Global Social Problems - Consumerism

ConsumerismSergio FernandezLandon PattersonAndrew HatchJeff Rohrbach

Introduction of the Financial Crisis We continue to face a global economic

crisis that began in U.S markets in 2007. Nearly 5 years later our economy is still

struggling to recover. Has affected almost every country in the

world. This is the first “Global Recession”

What Actually Caused the Financial Crisis? The following were the main reasons

markets collapsed in 2007: Cheap Money Lax Credit Booming Housing Market New Financial Products Huge Enconomic Deficits

What I took from the “Occupy” Experience Gave me a notion of what people

actually understood, and what they don’t.

I felt like many people didn’t really know what the cause of the financial crisis was, and just blamed it on Wall Street.

How do we begin to solve the financial crisis? Most viable solution would be for

Government to encourage businesses to re-invest in the U.S. Economy through: Hub Zones Tax Breaks Publicity Inflow of cheap funds to money markets.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch• Trash trapped by the North

Pacific currents• Pelagic plastics, chemical

sludge, and other debris

• Estimated size: up to 5,800,000 sq. miles – 8.1% of the pacific ocean

• Located between 135 degrees W and 155 degrees W

What I learned Most of the environmental issues we see

today can be linked to consumption 37 percent of species could become

extinct due to climate change Our constant need for consumption has

led us to the current state of corporate corruption Occupy Wall Street

Reflection of Project Connection of our consumerist culture

and current state of affairs First hand view of Occupy Austin

Movement Trash kills We are the problem, not the CEOs.

Stop consuming, they don’t get paid

My Research Global Financial Crisis of 2008

Financial gap between classes

Occupy Movements

Wide variety of opinions

What I learned Financial Crisis did not affect just the

United States

Small steps in education can be the solution

People are not willing to change

My Semester Research Consumerism is caused by us

We cannot accept a simple life

Impossible to stop, we can only improve

Occupy Austin Experience Starting to die down

Most people were just looking for something to do

Some did have legitimate causes

Occupy Austin