Changing Patterns of Production and þonsumption

by Lena Panina, Mama 86, Ukraine


Frankly, the topic under discussion is more a "tabula rasa" to
our people than anything else. More demanding is the
dissemination of knowledge about changing production and
consumption patterns.

The crucial target of every campaign is to involve people in
participation, whith all their human richness and capacities,
in the development and fulfillment of the significant national
task. The problem is that under communist regimes people
learned to become passive and indifferent regarding many
aspects of life. And it's not their fault, under the pressure
of hardships which are in abundance in this country they
learned to fight for their immediate survival, first of all
their physical survival, which is humiliating and depressing
itself, especially in the end of the 20th century.

Women are the most active part of society, not excepting our
women in Ukraine, who undergo a lot of physical and moral
(political) oppression. In spite of all or probably due to all
that our women are "leaders" in life, working hard at their
job places, supporting their families, bringing up children,
doing shopping and all the housework (practically speaking
with the most primitive facilities). On the other hand they
take an active part in social and cultural life. The vast
majority of exhibitions and museums visitors, library and
theatre go-ers are women. They are concerned not only with the
economic situation, which is absolutely severe now, but also
with social, ecological, health, educational problems. These
are interconnected, thus being gradually, more and more
involved in NGO activities.

So, it's only natural that a Production and Consumption
patterns project in Ukraine is being launched by a Kiev
women's enviromental organization. The prospects of the
project in Ukraine are great: lack of information on the
subject, indifferent attitude to the issues on the part of the
government, people's innocence (ignorance) in the field etc.
All of theses prove the necessity of working on the problem,
enlightening people. We should insist on the need of
developing a favourable public opinion on environmental
protection and the widespread common practice of a healthy
lifestyle. It also implies the learning and acquisition of the
suitable criteria of buying and consuming. In every society,
oriented towards consumerism, people should be encouraged to
develop their own critical point of view in order to know how
to make their own choices and avoid manipulation, when they
are expected to select among several different options. This
critical mind should be present in almost every situation,
ranging from selecting any material goods to choosing suitable
information, TV programmes or commercial advertisement.

It's striking, but over the last 3-4 yers the ecological
situation in Ukraine as for water and air pollution has
noticeably increased which is caused by the decay
(destruction) in national economics. The fact is confirmed by
the Ukrainian scientists and officials. Should we be happy of
the fact? I don't think so. Because it also reflects the
miserable existence of the great majority of our people.
What's the way out? Back to the tribal communism? To our mind
a compromise must be found: the production should be developed
and improved. It's directly connected with the raise of
production standards and workmanship, which includes a high
level of hygienic and sanitary conditions for workers, health
protection for the workers, purification of adverse industrial
wastes, especially waterwastes, etc.

The development of production will lead to higher living
standards that correspond directly to the level of culture in
everyday life wcich in its turn implies another style of
consuming (hence the solution of many environmental, health,
social, cultural issues).

People's innocence (ignorance) as for consumption in general.
Lack of knowledge concerning the quality of goods, their
impact on people's health, the way of consuming, let's say the
culture of consuming. The present state of things in
consumption reflects also the present state in our society.
Living through the difficulties and sufferings of the
transition period.

We should also learn more about the experience of the West in
the field, so as to acquire the positive and to avoid at least
partially copying the mistakes.

Human-oriented production and consumption must be the goal of
our activity. The immediate aim is to inform the public on the
issues, to increase its environmental awareness, stimulate its
activity, find more and more supporters, then pressure the
decision- making.

Sound legislative foundation is needed as for consumer's
rights. Collaboration with the Consumers Accotiation of
Ukraine in the field.

Overconsuming is becoming a kind of disease in the West. The
US are heaped up with desposable articles (cups, plastic bags,
etc). Women's Environmental Network (WEN, UK) leaflets call to
stop using some products, because they contain toxins (like
tampons,pampers, cosmetics, some chocolate produced by some
companies and laundry detergents, etc). This is confirmed by
scientific research.