Addicted to Stuff (From Hereford Times)

Addicted to Stuff

3:49pm Monday 10th September 2007

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Consumed by Consumerism

It is becoming increasingly apparent that we have built an economy against life. For the first time in the Earth’s history, it has become possible for one species to destroy all the life systems of the planet. In the face of growing evidence that our current way of being is clearly not working, you would think we’d be busy changing our ways. Astonishingly we aren’t. Rampant consumerism still rules.

It seems that the more toxic the earth becomes the more intoxicated and incapable of kicking our consumer habits we become. We are behaving like addicts. Our response to the degradation of ourselves and the earth – you can’t have one without the other – is denial.

Looking at consumerism as an addiction, as opposed to a choice we have the right to make, sheds a different light on how we might be persuaded to re-examine what we consume. Appeals to reason and well intentioned guidance just aren’t going to work. We might respond more positively to the following adaptation of the 12 step process advocated by alcoholics anonymous.

1 Admit that we are powerless over an addicted society.
2 Come to acknowledge that we are inextricably connected to the earth.
3 Surrender to this truth.
4 Examine ourselves, listing all our attitudes and actions that cause harm
5 Admit the specifics to another human being
6 Become willing to cease our harmful behaviour
7 In humility, ask our god (whatever shape he / she takes) to help us to cease our harmful behaviour
8 Make a list of all persons, all other species and all the life systems of the planet we have harmed and become ready to do everything in our power to heal them all.
9 Where possible, make direct amends to those we have harmed.
10 Continue to go on examining our thinking and actions in relation to other people, other species and planetary systems and where they cause harm admit it and become willing to change.
11 Continue through inner discipline to help foster the health of people and planet.
12 Try to assist others to reconnect with nature and their own nature.

Professor Shirley Ali Khan