What Are Your Consumer Consequences?

Play this fun (or is it scary?) game, Consumer Consequences, to see how many Earths would be needed if EVERYONE lived like you did. I’ve used calculators like this before, but this one really covers all the bases and you even get to make a funny avatar for yourself. Good times courtesy of American Public Media. How many Earth’s did you get? Report back in the comments. Come on, you’re just wasting time at work anyway, right? Hee. hee.

This is actually part of some great programming that you may have been hearing this week if you listen to public radio (you should!):

American Public Media recently announced that “Consumed,” American Public Media’s cross-program series on the sustainability of the consumer economy, will broadcast on public radio stations nationwide November 9-18. “Consumed” will provide listeners with a unique perspective of the impact our consumption has on our economy, our ethics, our environment and more.
“Consumed” comprises reports from Marketplace, Marketplace Morning Report, Marketplace Money, Weekend America, Speaking of Faith, The Story and American RadioWorks. Each program will examine the consumer economy in its own way, providing a thorough, multi-disciplinary approach to a topic that affects all of us.

car, consumption, ethics, farm, media, sustainability

Starre Vartan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Eco-Chick and author of The Eco-Chick Guide to Life (St. Martin's Press). A problogger and oft-quoted green living expert who has been featured in the NYTimes, Elle, Glamour and Whole Living, she is a contributor to The Huffington Post, Inhabitat, and Hearst's The Daily Green, and is currently editor-at-large for Coco Eco Magazine. An active ecofashionista, she has style edited for Plenty magazine and coordinated runway shows. She splits her time between Connecticut and NYC and calls Sydney, Australia her second home, even though it was her first (as that's where she was born and most of her family resides). When not writing, blogging, or researching her next book, she is trailrunning, trying to cook, or snowboarding.

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7 Comments on “What Are Your Consumer Consequences?”

Starre
Crap!! I got 3.1 Earths…seems like my food (?) somehow really made the number go up…I’m a vegetarian for god’s sake! I think it’s because I buy so much prepared food (I chose 25-50% of the food I eat is prepared, and that might be low). I just don’t love cooking and don’t have the time, but I guess this is a bigger resource-sucker than I realized. Hmmmm…..
11/12/07 » 11:07 pm »
melissa
i got 3.1 too, also due to my food. this surprised me! i shop at the local co-op and try to buy as much of my food organic and local as possible, but i guess i could be doing a lot better!
11/12/07 » 11:36 pm »
Melinda
I too came in at over 3 earths. I think if you are reading this blog you probably are doing as much if not more than the average person is to live as sustainably as possible. The problem is that our food supply is not local in many cases. I live in New Jersey and we have community supported agriculture groups but only in the summer….so I’m forced to buy from my local organic grocery store in the winter and we all know our food is coming from lands far away during the colder months. I guess we can always do better.
11/13/07 » 12:59 am »
Earth Community Project » Blog Archive » If everyone on earth…
[...] Found via Eco-Chick. [...]
11/13/07 » 9:47 am »
Kim
Wow, I got 2.8. I guess it is because I don’t get out much, have insulated the house, and don’t buy much these days!! Babes keep me occupied. The big event with the wee ones is some organic pear followed by a walk around the village!
11/13/07 » 1:58 pm »
Tami
I played the game. I came in at 4. I think I will have to play again and read the rules as I was confused in that I wasn’t sure how to answer as I was answering for myself, husband and 2 children. Food seamed to be the one that put us over…..all the coffee and beer I suppose! This is a great tool though and would be great to share with others, maybe in the neighborhood or schools. We live in the State of Minnesota and our school district is number 2 in the state. I am going to check with the school district to see how they might intergrate a game like this as a learning tool. THANKS for sharing!!!
11/16/07 » 8:32 am »
Tami
I played the game. I came in at 4. I think I will have to play again and read the rules as I was confused in that I wasn’t sure how to answer as I was answering for myself, husband and 2 children. Food seamed to be the one that put us over…..all the coffee and beer I suppose! We also live in a 2700 sq foor house, which is on the small side for our neighborhood.This is a great tool though and would be great to share with others, maybe in the neighborhood or schools. We live in the State of Minnesota and our school district is number 2 in the state. I am going to check with the school district to see how they might intergrate a game like this as a learning tool. THANKS for sharing!!!
11/16/07 » 8:36 am »