Toxic Capitalism
The orgy of consumerism and waste: Are we the last generation on earth?
by
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We need to resist the destructive consumption ideology of cheap prices, poor durability and disregard for the environmental impact. We must curtail the senseless and repetitive cycle of buy - use - throw away. The goal is to reduce the consumption of energy and resources through a wiser consumer model. Products and services must be delivered with a strict respect to quality, durability and the environment. That also applies to government services; civil servants have no right to exceptions. Consumption of energy and natural resources should be minimized to take into account the total carbon footprint; or even better to reduce the ecological footprint.
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About the Book
The West is causing depletion of natural resources and environmental destruction with the help of questionable companies, financial institutions and governments. Today, all eyes are on China and its hazardous environment.
Toxic Capitalism, a succinct volume jam-packed with informative but scary data, shows how to fight overconsumption and wastage.
Yes, there is a solution. Only complaining will not guarantee the well-being of future generations.
What you will discover and learn in the book:
- The reality of Global Warming
- How financial institutions and companies fail in their job
- How governments fail in their duty, vested interests at work
- How income inequality affects society
- The role of corruption
- How inadequate job markets impede better consumption
- Details on water pollution & scarcity, focus on China
- What China is doing to combat pollution, to improve the energy mix and promote renewables
- How China roams the world to buy up and import the much needed resources, including food
- How much and why we waste (including food and medicine)
- Air pollution, soil pollution, impact on health
- Everyday examples of waste, focus on China
- How we can enforce quality and durability
- How we can do our part to safeguard the future for our children
About the Author
Gilbert has written the book we all wish we could write. It offers a very concise description of the world’s economic, environmental, social, and governmental problems, but more importantly, it tells us what we can do about them now, before it is too late. The book is jam-packed with interesting data, much of which is from China—the new epicenter of toxic capitalism. Although it can be used as a great reference, it is not merely an academic tome. It has an armchair feel and is a terrific read. Bravo! --Frank T. Gallo, PhD, Chief Leadership Consultant, Aon Hewitt Greater China, and the author of Business Leadership in China Gilbert Van Kerckhove is from Belgium and graduated with master’s in electronic engineering. Since 1980, he has been working with China, where he spent twenty-seven years, mostly in Beijing, but also in Hong Kong and Shanghai. He is the president of a Beijing-based management consulting that provides strategy guidance for foreign and Chinese companies. Since 2000, he has been assisting the Beijing municipality in the areas of economic studies and foreign investment promotion. He has received the highest Chinese awards for his role in the 2008 Olympics, including the Chinese Green Card. He considers Beijing his home. An avid reader of regional and international news, he has built a large database on issues related to the environment, economy, public services, trade, labor markets, and more. Living in China, he became alarmed by the dramatic pollution levels and the impact of toxic capitalism, an unwelcome strain of capitalism that thrives on overconsumption and indiscriminate wastage, promoted by the West with the help of questionable companies, financial institutions and governments. China, as factory of the world, is facing depletion of resources and roams the world to satisfy its voracious appetite for energy, raw materials, and food. How serious is the environmental destruction? How did we come to this madness, and what can we do to preserve the future of our children?