Tale of Everybody, Somebody, Nobody, and Anybody.
"Once upon a time, there were four people; their names were Everybody, Somebody, Nobody and Anybody. Whenever there was an important job to be done, Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. When Nobody did it, Everybody got angry because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought that Somebody would do it, but Nobody realized that Nobody would do it. So consequently, Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done in the first place." - Ann Landers
The story may be confusing but the message is clear: no one took responsibility so nothing was accomplished. In other words, when we can do, we should do something, however small or big the action.
POWER OF INDIVIDUAL ACTION
If you can take anything away from any conversation or interaction with me, I want you to know, even if it is just an inkling, the beginning of a feeling, that you have the power to make a positive difference in the world. We are each just one person, but altogether, we on average 4 in our immediate family, 10-20 in our extended family, 100-500 in our friend and work networks, we are 5.6 million in Singapore, 4.5 billion in the Asian continent, and 7.8 billion total on Earth.
Every company, movement, or revolution starts with just one person with a crazy idea; the hardest part is finding the next person to believe in that idea, and then it is unstoppable. What is so great about the “green revolution” is that it was started before most of us were born. Thank you, original eco-warriors, and thank you to the next generations to come.
When it comes to saving the planet, we are all affected and we all need to be invested.
Earth is our home and we are depleting her resources and setting her on fire. Just like being part of any team, we are as strong as our weakest link. The planet might be divided by countries and languages and by oceans and mountains, but we are all interconnected and interdependent on one another. As part of Team Earthlings, we all share one thing in common: Earth and her finite resources.
Power of Purchase
So, where does your power lie?
Your power is hidden in the choices you make every day. In this modern era, consumption is the pillar of the economy. Consumption refers to “expenditures on goods and services,” which simply translates to anything you buy. Every day, we spend money and consume, which means that every day, we have the choice to choose better. Realising it or not, with every dollar you spent, you have an impact on the planet and its people; “with every dollar you spend, you are casting a vote for the future that you want”.
You have more power over politics than you think because politics is driven by the economy, and the economy is driven by the law of supply and demand, and how we spend our money determines the balance.
Law of Supply and Demand
The law of supply and demand might be one of the most fundamental laws of economy, but it ties into almost all economic principles. Where there is a demand for something, there needs to be a supply for it. When the supply exceeds the demand, the value of the supply decreases; when demand decreases, supplies will have to be reduced. Where there is no demand, there will be no supply needed.
We need to stop demanding cheap, fast, and convenient and start demanding fair, honest, and sustainable.
Let’s use the niche hobby of film photography and instant photography as an example. Before digital cameras and smartphones were in everyone’s pockets, the only way to capture memories was by film and Polaroids. As technology advanced and prices decreased on digital devices, society shifted to what was most convenient (smartphones) and away from film and instant photography. With less demand, the presence (supply) of photo-developing shops and services has almost disappeared.
With less demand, Original Polaroid film ended their production for a short while around 2010, until there seemed to be a niche demand for it where Impossible film started with their supply. But with prices at more than two dollars an exposure, competition came in the form of Fujifilm and instax film at a lower price. And we are now at the point where the market has plateaued for both film and instant photography. In most cities, photographers know the one place that they go out of the way to develop their film. As for instant photography, there is only one company that makes new Polaroid cameras and film alongside Fujifilm Instax, which now produces three different shapes of film with the same snap with an instant physical result feel.
“As consumer, we have so much power to change the world just by being careful in what we buy” - Emma Watson (Hermione)
When Demand Stops, so does Supply
As consumers, we must choose to buy from businesses that put the people and the planet first.
When it comes to clothes, avoid fast fashion; ensure clothes are organic, Fair Trade, B Corp, slow fashion, made to order, small batch, and from small companies.
When it comes to food, eat as low on the food chain as possible, avoid seafood, and reduce animal consumption, including eggs and milk. Choose organic, grass-fed, direct-from-farm, local, and in-season produce. The most important foods on the list for extinction are coffee, tea, quinoa, avocado, and chocolate/cacao.
It is the collective efforts of these small changes and choices that everyone can make on a daily basis that add up to a big difference.
Consumption is the pillar of the modern economy, and we each have the power to consume better.
This sentiment carries more weight when we travel in developing countries like those in Southeast Asia.
Travel to conserve
Tourism has shaped the development of the modern world, especially in developing countries. Tourism, when done properly, can result in fair and sustainable development for a better future for tomorrow. Tourism is a melting pot of ideas, people, and solutions, and we must make conscious choices to support those who are responsible and sustainable.
When we travel today and post an image of yourself on the back of an elephant or with baby tiger cubs, you will be cancelled. The proper treatment of elephants in sanctuaries is a reason for hope and it was brought about by the demands of tourists seeking ethical experiences. And it was done in less than a decade.
This same mentality and action-oriented activism can bring about the solution to:
Low-waste and the elimination of plastic pollution
Growth and diversity of tourist hotspots
Increased dedication to sustainable practices in hotel operations
Growth of local designers and production of authentic handicrafts
Equal access to organic, non-gmo, real foods
“We blame society but we are society.” - Wimer Alberto
