These projects include tree plantations to produce ‘energy’ and to supposedly reduce excess CO2 from the air; the ‘recolonization’ of forest-dependent communities' territories by 'energy' companies from the global North in search of so-called ‘carbon credits’; extraction from new oil and gas fields and coal mines; the promotion of soybean or oil palm monocultures to produce biofuels, including bio-jet fuel; a new wave of construction of large, so-called 'clean' hydropower plants, along with transmission lines and other distribution infrastructure to move that ‘energy’; and, of course, the frantic race for minerals – most of which are found in forest areas – that are essential for the ‘energy transition.’ (3)

While European environmental organizations celebrate modest advances – such as the European Union’s recently passed anti-deforestation law – these wins become irrelevant in the face of the reality: that the world’s largest corporations will do anything to keep their ‘energy’ model. They continue full speed ahead with a destructive and violent production system that requires increasingly more land and forests to produce more and more ‘energy.’In this scenario, it is necessary to support the resistance struggles of forest-dependent communities and grassroots organizations. But there is also a pressing need to strengthen another form of resistance: the resistance to the concept of ‘energy’ itself......read on    https://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin-articles/the-destructive-power-of-energy

The rubbish bins in La Rambla, the city’s main promenade, which has more than 200,000 daily passersby, have to be emptied 14 times a day. The city council recently voted to raise the tourist tax from €3.25 to €4 per person per night, but it will have to be raised again to €6 to balance the budget. Mass tourism in Barcelona is a relatively recent phenomenon: it began in earnest with the 1992 Olympics. And it has taken tourism strategists 30 years to recognise that their promotional strategy should switch to quality over quantity: more cultural visitors and fewer stag or hen parties and backpackers. “That’s our midterm goal and we’ll get there because we won’t build more hotels, or authorise more cruises or tourist apartments,” says Mateu Hernández, CEO of Turisme de Barcelona, the public-private consortium that runs the city’s tourism sector. “The city is going to be more expensive, and it will push away low cost and massive tourism.”However, that’s easier said than done. It’s not enough, for example, to host to luxury summits for global business or to tap into the health tourism sector by offering VIPs 24-hour check-ups in luxury clinics with prices ranging from €900 to €4,000. Mateu agrees with the need for a comprehensive and long-term approach, capable of measuring and evaluating the harm done by tourism and adjusting policy accordingly. 

Tourism may generate jobs, for example, but do more young people drop out of full-time education because they are tempted to earn a wage tending a bar?Tourism attracts more drug trafficking, petty crime and sex work, all of which has an impact on a city’s character. Local shops are often replaced by tourist-oriented businesses. A few weeks ago the last bookshop in the seaside district of La Barceloneta closed down. It was replaced by a cannabis shop. There are now 25 cannabis shops in Barcelona, mainly in the old part of town, the most heavily touristed. It’s an example of how difficult it is to preserve the city’s original social and economic fabric. Most of all, gentrification caused by tourism is exacerbating a chronic housing crisis.

But putting up barriers won’t give us back our Barcelona. It is a model for contemporary architecture and urbanism, for cutting edge art, culture and food. Only by educating tourists and the tourist industry about the harms they are doing by treating my city as a playground – instead of a community of people who must be treated with respect – will the situation improve?......read on (ed. Sadly it's a Hobson's choice....mass tourism itself is obscene, and ultimately all beautiful destinations will have to make face this difficult decision     https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/19/barcelona-mass-tourism-visitors-city-industry 

On the consumer side, research has shown that a significant share of consumers—the exact percentage depends on who you ask—are interested in buying sustainable products. But, today, there is limited information publicly available to help inform them. That’s changing rapidly as companies explore ways to make sustainability data easily accessible—think of QR codes next to the product in a store, or next to various options on online shopping sites. Research has shown that incorporating this information into the market place and creating a so-called “green nudge” shapes consumer behavior. Still, most people won’t make the sustainability of a purchase their top priority. To make sustainable products better, a growing group of businesses say they emphasize that sustainable products can have better value for the purchaser—think of a longer lifespan for a piece of clothing.                                                         

But mass consumption is not an issue that can be solved solely—or even primarily by consumers. Most consumer facing companies have built their entire business model on selling more things, and to truly address mass consumption would require them to search for profits elsewhere. Eva Kruse, chief global engagement officer at sustainable fashion company Pangaia, described it to me as a “difficult” but critical question: “How do you make new services or models where you can grow in value, not volume?” Examples of early changes in this direction are myriad.......read on        https://time.com/6341884/climate-change-consumption/

Reducing Overconsumption in the Age of Consumerism. Divert NS Sep 11, 2025 We're buying more than ever, but at what cost? Overconsumption has caused over-extraction of resources and excessive amounts of waste. This, in turn, has caused mass environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and pollution. The average Nova Scotian disposes of 400 kg of waste per year, a figure that has increased by over 20% in the last five years. Across Canada, solid waste landfills now account for roughly 23% of the country’s methane emissions, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. These numbers highlight a clear truth: better waste management is essential, and it begins long before our trash reaches the curb. It’s not just about recycling or reuse—it’s about preventing waste at the source by making more mindful choices as consumers and resisting the pull of overconsumption. Consumerism has evolved from fulfilling basic needs to generating artificial desires. Overconsumption has caused over-extraction of resources and excessive amounts of waste. This, in turn, has caused mass environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and pollution. Furthermore, our current rates of consumption exceed what the planet can sustainably offer. According to the Global Footprint Network, our current global consumption rate is outpacing nature’s ability to regenerate by 1.7 times. Closer to home in Canada, our consumption is outpacing nature’s regenerative capacity by 5 times. In order to reassess our relentless pursuit of growth, we need to understand the drivers that are causing over-consumption. In the student thesis, “The Abyss of Abundance: Consumer Overconsumption and the Road to Environmental Collapse,” the author, Emma Vega (Fordham University), discusses themes relating to human behaviour and overconsumption, which are summarized below.                                                                                     

Psychology and Consumer Behaviour......Feelings of insecurity are one of the leading causes of consumer overconsumption. When an individual is at odds with their identity, they may attempt to boost their self-esteem through the purchase of goods.  You may have heard the phrase before, “money can’t buy you happiness,” yet many individuals in developed nations still correlate the accumulation of goods with overall happiness. However, research has shown that those who prioritize the possession of material goods are often more unhappy and have lower life satisfaction. Furthermore, overconsumption can lead to poor mental health and is linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression. It is not only a materialistic mindset that can lead to increased rates of poor mental health, but also the overwhelming abundance of choices combined with the pressure to keep up with trends. This pressure can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, which again perpetuates the cycle of consumption. 

Where Do We Go From Here?.......Certainly, governments have a role to play in creating policies that promote the sustainable development of goods as well as a circular economy. But what about us: the individual citizen? How do we break free from a consumer-based society that actively promotes overconsumption?  Awareness of the system that we live in is the first step.....read on  https://divertns.ca/learn/waste-not-news/reducing-overconsumption-age-consumerism

AND.......Tips to Fight Consumerism

• When buying gifts, choose experiences over material items.
• Choose quality over quantity.
• Prioritize quality time and connection with loved ones and nature.
• Join a club. Many are free!
• Volunteer with a community group you are interested in.....and more