Students are presented with some of the negative consequences of consumerism and globalization. The video begins by posing the question, What would the world look like if it embodied our highest potential. It then provides a bleak picture of our current world through a montage of depressing images followed by a series of vignettes in which a number of global leaders present their ideas on the way forward. The "cures" offered for getting from here to there include a call for a "new narrative", a transformation from one setting to another, an abandonment of our self-centered consumer ethic, a shared search for justice, and a new sense of identity based upon unity in diversity.
A supporting lesson plan which focuses on deconstructing consumerism is also available
By posing the question, What would our preferred future look like?, the video asks student to consider a set of assumptions that form the basis of our civilization and what changes do we need to make. Such an examination is so broad in its reach that it touches upon a number of subject or curriculum areas - our attitude to and use of nature's resources, our sense of identity , our sense of citizenship, and our concept of justice . While students may benefit from recognizing the link among these issues, the exercise my be somewhat overwhelming.
A supporting lesson plan which focuses on deconstructing consumerism is also available
Teachers may choose to use the video as an introduction to student discussion of where we are and where do we want to be but need to develop a framework that breaks the larger piece into manageable segments. This may be done by using a diagram that starts with the present, draws a line to our preferred future and another to our probable future,records the events or policies that will advance us along each of these lines and has students discuss what must be done specifically to close the gap between our preferred and probable futures. The video may also be used as a prelude to student study of the United Nations Development Goals, a number of which are featured on R4R.
The video will be welcomed by those who argue for a place in the curriculum for Future Studies. Their argument is that our current curriculum offerings are akin to looking in the rear view mirror as we race down the road at 15 km./hr.
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