26-06-2012, 03:44 PM
ECOLOGY,ENVIRONMENT AND CONSUMER
ENVIRONMENT AND CONSUMER.docx (Size: 18.48 KB / Downloads: 22)
INTRODUCTION:
Consumers, ecology and environment are actually the three dimenstions of existence encompassing all areas of life on Planet Earth. The balance among the three can be maintained only if the extent of their mutual dependence is comprehended. None of these can have an existence independent of the others and yet the fragility of their interrelationship makes each vulnerable. Consumers have actually been under the misconception, till very recently, that they are in control and-that ecology and environment are around only for their needs. Consumer awareness programmes have their existence in the recognition of the fact that this is neither a true nor a valid view point. The consumers' mindless exploitation of the environment and the eco-systems has brought mankind frighteningly close to extinction point, like many other life forms.
DEFINITIONS:
For a clearer understanding of the areas involved in consumer education, the student needs to understand the following terms:
Ecology :It is a study of interrelationships among organisms and between organisms and their environment.
Environment: It is defined as the sum of all external conditions and influences affecting organisms. Environment may be divided into abiotic (non-living) like air, soil, water, etc. and biotic (living) components like plants and animals.
Consumer :He is a person who consumes or uses any commodity or service available to him either from natural resources or through a market. According to John F. Kennedy, "Consumer by definition, includes us all. They are the largest economic group affecting and affected by almost every public and private economic decision." The Consumer Protection Act of India, 1986 defines consumer as' "One who buys any goods, hires any service or services, for a consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised or under any system of deferred payment."
Consumerism :It is an ideological movement which is excessive consumption in compliance with the market demands.
Consumer Goods :These are goods that are ready for consumption in satisfying human wants as clothing, food, etc. and are not utilised in any further production process.
CLASSIFICATION OF CONSUMERS :
The word "Consumer" is a derivative of the Latin word "Consumers" which means "to destroy, take up totally or to waste". This approach regards consumers as passive receivers of Ecology, Environment and commercial publicity and advertising. It also associates consumers with wants and needs the Consumer artificially created by private and multinational corporations. However, in recent years these negative traits have been replaced by more positive ones which place the consumer or the individual in the centre of collective responsibility in relation to his behavior towards exploitation of natural resources. Now a consumer is identified as a citizen, who exercises his rights with discretion and responsibility. For understanding the variety and complexity of the areas in which the consumer might be operating, we can classify into three broad categories.
INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT AND THE CONSUMER
Twentieth century saw developments in all spheres of human activity. Scientific and industrial progress changed and altered life-styles and attitudes in radical ways. Man's relationship with his environment had been undergoing changes to the detriment of the latter. The causes of which were, burgeoning populations, and economic strategies which controlled, manipulated and exploited the environment for short terms immediate profit of a limited number of people. This process dislocated indigenous communities which had evolved time tested survival strategies in relationship to the environment.