It was a close competition, and the results have been
delayed, but it is finally confirmed that 2013 was the Year of Eco-Thrifty.
Runners-up include: The Year of Pete & Andy; The Year of
Obama’s embarrassments; The Year of Sonny Bill; and, The Year without defeat
(All Blacks).
Eco-Thrifty narrowly beat out Pete & Andy due a strong
cast that included Lorde, Macklemore, and Francis (aka, ‘da pope’).
Lorde (Auckland’s Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O’Connor) became
the first New Zealander to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with her
single, “Royals.” According to various sources (including Wikipedia), she wrote
the song in response to the opulence celebrated in much of hip-hop and rap
music, including big, expensive cars, expensive alcohol, and the obligatory
“bling.”
If the lyrics in “Royals” slipped your attention, then the
lyrics and beat of Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop Song” surely didn’t. Although the
song experienced heavy rotation on Whanganui radio for only a month or two
before falling off the radar, its rotation was very heavy.
Macklemore, too, takes the piss out of consumer culture (and
R. Kelly) by ridiculing those who would purchase a t-shirt for $50 (US), when
one could outfit oneself from head to toe at an op shop for $20 and “look
incredible.”
They be like, "Oh, that
Gucci - that's hella tight."
I'm like, "Yo - that's
fifty dollars for a T-shirt."
Limited edition, let's do some
simple addition
Fifty dollars for a
T-shirt - that's just some ignorant @#$%
This is, in my opinion, hands-down the best profanity-filled
song of the millennium.
Coppin' it, washin' it, 'bout
to go and get some compliments
Passin' up on those moccasins
someone else's been walkin' in
Bummy and grungy, @#$% it, man
I am stuntin' and flossin' and
Savin' my money and
I'm hella happy that's a bargain, @#$%
As would be suspected from a pope, Francis sends his
eco-thrifty message with less profanity, but his words have been called profane
by those who wish to maintain the status quo in the Catholic Church. Gone is
the opulence of previous popes, and in steps a man of humility unafraid to
challenge the devastating effects of wealth inequality around the world.
Conspicuous displays of wealth are in almost every case the
antithesis of eco-thrifty. Instead of the win-win-win situations I write about
that save money while being good for people and the planet, I would describe
them as lose-lose-lose. Specifically, opulent lifestyles often waste money
while having large environmental impacts. Additionally, research shows a strong
correlation between wealth inequality and social problems (The Spirit Level,
Wilkinson & Pickett, 2009).
While Francis’ courage undoubtedly upsets the wealthiest 1%,
it has surely boosted the morale of the poorest 50% of global citizens be they
Catholic or not. It appears he has taken seriously the teachings of an earlier
proponent of eco-thrifty lifestyle, Jesus, instead of embracing the power and
prestige of The Church. Good on you, Frank.
And finally, the Light Bulb Moment Award for 2013 goes to
the Wanganui District Council for finally recognizing that running eight light
bulbs outdoors on sunny days was neither eco nor thrifty. WDC is also the
recipient of the Kicking-and-Screaming Award for the same action (turning off
outdoor lighting during the day) because it took over three years and four
columns in the Chronicle to get Council to take action.
But as a wise person once said, “Better late than never.”
Let’s hope that 2014 finds WDC coming to the table on time.
Peace, Estwing
No comments:
Post a Comment