John De Graff, environmental filmmaker, addressed the topic of material over-consumption Monday at Union South.
De Graff describes over-consumption as “Affluenza,” the title of his environmental documentary and book concerning the issue. Parts of both this documentary and the sequel, “Escape from Affluenza,” were shown at the talk.
De Graff discussed the impacts of over-consumption both in people and their environments. He said over-consumption causes environmental problems including growing landfills, diminishing resources and pollution, which De Graff said draw attention.
“I found people listen more about the impact if it’s about their life, health and especially their children,” De Graff said.
He found parents spent nine times as much time shopping as they do playing with their children, a result of what he called “shopping fever.”
Another “symptom” of affluenza, which De Graff termed as “a rash of bankruptcies,” specifically affected college students. He said credit-card debt is one of the leading causes of college dropouts, and this debt is a direct result of over-consumption.
Other “symptoms” included the “swollen expectations” Americans have in homes and car sizes, “chronic congestion” in landfills and homes and “stress of excess” from working too much to gain material goods.
De Graff suggested society should make changes on a personal and social level.
He said individuals could access spending by writing down everything purchased for one month and “practice safe shopping” by using a “credit card condom” — an envelope for your credit card which would have a reminder to spend wisely written on the outside.
On a social level, De Graff suggested holding tool-sharing activities in neighborhoods, which he said would decrease over-consumption and allow people to get to know their neighbors better.
He said society needs a renewed national dialogue about time and money calling for less individual working time and more job sharing.
After the speech, one individual asked if De Graff’s using television to get his point across was endorsing over-consumption. De Graff replied that he was using television against itself and that public television, which broadcasts his films, was different.
“I thought it [the speech] was a really good example of how people use the media to combat over-consumption or environmental issues,” Gina Walejko, a UW-Madison senior said. “I thought the integration was good as a [Communication Arts] and environmental student.”
Josh Barocas, a student at Washington University in St. Louis, agreed.
“The problem of over-consumption is highly prevalent, especially among college students,” he said. “It leads to the spread of disease, congestion and resource depletion.”
