Blog prompt 5

What do you think? Is Christmas sustainable? How would it all work in a changed world? Or should all the 'do-gooders' leave our festivals alone!!!!

Historically Christmas is an event that is observed by millions of people across the world as a time of sharing a common lifestyle. The origin of Christmas has its roots in Roman culture and religion. The question of whether it is a sustainable common lifestyle or not is nothing more important than the satisfaction people normally get over the festive period. The hive of activities includes, religious festivals, gifts-giving, and feasting only to mention a few. Christmas cards, parcel packaging, fireworks, excessive usage of energy resources, and cutting down trees all add up to the cause of Christmas. It is the craziest of all moments that worries little about the problems of sustainable consumption and ecological degradation. Its joyous significance is seen by many as a tradition not to be interrupted or interfered with. Because the origin of Christmas is now distorted or rather it has been modified, people now seem to ignore its links with Christianity and paganism. Link: http://www.thercg.org/books/ttooc.html

In the modern era, Christmas seems not to ever have been observed in a way that is sustainable by the vast majority of people. Prior to 25 December hundreds of millions of people go into a Christmas -mode and money-saving syndrome. As Christmas draws nigh the shopping-spree begins. Even banks close down and everyone would wish if they had a break from work. On the other hand this is a time for businesses to merchandize Christmas-related products which may account for up to 60% of annual sales. In the nurseries and forests Christmas trees are cut down randomly without being conscious of how it impacts on environmental sustainability standards of which, for instance, UK’s BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association) enforces. Link: http://www.christmastree.org.uk/documents/careoftrees.htm.

BCTGA ensures that the ecosystem is not compromised in the process of growing and cutting down Christmas trees. Christmas may be looked from a different perspective by those who care about the environment. There are people who try to make Christmas sustainable by buying real as opposed to artificial Christmas trees which then can be recycle into compost Again such people are cautious of low energy usage and at all times try not to eat junky food, of course, not just at Christmas. As a way of maintaining a sustainable lifestyle, packaging material and Christmas cards are disposed of in recycle centers. Some individuals, groups and organizations consider Christmas as time of transforming other people’s lives by giving them money and in kind donations.

While the blessed few enjoy their day to day life and celebrate the climax of joy at Christmas, there are millions others who are under the chains of HIV/AIDS pandemic, and in dire need of food especially in the third world Christmas and other cultural festivals like the Halloween have been in existence for many centuries. People seem to have an unbreakable traditional attachment to these events which tend to give maximum satisfaction and a unit of purpose.

For those who may want to transform people’s attitudes towards festivals, it should be known from the onset that the exercise may be a very big and expensive task spread over a long period. Would people ever understand why maintaining a sustainable way of living is important? It is a complex phenomenon when considering that for some Christmas is the only time of happiness that tends to overshadow selfishness, hatred and problems.

Blog prompt 4

To what extent do the best selling UK newspapers cover stories related to serious issues? To what extent would you think that it is their role to do so? In your opinion do the tabloid media and the ‘low budget entertainment’(reality shows, soaps have too much power and influence in this country?

Before attempting to give an informed opinion about the lack of wide coverage of serious issues by the media, it is necessary to outline some of the objectives of newspapers, tv’s and radios. Does any of their objectives have anything to do with the promotion of environmental activities and if so to what extent? Besides the desire for money, the media have a moral responsibility to inform the people about factual things happening in their world and in the world around them. For information people depend mainly on newspapers, tvs, radio, and internet.

There are institutions like The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) responsible for the verification of circulation figures for newspapers, magazines and directories, and The Advertising Association (AA) which represents advertising and promotional marketing industries one of which is the media industry? Available from this link: http://www.theidm.com/about/professional-links/.

Surely there must also be authorities like the Standard Association responsible for ensuring that the media practices impartiality and objectivity in carrying out their businesses. These associations could be Radio and TV even the BBC who are the market share holders. Can the media be persuaded (though they have the freedom of choice and expression) to value people’s sustainable future while enjoying their materialistic benefits? The same way TV licenses are imposed on viewers is the same way the issue of informing the public about serious-information-awareness should be viewed.
If such authorities existed then they were probably dormant or not having the mandate to influence the media- stake -holders not to just talk about DIYs, Sitcom soaps, Drama and Reality programs. Even in a democratic state, it should be the government’s aim to influence the media to promote issues about sustainable development rather than leave them to individuals and Activists. The issue here is whatever happens in and around the world can be best understood or taken seriously, if it comes through the media. Yet the media, in an effort to attract subscribers, looks for news that may easily manipulate people’s minds into believing in trivial matters. In the UK there are dozens and dozens of daily, weekly and Sunday newspapers including thousands of periodical publications.

The types of newspapers available to the public are the tabloid (smaller easy and quick to read), and the broadsheet (much bigger in size and time-consuming). Historically the tabloid is known for primarily focusing on less serious but pleasurable content for example; celebrities, sports, crime and many more. On the other hand the broadsheets, like The Telegraph, The Guardian and The Independent, are known for providing in-depth news coverage. Generally the broadsheet newspapers provide factual and often meaningful news. Link: http://www.travelsignposts.com/England/england-daily-newspapers.php. Nevertheless what matters is not the size of the newspaper but the contents

From the ABC (2009) data, Link: http://www.abc.org.uk/ it is noted that the six top selling newspapers attract about 9 million readers a day of which a third subscribe to the Sun. Is it because the Sun tabloid always produces sensational headlines and eye-catching pictures of girls? What would be the impact if, on a daily basis, the front page of the six top newspapers showed a sensational blog about sustainable development issues. On the other hand the TVs and the radios would also show and talk about sustainable life-styles respectively. Alternatively the tvs could show pictures of the degrading world. Of course, it is not to say that the media is doing nothing because now and again, issues of environmental nature are raised. Furthermore, the newspapers could also use the ‘Mail Online’ to influence the millions of internet users or by showing pop ups of melting glaciers or stranded bears on the internet in form of appeals.

In conclusion the UK already has in place a strong media base to deliver important information by means of daily and weekly newspapers, and periodical publications. On the other hand the numerous TV and Radio channels could intensify their involvement in sustainable development matters. The more people hear and read or watch and understand environmental programs, the more they would switch from hedonistic life-styles to more positive and sustainable life-styles.