world changing response 7

We are all aware that torture is a method used in order to manipulate people in question into giving more information then they are willing to give normally. We are also aware that the process of torture is unethical. It is argued that while it is a productive way in retrieving desired information from people as a form of punishment, its also been said to only promote false information, seeing as how people will say anything to escape pain and torture. If we as Americans know that it’s wrong to torture in order to get information, why are we still using it as a mechanism today? I believe that its also wrong to put individuals at risk for developing major psychological problems later on in life as a result of receiving torture as punishment, no matter what the circumstances are. People make mistakes, and where I do agree that these people should be punished, messing around with an individuals psyche is very dangerous and can only lead to worse behavior in the future, not to mention make it even more difficult for that particular individual to recuperate from any trauma they may have already undergone. It is stated that while physical damage can occur, the emotion damage is always much worse. How come in a world and time like the one we are currently living in different approaches have not been stressed as being the main way to get information that we are looking for?

weekly responce 6

When Lasn states that “the consumerist, capitalist, materialist tendencies of "American" culture are unhealthy”, I believe he is referring to the fact that we as American are letting the idea of consumerism and being obsessed with material objects determine, and influence the way we live our lives. I think that when he refers to this aspect of our lives as being unhealthy, he means that by letting such outside forces influence us on such a major level, we are giving in, and changing the way we live, by worrying about all the wrong things. We lose a certain sense of connection between us as individuals and the natural world, as well as the “family” setting in which we are supposed to be more connected to. I think he also means that with all this nonsense taking over, and consuming much of our time and thoughts, we loose the ability to recognize what truly is important, and often lose track of the real world. I think that the point that was made about the modern family still holds relevance to today. I believe that although this text was written almost 10 years ago, the issue of still being less connected to the family still remains as issue. Maybe even more so in fact seeing as how in today’s day in age more people are doing more things, and are spending less time together as a family, due to the various different time schedules in the household. I also see that now-a-days less importance is stressed on the idea of a sit down meal with the family, but that definitely corresponds to the idea of everyone being way to consumed with other priorities. In my own life I have noticed certain things that would agree with Lasns’ text as well. I too feel that within my own surroundings I can notice the new obsession with materialistic objects. Over the past ten years, my friends and I have become increasingly aware of the many new things that we “must” have due to advertisements and placements within movies and tv shows that we watch. Although I find it annoying to be constantly needing to buy the nex new thing in order to keep up with the times, its something’s that has almost become a staple in out culture today.

WR prompt #6: Lasn’s take on CONSUMERISM…

Lasn seems to be talking about many different sub issues to an overarching dilemma: That the consumerist, capitalist, materialist tendencies of "American" culture are unhealthy.

What do you think he means by unhealthy?

Given that he wrote this in 1999, choose at least one point/example of his that you think is relevant to 2009 and explain why. Then choose at least one point/ example which is not accurate/ too generalized/ or irrelevant to 2009 society and of course explain why.

Include examples/ observations from your own lives concerning his theme and indicate whether or not you've been able to observe a change in the past 10 years or not.

World Changing Response #4

As humans, water is such a vital part of our lives.  Adults are approximately 60% water (“Water in the Body”).  We use it everyday, usually without thought or consideration to how much energy it takes to heat our showers, or to filter, or the consumption angle of it.  In World Changing, it explains some different ways to think about water.

            One solution described in the book is called “reHOUSE/BATH”, “the best conceivable level of home water efficiency (Steffen 188).  French designers invented this construction that is made up of basically a bucket of water and a tub that drains into tubes which reuse the water for plants.  The plants grow to eventually create a shield of cover for the bather.  Although few people would probably actually want to use this, it brings about awareness of using water and the consequences of that and how we can reduce, reuse, and recycle it.

 

"Water in the Body." ChemCraft, Inc.. Web. 27 Oct 2009. .

 

Steffen, Alex. World Changing: A User's Guide For the 21^st

 Century. New York, NY: Abrams, 2008. Print.