The idea of progress : do new lifestyle in the United States represent a progress?

THE IDEA OF PROGRESS

I am going to talk about the idea of progress. To begin with, I’d like to give a definition of the notion. Progress is a steady evolution towards a better stage. Progress can be technological, scientific or social. To illustrate this notion, I have chosen to talk about the ecological lifestyle. But, do new lifestyle in the United States represent a progress? To begin, I will introduce the mainstream lifestyle in United States. Then, I will introduce the new lifestyle.

The majority of Americans are hyper consumers, for example on Black Friday. The Black Friday is the first day of the winter sales, the day after Thanksgiving. And it’s the beginning of the Christmas shopping spree. During the Black Friday, there are price reductions, so the prices decreased. Americans run to buy as much things as possible at reduced prices. Then these are not necessarily useful. American have a culture based on consumption. Moreover, researchers from University of California visited houses of 32 American middle-class family, with children and 2 parents working at least 30 hours a week. These researchers notice several objects piled up. So, they documented every object and where they were kept. They even photographed the inside of the cupboard. They found piles of stuff everywhere, for example in shower stalls, garages, corners of offices, living-rooms and dining room tables. There are many mechanisms to make us accumulate possessions but few rituals to get rid of stuff. The principal stuff comes from relatives, gifts, birthdays and school. So, the hyper consumerism is evident. Unfortunately, the problem is not only the hyper consumption, but also the pollution. Indeed, the highways are filled, it even makes traffic jams. The Americans have landfill filled with garbage. The deforestation is also a big cause of pollution in America.

But, some Americans have adopted a new lifestyle. Some people have decided to reduce their space. A new phenomenon has arrived in America: the tiny house. A tiny house can be from 100 square feet to 400 square feet, while the average American house can be from 1100 square feet to 4300 square feet. The tiny house is also called “downsizing”. American living in this tiny house can be self-sufficient with a water tank, and they can move it because it’s on wheels. The tiny house is cheaper than a regular house and you can build it with your own hands, so it’s an accomplishment for yourself. It makes you happier to have less possessions and you have to be tidy because there is no space. Other Americans have decided to reduce their consumption. Indeed, Ted Dave creates a day on which you buy nothing, it’s a day of protest of overconsumption. The name of this day it’s “Buy Nothing Day” and it’s on the Black Friday. On Buy Nothing Day, you can stay home with your family and buy nothing going to the mall, it shows that you are protesting. During this day, several people organize a zombie walk. The zombie walks its when you lurch around the store aimlessly buying nothing and you stare blankly ahead. Some people protests by cutting their credit card. To finish, other people reduce their waste. For example, the Johnson family tries to live and produce zero waste. The secret to have zero waste is don’t buy products with packaging. Bea Johnson buys her food at the Farmer’s market, it’s fresh and locally-produced. She created her beauty products. She doesn’t use Kleenex but handkerchiefs. For another example, there is Colin Beavan, better known as “the no impact man”. Colin Beavan decided to try an ecological experiment, to have no impact on the planet for 1 year. They don’t have electricity, so they don’t have washing machine. They do their laundry in the bath with their feet in cold water. They don’t have a garbage, but they have a box with worms in it to make compost. Now, they used electricity, the washing machine and the refrigerator but not the television. They have become avid bikers. He says that a lifestyle change can save the planet and enrich one’s life.

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