Lab+4+(late)

**Tutorial #4 Wiki Question:**

 * Write six paragraphs, one on each stage of the 'materials economy', and define its interactions.**

The materials economy can be defined as the combined processes that function to deliver goods and services to various markets and consumers. A materials economy can quite easily describe our current state of the trade of goods and services. A textbook definition of the materials economy would define it as the progression through the stages of __extraction__, __production__, __distribution__, __consumption__ and __disposal__. Beyond the textbook definition, another important component of the materials economy would be __people__, as without people such an economy would not function the way it does. To be more critical of the system, it is important to note that the materials economy is linear system running on finite planet. And at every stage of the materials economy, there are questionable interactions with societies, cultures, economies and the environment.

The first stage of __extraction__ refers exactly to the extraction of natural resourses or as Annie Leonard puts it: //natural resource exploitation//. And this is reflected by the fact that a third of the world's resources have been unnecessarily consumed within the last three decades. The extraction stage interacts closely with the environment as it deals with the monumental withdrawal of various resources from our planet. For example wood is a resource obtain through the process of deforestation which has extremely damaging effects on the environment such as animal habitat destruction. Furthermore, other similar processes such as mining can have long term effects on societies due to the fast elimination of resources that we need to survive.

The resources obtained through extraction then move to the __production__ stage which deals with the synthesis of such resources through the use of energy and chemicals. Much like the previous stage, production too interacts with societies and the environment. For example, the health impacts concerning the chemicals, many of which are capable synergistic health impacts, that are used in production processes. Furthermore, the continuing process of adding such chemicals into the production system is going to result in such toxic chemicals noticeably surfacing in our societies and environment in the forms of by-product and pollution.

Once the resources are turned into products, we move on to the __distribution__ stage. Distribution refers to the sale or trade of all these products to the public with the intention of keeping people spending and keeping inventories moving. Ultimately, it seems we dont pay for what we get as a majority of the costs are externalized and not represented in the price tag. Such process interact quite negatively with various societies and cultures, especially those being exploited by corporations for cheap labour and cheap resources. Essentially, such people are paying the costs that are not reflected by the prices we pay.

__Consumption__ is the stage is extremely important to materials economy system. In order to keep the materials flowing, we are encouraged to shop and consume. The process of consumption interacts to ill effect with the environment; it estimated that 99% of the materials that we extract, process and consume is disposed within 6 months. Obviously, such rates of consumption and disposal fuel a system that requires constant supplies of materials. Consumption, near-immediate disposal and demand for more materials and resources are all process that seem to be designed with disposal in mind. Just another safecheck for the demand of more extraction, production and distribution. this mentality is further enforced by corporation with the media, the various forms of advertising and general interaction with the public to make sure that this system of materials keeps on running and running.

And finally, we reach the __disposal__ stage. Disposal refers to consumed goods becoming obsolete trash. The disposal stage negatively interacts closely with the environment through landfills, incineration or general pollution of the air, lands and waters. Many of these disposal processes such as incineration have devistating effects on the environment as well as the health of people through the amplification of the toxic chemicals synthesized in our products. While recycling does help, alot of the products manufactured for us are not so easily broken down to be recycled. Ultimately, there are larger issues regarding the entire system rather one stage. The accumulated work of saving forests, advocating clean production, labour rights, fair trade, conscious consuming, blocking landfills and incinerators, and others are all crucial in reforming a system that doesnt have the people's priority or the environment's priority in mind.