by Michael Smith (Veshengro) Much of our consumption, bar for life''s essentials, is not as a result of need – thus demand – but of something that has been suggested to us, almost and maybe even literally, subliminally. By means of advertising on TV, radio and in printed media (and now also on the Internet), as well as on billboards, industry creates these perceived needs that make people rush out – or go online – to buy these unnecessary necessities. MORE

What did you need to know to overcome the obstacles you faced? What did you need to know in order to achieve those successes? Then ask yourself, how many of those things that I needed to know did I learn in school? But more and more parents realize that just learning academics is not enough, and they see young people in their communities suffering from a lack of needed learning, and society suffering as well. What do children need to learn? MORE

Do you really need an E-Book Reader, a PDA or even a “Smart” Phone? By Michael Smith (Veshengro) Many of our perceived needs that we believe we could not possible do without are just that, perceived. They are, in fact, but wants that the advertising industry has us believe we need and cannot do without. The “Personal Digital Assistant” (PDA) or Pocket PC: do you really need one? I doubt it. MORE

by Michael Smith (Veshengro) “We need to increase consumption to grow the economy” is all the government “experts” seem to be able to say and they do not even realize the fallacy that this is. First of all instead of growing the economy we need to align it to the resources and that means a different approach and secondly we already, in the developed world for sure, consume far too much and have far too much stuff. MORE

Here are some lessons to be learned from these “plain people”: Sometimes “Need” really means “Want” Most people cultivate a sense of need for things they could live without. As I have said more than ones in my many writings on the matter of needs and wants is that many of our perceived needs are but wants, more often than not created by advertising. Whatever you do, don’t get caught up in needing the biggest and best. MORE

Poor public transportation possibilities increase the need of a car. Drives the perceived need for inexpensive housing, security and aesthetic quality found in the outskirts of the city. Such frame of mind will lead people to believe one must be living in suburban area in order to be perceived as successful and well-established. Also here is it possible to say exactly which services that are involved, and the perceived value varies among people and time. MORE

First of all reduce needs and, especially, wants, for many perceived needs are all but wants. No need to keep up with them. There is not need to partake in such “games” of one-upmanship for, if your car is OK, your TV fine (though I would even go as far as suggest ditching your TV altogether), etc., then those wishes for new are not needs at all. Often, as said already, the needs that we perceive are nothing but wants. MORE

There is one great inherent problem though with doing that and that is that you need the transport to cart it home and also you need a place for it at home. Having said that though it would be nice if people would realize that many of their supposed and perceived “needs” are not needs at all but nothing but wants. They’re creating a new economic system based on the value of mutual needs and cooperation instead of a system based on greed and waste. MORE

During 2002 – 2004, a DFID funded research project was conducted to identify: 1] the needs of teachers in the implementation of global citizenship education; 2] the needs of primary and secondary school pupils in terms of what they want to know or understand with regard to global citizenship and world events; and 3] the needs of teacher trainers and trainees in their preparation for teaching global citizenship. MORE

The frugal do many of the same day-to-day things that a "Green" person might and we only need to consider here the old slogan of “reduce, reuse, and recycle”. On the other hand some of the clutter may just be what you will need carry out some repairs. A frugal person reduces his or her outgoing monthly expenses by buying only what he or she needs and often at a reduced price from yard sales, discount stores or second-hand stores. MORE

[link] There is a perceived need to foster awareness about climate change in schools and universities and to engage young people and future professionals in the search for local solutions for a problem with has global dimensions. Yet, although much is written and spoken about climate change at scientific circles, little information filters through other levels. MORE