PLANET NOTES
An International Playlist
Rolling in Luxury
In our western privileged societies we are rolling in luxury. All possibilities seem to be open for us - we can travel where we want, eat what we want, live as we want, party how we want and consume everything we want. Consuming makes us happy, consuming is necessary for the economy, actually we are obliged to consume, thus supporting our society - that is what we are lead to believe. This endless luxury blinds our moral perception in regards to our living standards compared to its impacts on the “rest of the world”.
GREENWASHING
Tryo
“On veut des tours d’avion, des airbus, du diesel [...] On veut pouvoir dire pardon et soulager son esprit [...] On veut pouvoir on veut la mer, on veut l’été même en hiver on veut bronzer.” We want airplanes, diesel, the oceans, summer in winter and a chance to apologize and to stop burden our souls. We want a green lifestyle but we don’t want to reduce our luxury. The french group Tryo sings about the solution of the economy: Greenwashing. “On veut du green green green green green greenwashing. C’est nous les as, les pinocchios du marketing”. We need to start detecting the lies of the well-being-market for a real green future!
GONE
Jack Johnson
So what is hidden on the way to our luxurious lifestyle? What are costs our planet and ecosystems are paying? “What about those shoes you’re in today?” Jack Johnson asks in his song “Gone”. “They’ll do no good, on the bridges you burnt along the way”. We need to stop carelessly consuming and come back to ourselves - thinking less about material things and more about generations following ours: “What about your mind? Does it shine? Are there things that concern you, more than your time?”
MY PARTIES
Dire Straits
Perhaps we are actually living that luxurious life as some kind of protection?! It is time now that we face so many challenges and save our base of life - our planet. But we still want to enjoy this life to the full. “Now don't talk to me about the polar bear. Don't talk to me about the ozone layer [...] At my parties, do what you please,” sing Dire Straits in their Song “My Parties” from 1991. As long as we only care about our parties, we don’t need to care about other problems! That we urgently need to look beyond our horizons was already an issue 28 years ago. When will everyone start acting accordingly?