Simple Predictions For 2015

You don't have to be a psychic to know where consumerism is headed.

The following is my list of predictions for 2015, although it may seem like simple truths that anyone paying attention could make.

NBA's Simple Predictions For 2015

It will be more important for humanity to live simply than ever before. 

This has been the case since the start of fossil fuels and industrialization, and becomes more true with each passing year. People have been predicting the demise of the consumer scam since it started.

Although the group of individuals that understand you can't sustain infinite growth while exploiting finite systems is growing, the number of those that translate that knowledge to meaningful behaviour change remains small.

This will change (maybe this year), either by choice or by deteriorating economic and environmental circumstances.

More people will catch on to the failures of consumerism both personally and globally, and quit supporting the structures of exploitation. Demand destruction will ensure they don't go back.

Black Friday 2014 spending results show where the trend is going. The conjurers of the consumer illusion were sadly disappointed when spending fell 11% on the most important shopping day of the year.

Not only were shoppers spending less, there were also 5% fewer people shopping.

Demand destruction is the process by which those who can no longer afford goods or services, or those who no longer want them, stop buying them permanently.

It will be individuals, families, and communities doing the brunt of the work towards living sustainably with less. 

Since governments are largely in the pockets of big business interests, they will never tell their people to live more simply - it is not good for profits. However, learning to live more gently on this planet is the only thing that will lead to a sustainable future.