics And Economics Society … hammer-my-brain Fundamentalism. Double Consumerism, our souls choked by tinsel, is a …
There is a simple solution to the problems of rampant consumerism, debt and a lifetime of servitude, writes Samuel Alexander - radical down-sizing to a truly tiny house. For a start, it's only big enough for the things you really need. And it's so cheap to build, that it's paid for from a month or two's salary. Just one question - what will you do with your freedom?
… Sick to death of consumerism and debt? Find freedom in a tiny … January 2015 Ethical Living Building Finance Consumerism tiny-houses-nc-cut.jpg This is the … a simple solution to the problems of rampant consumerism, debt and a lifetime of servitude, …
Civil society may have been kept out of the COP21 conference centre, even forbidden to march on the streets, writes Thomas Dekeyser. But climate activists have found an new means of expression: the 'Brandalism' of 600 advertisements in bus shelters across Paris, replacing corporate brand-building with subversive messages on climate and consumerism.
… December 2015 Activism COP21 Climate Change Consumerism Media Protest Corporations … with subversive messages on climate and consumerism. It's 72 hours before the official … light of environmental friendliness? BUGA.UP consumerism! The cultural jamming practice of …
The Encyclical published today by Pope Francis represents a profound religious and philosophical challenge to the mainstream narratives of our times, writes Steffen Böhm, and a major confrontation with the great corporate, economic and political powers, as it spells out the potential of a new world order rooted in love, compassion, and care for the natural world.
… 23) Challenging the logic of the market and consumerism This stands in stark contrast to, … - attack on the logic of the market and consumerism, which has been expanded into all … Since the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products, …
Easter is a time when - chocolate munching aside - it's still possible to take a step back from consumer-capitalism, writes Frederick Trainer, and pause to think where it's getting us. The sad fact is that so long as society is driven by consumerism, our society can never be ecologically sustainable or just.
… us Frederick Trainer | 3rd April 2015 Comment Consumerism Society Green Economy Economics … fact is that so long as society is driven by consumerism, our society can never be …
China's growing 'bling' culture has taken off big time, writes Thembi Mutch - yet it is widely reviled among ordinary people who in the face of China's industrial boom hold resolutely to traditional values of economy and frugality, quietly yearning for the old days of clean air and safe, wholesome food to fill their stomachs.
… April 2015 News China Food Pollution Health Consumerism cycling-beijing-put.jpg China's … for Chinese expansion, development and consumerism. Unfortunately, these …
We have a problem, writes Samuel Alexander. Even the most eco-friendly rich world lifestyles are overconsuming resources and over-dumping wastes. To put us on track to 'single planet living' will mean far deeper changes than any yet envisaged, including deliberate 'degrowth'' and the abandonment of consumer culture.
… | 5th July 2015 Comment Green Economy Society Consumerism Climate Change Population … of sustainability. Can the descent from consumerism and growth be prosperous ? Can we …
Black Friday is yet another manifestation of a consumer culture that is both empty and destructive, writes Vicki Hird. So instead let's join in creative celebrations of Buy Nothing Day ('no purchase necessary'), and develop a new life-enhancing ethic of joyful frugality.
… Day'! Vicki Hird | 27th November 2015 Comment Consumerism Society Economics walk-cut.jpg … need to imbue our lives with meaning beyond consumerism, and learn to distinguish the …
We were being given 20 to 21 pence a kilo, they were selling them in the stores at twice that, and we needed 32 pence to break even. The prices would change by the day, and then they’d take 60 to 90 days to pay you.
… Labour Food Packaging Food Miles Pesticides Consumerism Food Miles Packaging Fair Trade …
Wander down the meat aisle of any supermarket and you will find mountains of chicken being sold at unbelievably cheap prices. The real reasons for this cannot be found on the label.
… Additives Vegetarianism And Veganism Risk UK Consumerism Food CHICKEN_MARCH07_MAIN_1.jpg …
No European country is as reliant on supermarkets for its food shopping as Britain. It is no coincidence that the UK also has the worst eating habits in Europe.
… Label Sandwich Marks And Spencer Supermarkets Consumerism Packaging Processed Foods Fair …
'I can no longer sit back and allow terrorist infiltration, terrorist indoctrination, terrorist subversion, and the international terrorist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.' Commander George the Ripper Bush at Madison Square Garden
In his search for alternatives to consumerism and industrialism, Jules Pretty travelled around the world to find surviving nature-based cultures. In this extract from his book 'The Edge of Extinction', he tells of the Tuva people of the Siberian steppe - proud of their traditions and closeness to the land, but very much part of the modern world - strictly on their own terms.
… In his search for alternatives to consumerism and industrialism, Jules Pretty …
Tolkien's Universe is one that reflects our own, writes Richard Gunderman - and has come to resemble it all the more as industrialism, militarism and an unjust economic order have come to dominate the world and enslave its peoples. It's time to follow the Way of the Hobbit.
… January 2015 Comment Society Ecocide Finance Consumerism frodo-ring-cut.jpg Tolkien's …
Low oil prices are putting a stop to some of the world's most environmentally damaging 'extreme energy' projects, writes Paul Mobbs, and may close down the entire fracking and tar sands industries. So why are so many 'Greens' issuing dire warnings, instead of celebrating the good news?
… 2015 Comment Energy Oil Fracking Tar Sands Consumerism Media Economics Climate Change …
With a million families struggling to stay warm this winter, energy bills will be a hot election issue, writes Doug Parr. But Government actions have repeatedly favoured the 'big six' energy incumbents at the expense of consumers, competition, low-cost renewables and energy efficiency, locking us into high bills for years to come.
… Energydesk | 15th January 2015 Comment Energy Consumerism Renewables Fossil Fuels …
While we face 'hard choices' about which species and ecosystems to conserve, it's odd how we face no such quandaries over which of our frivolous luxuries to refrain from, or what murderous weapons system not to build, writes Derrick Jensen. And of course, there's no question at all of tackling the root causes of global ecocide.
… | 11th June 2015 Comment Ecocide Society Consumerism cape-dwarf-chameleon-cut.jpg While …
Boading, dubbed China's 'greenest city', is the world's biggest maker of solar panels and wind turbines, write Caleb Goods & Carla Lipsig-Mumme. But it's also has the country's worst pollution. Green energy, electric cars and the batteries that power them are great, but with the heavy toxic footprint they carry from mine to factory, we must not delude ourselves that they are 'sustainable'.
… News Pollution China Transport Renewables Consumerism tesla-roadster-cut.jpg Boading, …
Milk farmers in the badger cull zones hardly depend on Caffè Nero's custom, writes Dominic Dyer. So why are the pro-cull lobby so hot under the collar with the coffee chain's refusal to buy their produce? Because it could force the entire food chain to take responsibility for how milk is produced - and a very good thing too!
… | 13th June 2015 Comment Badgers Food Farming Consumerism UK badger-milk-cut.jpg Milk …
At an £11 billion cost to energy users, and against all expert advice, writes Mel Kelly, the government is forcing the rollout of 'smart meters' repeatedly exposed as expensive, poorly tested and potential threats to our health and privacy. This madness must stop.
… | 14th August 2015 Comment UK Politics Energy Consumerism smart-meters-cut.jpg At an £11 …