The Connection Between Money, Power, The System, And The Lack Of Sustainability

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The Connections between Money, Power, the System, and (the Lack of) Sustainability

The connection between money, power, the system an lack of sustainability can best be

described using footprint scores which state that; if everyone lived like me, we would need 2

Earths. This means that there exists the need to reduce our ecological footprint because the world

is not sustainable as at now (Broadstock). First and foremost, there exists the need to balance the

consumption and production of resources; for instance, renewable resources have been defined to

be a direct path towards reducing our ecological footprint. The story of stuff is a short film that

represents the real picture that lies behind our production and consumption patterns (Leonard).

Through the film, it is clear that there exists a huge connection between the social and

environmental issues. Besides, the need for sustainable and just world is defined alongside the

fact mentioned in the play. Captivatingly, Leonard introduces the readers to the subject of

material economy, where he indicates the lifecycle of things or ‘stuff.’ He mentions the fact that

things move along these stages: extraction to production to distribution to consumption to

disposal. Clearly, this cycle means we are running out of resources. This essay will aim at

defining the relation between Money, Power, the System and the lack of sustainability.

First and foremost, the relation between money and the lack of sustainability will be

defined along economic viability. Broadstock has defined economic sustainability as the ability

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to remain commercially viable; now and for future generations. Currently, the most significant

source of economic sustainability can be viewed through natural capital which comes from our

ecological system. Through the cycle of things proposed by Leonard (extraction to production to

distribution to consumption to disposal), it is clear that we are running against our limits. With

time, we will be running out of resources. Currently, we are using more resources as compared

with what we are producing. In fact, studies conducted by Hawkins claim that we are using more

than our share; for instance, United States accounts for 5% of the total population but are

consuming 30% of the resources in the world (Hawkins). Also, the produced capital which is

associated with productive activities is bound to reduce since there are limited resources to

support its future growth.

Secondly, the connection between power and sustainability can be defined along the

relationship between humans and the environment. Energy systems run across our social and

economic networks. The transition to renewable and clean energy sources will reduce the

dependency on natural resources which is ever depleting (Hawkins). The transition from fossil

fuels to renewable sources of energy will help in improving the human condition by balancing

the energy produced with that which is consumed. Currently, the energy sources are depleting

the resources because they are using a more significant share of resources. Electrical power

should be produced from renewable resources which will be a blessing to humanity. In fact, one

of the goals developed by the United Nations on Sustainable development goals includes the

affordable and clean energy (Broadstock). Goal seven can only be improved if people work on

using energy sources which can be re-used. This is identified as one of the most important goals

that have to be implemented because it influences the achievement of the other goals.

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Lastly, the system has become a nation of consumers. Currently, the value of the system

has been on the much that we contribute to the arrow that points at consumption. Statistics show

that 1% of the products that come into the system flows into the system. This means that a

balanced supply and demand cycle is not balanced. This means that 99% of the products that are

extracted end up being trashed or disposed of (Broadstock). Running the planet with that cycle of

materials is impossible. The rate of consumption has increased since the average person now

consumes twice as much as they did 50 years ago. The system has been transformed to a system

that aims at disposing things and buying new ones (Hawkins). This increased rate of

consumption makes the system incapable of holding the consumer goods. Thus, this results in

disposal and forms the bigger picture of the material economy.

Categorically, it is clear that money, system, and power are subject to depletion and

reduction due to lack of sustainability. Currently, the society has been tied to a cycle which

makes it hard for the natural system to be sustainable. The sequence of things runs from

extraction to production to distribution to consumption to disposal. This cycle is missing

essential aspects that are required to make the system sustainable; these include creating and

reusing. Through creation and re-using of materials, there will be a continued supply of

resources. Unfortunately, the consumption rate has overwhelmed the production rate. This means

that with time, the society will reach the utmost limit in case sustainable measures are not

employed. There should be a shared responsibility that should be defined by the collaboration

between each other on ethical considerations towards sustainable measures.

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Works Cited

Broadstock, D. "Finding a balance between economic and environmental sustainability."

24 May 2018, www.scmp.com/business/global-economy/article/1956350/finding-

balance-between-economic-and-environmental.

Hawkins, R. "Annie Leonard, The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the

Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health—and a Vision for Change." Sustainability:

Science, Practice and Policy, vol. 6, no. 2, 2010, doi:10.1080/15487733.2010.11908052.

Leonard, A. Annie Leonard - The Story of Stuff Project. August 4 2014

https://storyofstuff.org/about/annie-leonard/

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