America - Uses too much energy & water, produces too much trash.

[-db-]

I was watching the evening news, and according to a recent study...

- America uses nearly 1/4 of the world's total natural energy resources.

- The average American consumes 3X the amount of water of the world average.

- The average American produces 5 pounds of trash per day, far more than anybody else.

I knew the numbers would be against us, but this is worse than I thought.

 

[gamehouse]

A while ago, there was a study, I do not remember exactly.

What they did, they normalized everything(land,oil,water,food etc) into something into a unit of earth. The study found that people in North America use 6 times (of that particular unit value) in comparision to the other side of the world.

GH

 

[000]

Wow, I didn't realize that it was that bad either! :td:

Guess it shouldn't surprise us though, our society is (in general) quite unresourceful.

 

[deleted984054565403]

That's kind of sad (meaning pathetic). It really hurts when, at the supermarket where I work, we have to destroy an entire loaf of bread if the bag is ripped or if it's been flattened a little bit. I'm sure the people that don't get enough food they should each day (about 50% of the world!) would appreciate it...

 

[armstrong]

In fairness, you probably need to lookup what percentage of world production is generated by Americans. If your people consume 2X the average input, but generate 3X the average output, then ...

 

[True_Snake]

I find this sad, but not surprising. It's well known now that 20% of the world's population consumes 80% of the world's resources, and us North Americans are a darn large part of the 20%.


True_Snake

 

[movingconcierge]

I've heard a few stats through the years. I wonder if they still hold true.

I heard that each McDonald's hamburger is equal to the destruction of 1 acre of Brazilian rain forest. This is because they buy from Brazilian farmers who use slash and burn agriculture to raise the cattle to make the burgers.

I also hear that the Mitsubishi conglomerate is the biggest destroyer of rain forest.

 

[InsideDN]

Some aspects of humans' liberation/development process are definitely going out of control, and that's an extremely tough problem to combat.

 

[DN Tycoon]

Actually China has surpassed the U.S in cunsumption in all but one resource and that would be oil....and they are only getting more and more resource hungry.

I heard that each McDonald's hamburger is equal to the destruction of 1 acre of Brazilian rain forest. This is because they buy from Brazilian farmers who use slash and burn agriculture to raise the cattle to make the burgers.

I highly doubt McDonalds gets their hamburger from brazil at least not in the U.s maybe Europe, in fact I know the local McDonalds here gets it's beef from the local farmers. I do remember whne McDonalds hamburgers contained Kelp (seaweed) as a filler....the things companies will do to stretch a buck...
:td:

 

[bidawinner]

Bad? Our consumption keeps any that wants to be employed ..employed

Our energy consumption forces us to move beyond fossil fuels and into solar , wind , ethanol and hydrogen ..to generate technological advances that drive other countries with envy. that may not always make ot to the market place as fast as we wish..but the technolgies are available

Our consumption of water keeps us healthy and clean .. Americans just prefer to smell good

Our trash is now recycled ..we recycle more Aluminum , Plastics and Papper than any other countries..

And we create Electricity from our waste that cant be burned..

America a shinning example of how a country can provide for all , offers clean water for all how our consumtion keeps us employed and employs millions in other countries .

We dont realy on just one form of energy any longer .. I havent used Gasoline for example in over 6 months (I use ethanol), we can heat and generate or homes with solar or geothermal systems along with Nuclear , Coal , Propane , Water etc...

Our consumption leads us to new discoveries and new advancements ..

Is there waste of course there is.. there is always waste in successful Countries .. but far more good comes out of our consumptions than any "bad"

 

[ahtum]

I was talking with my dad one day, the problem is that you don't have standards like we europeans have, if america is gonna be obliged to include standards probably will be a disaster.

 

[DN Tycoon]

I was talking with my dad one day, the problem is that you don't have standards like we europeans have, if america is gonna be obliged to include standards probably will be a disaster.

Please go into further detail as to what you mean American doesn't have standards and Europe does?

 

[ahtum]

Please go into further detail as to what you mean American doesn't have standards and Europe does?

Best example i can find is with polution.

If a factory that polutes a lot in Europe is obliged to upgrade to a high standard if not is closed, in usa it can run as long as it wants.

