Sir, – Does Putin’s war on Ukraine and the resultant global economic turmoil give us a free pass to ignore the impact of consumerism on both our wellbeing and the planet?
Much of how we value society is based on money. Where you live. How big your house is. The kind of car you drive. The label on your clothes and bag. Where and how often you go on holidays.
But at what price? How much of having more actually makes us happy? The research tells us that half of happiness is explained by our genes, while only 10 per cent of happiness is related to life circumstances – being married, having a good job and an adequate income. The remainder – 40 per cent of happiness, derives from what we choose to do.
Philosopher Henry David Thoreau suggested that “happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder”.
The war in Ukraine has shone a light on the fragility of life – how quickly stability can be snatched away. Future economic growth must prioritise resilience – renewable fuels, retrofitting, regenerative agroecology, and jobs that focus less on consumerism and more on resilient communities, creativity and purpose.
– Yours, etc,
CATHERINE CONLON,
Ballintemple,
Cork.