Systems Theory

Systems Theory

1. The Story of Stuff and how this relates to culture
Christmas is getting closer and already my children have put in requests for what they would like to receive. I am in this mode as well browsing sales and trying to think up the perfect gifts for the many names upon my list. The whole concept of the holidays should be focused upon spending time with your loved ones, but somehow our expression of love has become intricately tied to buying 'stuff', wanting 'stuff' we are active players in the culture of consumerism. The Story of Stuff describes exactly that, our culture of consumerism. In the system 'stuff' moves through a system of extraction-production-distribution-consumption-disposal. All together this system is called the Materials Economy. What Annie Leonard discusses from the film is that this system is a "linear system and can't run indefinitely on a finite planet". Annie also mentions that there are many components of the system that often fail to be recognized by the individual consumer. The exploitation of natural resources, communities of people including indigenous cultures, and environmental devastation and waste are all part of the system. We as individuals in a consumer society incorporate into our self identity the culture of consumerism. We define value for ourselves in the things we buy and have. What this means is that there is always an underlying unhappiness because the only way the system can run is if we constantly buy, and want more and more. So media is constantly telling us that we need more and we as the consumer are in an endless cycle of "working to buy more stuff-leisure time becomes watching TV. where we are told we need more stuff-we shop for more stuff- then we have to go to work to afford more stuff". Tied into this process is our self worth where we view and judge ourselves and others by the displays of consumerism, by showing that we are active players in the consumer culture. The film describes the concept of perceived obsolescence where our perception of our value lies in displaying our consumerism. The film discusses that our current culture of consumerism was created shortly after WWII in an effort to ramp up the economy and was designed so that we directly measure worth by our displays of loyalty to the consumer culture. Victor Lebow the 20th century economist contributed to the design of incorporating consumerism in to the American psyche, "Our enormously productive economy demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfactions, our ego satisfactions, in consumption. The measure of social status, of social acceptance, of prestige, is now to be found in our consumptive patterns. The very meaning and significance of our lives today expressed in consumptive terms. The greater the pressures upon the individual to conform to safe and accepted social standards, the more does he tend to express his aspirations and his individuality in terms of what he wears, drives, eats- his home, his car, his pattern of food serving, his hobbies." At the end of the film Annie offers hope by stating that we can change our mind sets. If we could incorporate the detrimental consumerist culture we abide by today there is certainly hope that we can readjust our values, and as Annie mentioned "lets create something new".
2. Three systems Cornell's sustainability site connects to sustainability
The three systems that the Cornell sustainability site connects to sustainability are Energy, Environment, and Economic Development. In the Linking Thinking reading what was discussed was thinking on "a larger context" and "seeing the world more wholly" (pg.23). What was also discussed was thinking in a way that finds solutions and not a way that creates or adds to problems, "Some solutions just produce more problems. Instead, we need
to develop ‘solutions that generate further solutions’ (sometimes called ‘positive synergies’)" (p23).
The systems that the Cornell site connects to sustainability exemplify the thinking suggested in the Linking Thinking reading. The site shows several methods of new sustainable energy production methods. With the environment Cornell addresses problems through education and offers a number of educational programs that focus on everything from sustainable agriculture to conservative genetics. A change in thinking that encourages synergies to environmental problems is imperative to change our destructive course on this planet. In the system of economic development the Cornell site discusses that "Much of this work fosters cross-disciplinary and cross-border learning essential to help guide public and private decision-makers at local, state, national and international levels as they strive to help struggling families enjoy sustainable improvements in standards of living. In its Economic Development Programs, (Cornell) strives to continue this tradition of rigorous scholarship that is deeply engaged with and highly relevant to the practical challenge of expanding spheres of prosperity in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner." By linking educational goals to goals of environmental necessity the systems connected to sustainability that the site mentions facilitate a synergistic system of problem solving. "Problems related to Energy, the Environment and Economic Development are interdependent and interconnected, transcending individual disciplines; that is, this is a "system problem" and a broad approach is demanded. The science and engineering needed to develop clean technologies cannot be separated from the ecological study of Earth's integrated human and natural systems or from the social science of human behavior and well-being."
3. Watch Environmental Justice clip and discuss it in terms of sustainability, communication and culture.
This was a very interesting presentation of what environmental justice is as well as environmental hazards that impact billions and billions of people around the world. In terms of sustainability and communication the message was put across in a very simple way that something needs to be done to prevent further environmental problems. The focus was on the environmental problems that impact human health "40% of world deaths attributed to environmental factors." This clip was a unique way to communicate the message of sustainability and how imperative the incorporation of sustainable thinking is for everyone. In our current culture media tools can be a means of positive communication as was evidenced by this clip. If we can reshift communication to show the importance of sustainable practices as well as to show the realities of our current environmental situation we could create positive change. This clip shows an example of using communication to promote a change in cognition. "Environmental Justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race national origin or income when developing, implementing and enforcing environmental laws regulations and policies". A key component in this definition presented in the clip is "meaningful involvement" the facts that the clip presented showed environmental hazards to people all over the world. Meaningful involvement comes when we think in terms of connection when we can communicate a connection than we have the empathy the drive and ability to find solutions to global community problems. Like the Linking Thinking reading suggests we begin to think "wholly".