WHERE IS CONSUMERISM OCCURRING?
Everybody and every living thing is a consumer, humans like all animals consume in the most basic sense of eating to survive. Although the human race has made goods for thousands of years, the global economy has being brought together to do what we innately want to do - buy, use, discard and buy some more (see figure 2), which drives the economy. Therefore if the rate of consumption declines the economy ultimately fails. One of the main aspects of consumerism is the prolific spread of fast food establishments across the world, whereby today’s commercial market reflects a variety of unhealthy foods which are widely available and consumed at an alarming rate. Dr David Schlundt, a professor of physiology at the Diabetes Centre of Valbert University explained that “there is not enough resolve to take these monster industries and to force changes that will make our environment promote healthy rather than unhealthy choices when it comes to food and physical activity.” (Unknown: Global issue - Effects of Consumerism: Unknown: Int) An average preschooler sees 3 fast-food adds a day, preteens see 3 1/2 and teens 5 (Global issue - Effects of consumerism). However, recognition needs to be given to the fact that sometimes people consume goods for cultural reasons, such as the Jewish people and hanukkah, as well as Christians and Christmas.