Over-consumption vs Poverty

by thalif deen

new york, feb 28 1992 (ips) -- as delegates representing the world's rich and poor nations converge on u.n. headquarters here for talks meant to set the stage for the upcoming 'earth summit', one of the more controversial issues slated to be discussed is the problem of over-consumption in the north.

the poorer nations argue that most of the world's economic and social problems are caused -- not by a shortage of resources -- but by the continued gluttony and wasteful ways of rich nations.

''when the rich cry over deforestation,'' one u.n. official was quoted as saying wryly, ''they should at least use fewer paper tissues.''

sarcasm apart, the united nations has concluded that global consumption -- mostly driven by industrialised countries -- has ''skyrocketed'' in the last few decades. currently, about 24 percent of the world's population living in the richer north consume an estimated 75 to 85 percent of the world's depleting resources.

a u.n. report released last year on 'unsustainable consumption patterns and environmental degradation' pointed out that per capita consumption of milk and meat, sawn wood, paper, metals, coal and liquid fuels in the industrialised countries is more than five times higher than in developing states.

the north is now said to consume about 75 percent of the world's energy, 85 percent of its wood products, and about 72 percent of steel production.

''there is a lot of talk about saving the world's rainforests, but japan, one of the world's richest nations, consumes about 20 billion chopsticks a year,'' says meena ratnam of the malaysia- based third world network, one of hundreds of non-governmental organisations (ngos) which will be paying close attention to the five-week preparatory sessions beginning here monday.

''and these chopsticks come at the expense of some part of the world's rainforests,'' she says.

the third world argument most often heard in the committee rooms of the united nations is that there is need for radical change both in production and consumption patterns.

they argue that unless production and consumption patterns change, especially in the industrialised countries, there can be no viable solution to the economic and ecological crises facing mankind.

the third world network points out that the global environmental crisis and the socio-economic decline in the south are interconnected, and that reasons for these two phenomena are an inequitable world order, unsustainable systems of production and consumption in the north, and inappropriate development models in the south.

''whilst the inappropriate development models in the south have to be altered, even more important is changing the northern economic model which dominates the global economy and degrades nature,'' the network says.

the united nations says that ecological destruction in the north is triggered by affluence and its by-products: industrial waste and consumer-generated garbage, pollution of the air and water by industry, automobiles, and agricultural chemicals.

currently, industrialised nations generate about 90 percent of the world's hazardous waste, emit 74 percent of atmosphere-warming carbon dioxide, and produce almost 100 percent of the ozone- damaging chlorofluorocarbons (cfcs).

paradoxically, the environmental degradation in the developing nations is caused mostly by the pressures of poverty, leading to shrinking forests, eroding soil, overgrazed pastures, and over- crowded cities.

margarita arias, presidential aspirant of costa rica and wife of nobel laureate, former president oscar arias, says that in central america, where some 50 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, 20,000 hectares of forest land are sacrificed each year to support cattle-raising.

but still, the children of central america consume 52 times less meat than those of the north, she said.

''without changing the culture that equates consumption with human satisfaction in the industrialised countries,'' arias adds, ''it will be impossible for new york to cease to produce three times the volume of garbage as calcutta, a city of the same population.''

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