 

[DN Tycoon]

Best example i can find is with polution.

If a factory that polutes a lot in Europe is obliged to upgrade to a high standard if not is closed, in usa it can run as long as it wants.

As far as I know the EPA sets standards that have to be met by companies/products and such or they will be fine/fees and face possible shut down if the company continues to show no interest in "upgrading" as you put it. Our first option of course is not to close down the factory as this would put many people (100-1000's) out of work and that is just plain crazy.

 

[apexad]

Statistics like this are so common that it does not surprise me. The United States is a wasteful nation, we all know it, so let's move along.

It's not going to change anytime soon.

 

[gamehouse]

Why one has to make such comments which for sure may spark disputes and attacks and next hate comments.

Can we not just carry a meaningful discussion which may lead to a change how ever small it is?

I wonder.

Statistics like this are so common that it does not surprise me. The United States is a wasteful nation, we all know it, so let's move along.

It's not going to change anytime soon.

 

[movingconcierge]

Statistics like this are so common that it does not surprise me. The United States is a wasteful nation, we all know it, so let's move along.

It's not going to change anytime soon.

I knew that comment sounded familiar. It is the comment of a self-loathing American. I understand comments like this just fine. We American's are used to being the target of so many groups on so many issues that the growing response is that of the overwhelmed and an emotional shut down. It just gets to be too much to hear.

I think the majority of the mega consumption problem lies in the media (commercials, print, internet, merchandise, etc.) fueled by well-funded lobbyists. However, I'd venture to say (I don't know the stats) that those corporations who fund the lobbyists are less and less American owned. It seems there is a growing number of foreign corporations propogating their mega consumption message to Americans via mainstream media that ever before.

That is where I think the problem is rooted; in the media machine churning out pretty, shiney stories about the next "gotta see - must have" food or product - ever heard of the show, "I Want That?"

Why one has to make such comments which for sure may spark disputes and attacks and next hate comments.

Can we not just carry a meaningful discussion which may lead to a change how ever small it is?

I wonder.

 

[apexad]

movingconcierge summed it up pretty good.

It is not my intention to spark debate or any such thing like that. I'm just stating the obvious fact that statistics like this are everywhere. It does not matter if you believe them or not. One person making a decision to live a cleaner life and not pollute as much because of statistics is awesome, but it will never spread enough to effect the entire country, or at least not anytime soon in my opinion, so this is why I said what I said.

I agree totally that it is not a good thing, and if something could be done it should, but what is there? What can be done?

 

[gamehouse]

I understand now what exactly you mean.

Thanks

movingconcierge summed it up pretty good.

It is not my intention to spark debate or any such thing like that. I'm just stating the obvious fact that statistics like this are everywhere. It does not matter if you believe them or not. One person making a decision to live a cleaner life and not pollute as much because of statistics is awesome, but it will never spread enough to effect the entire country, or at least not anytime soon in my opinion, so this is why I said what I said.

I agree totally that it is not a good thing, and if something could be done it should, but what is there? What can be done?

 

[Badger]

My question is: How can anyone be generalistic about any nation...?

I mean sure, as a collective group, North Americans may consume the most natural resources, be the most obese blah blah blah.. Which proves what exactly...??

Why not go another step further in this gross collectivisation and say We as a human race consume more natural resources than are self replenishable Tis true...

As you can tell, I have extremely strong feelings on the subject of pollution, our natural habitat and of leaving something worth habitable for our children.

So, it should not be down to geographics as to where the blame lies. The blame lies at all of our doors. We should all do what we can, regardless of national status, to ensure we conserve energy, recycle and only support those companies who are green in their ethos... Forget national boundaries and look more closer to home.

Mind you, if you actually do want to talk in terms of nations, then look no further than the Swedes who, as a nation, have declared themselves a target of being "oil free" within 15 years. Not a hope or a suggestion from some left wing Swedish loony group, a real government commitment. Now thats something ---> link. Lobby your own government to make a similar commitment.

And one final point of note, why is it these threads quickly descend from the original discussion rich topic into a Europe vs US childish slanging match.. Guys, save that trash for the golf course... Which Europe won again of course :p

Peace.. (As KP would say)