What are the hidden costs of creating the products we use everyday?
In order to view the videos online at Big Picture TV, you need to install the Macromedia Flash Player 8 (or later) and have Javascript enabled in your browser.
About the video: ‘What are the hidden costs of creating the products we use everyday?’
Dr. Sachs talks about the hidden production costs of many of the products we habitually consume and suggests that buying eco-friendly and fair trade goods is the best way to minimize our impact on the world’s natural and social resources. Noting that all consumers are also citizens, Sachs describes how situations might arise that impress upon us the urgent need to speak out. He ends by giving an example of how we might do that before the threat of global warming becomes more apparent.
Total views: 4,564
Filmed: London, UK on 21 February 2004
Credits: Interviewer - Marcus Morrell Camera - Petica Watson
Copyright © 2004 Big Picture TV
About Wolfgang Sachs
Wolfgang Sachs is Senior Coordinator of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy’s project on Globalization and Sustainability and is the former Chairman of Greenpeace, Germany.
He’s author of several books, including “Fair Future, Environment and Human Rights” (2005) and editor of the Development Dictionary.
Related videos
John Cavanagh
What does it mean to be a consumer?
John Cavanagh highlights the power that individuals possess as consumers, workers, investors and citizens by the choices that they make. He points to the success of the fair trade…
Recorded: 13 April 2005
Wally N'Dow
What would sustainable communities look like?
Speaking at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002, Dr N’Dow talks about the need to reduce the ecological footprint of the world’s cities.…
Recorded: 1 September 2002
Ervin Laszlo
Can individuals make a difference?
Professor Laszlo talks about his book “You Can Change the World” – published by Positive News. He talks about how a more peaceful and sustainable world is possible…
Recorded: 22 August 2003
Frank Dixon
Is our economic system flawed?
Frank Dixon elaborates on why he thinks our present economic and political systems incentivize to do business in irresponsible ways. He describes how these systems can be changed…
Recorded: 20 May 2004
Mary Evelyn Tucker
Can Religion Save the Planet?
Professor Tucker talks about the role religions can play in addressing the ecological problems of our time. Although all major religious traditions predate our modern awareness…
Recorded: 10 July 2004
Mark Halle
How do environmental problems affect global security?
Halle talks about how environmental decline represents the most pressing security threat to all nations, North and South. He warns that if governments around the world do not act…
Recorded: 1 September 2002
