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Originally posted by halfoldman
I do think that never-ending greed is harmful, but on the other hand, if all Western (and increasingly Asian) people gave up their luxuries wouldn't that make poverty worse?
Luxuries create industry and jobs.
Even in a sweat-shop people may be earning money for an entire family.
Surely if that method of production is closed, then more people will starve.
Either that or more people will end up in a true trafficking or slavery situation.
More will smuggle wildlife to survive and abuse the planet.
Most people don't want to live in rural villages like their ancestors, or it's no longer sustainable.
People voluntarily flock to mines and other sources of cheap labor.
If all Westerners (or rich people) stop buying luxury goods, then those people will be unemployed and starving.
In realistic terms buying luxury goods is the humane thing to do.
edit on 6-1-2013 by halfoldman because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by KrzYma
reply to post by lunarasparagus
you still can sell all you got, buy food and send it to this poor bastards... right?
oh... don't try to send a letter, most of them can't even read, but do have 7 or more children
I can't afford having even 4, in my luxurious, healthy, rich world !
and I don't even want to hint what I do every day to have my house, my car and my TV
Originally posted by lunarasparagus
The truth is, all of us living in developed countries could do without most of the luxuries that make our lives easy and comfortable and could figure out a way to make use of all our excess wealth to save lives and eliminate the suffering of others in the world living in poverty and disease.
Originally posted by halfoldman
reply to post by cody599
With jobs and good exports our poor will not need to plunder the wildlife and other life-forms (only a few who are really greedy or criminal).
Survival skills are good, especially if you live close to a bush or wildlife area.
However, that is not a solution.
There are too many people and too few resources to sustain that.
I've seen the collapse of Zimbabwe, and how hungry people will do anything (even brave crocodiles and lions) to get to an industrialized country.
So before one thinks of guilt feelings about consumption, one should also consider that consumption drives economies.
Perhaps "ethical consumption" could be an improvement, but sanctioning anything as "evil" when the poorer countries are crying out for jobs (and more production) is a bit unrealistic.
Originally posted by cody599
Only when man has fished the last fish, farmed the last crop and eaten the last beast will he realise you can't eat money.
Peace