For decades, consumers have been led to believe that recycling plastic saves on waste. Unfortunately, it’s not true, says Simon Wilson. And that could have big consequences for the oil business.
Zizek has an article I really like where he talks about this. He likens us recycling to polynesian island cultures making sacrifices into a volcano (idk if that's a real thing and yeah it seems a little racist idk). Basically living in the shadow of an active volcano is a massive threat to your home and life. But you have no control over it, nothing you can change what the volcano is going to do. It's hard as human to except this existential reality. So these cultures had these practices of making sacrifices to the volcano, giving them the idea of influence over the actions of the volcano and avoiding any feelings of guilt towards the outcomes. Basically for working/middle class people climate change is our volcano and recycling is our ritual sacrifice.
Zizek has an article I really like where he talks about this. He likens us recycling to polynesian island cultures making sacrifices into a volcano (idk if that's a real thing and yeah it seems a little racist idk). Basically living in the shadow of an active volcano is a massive threat to your home and life. But you have no control over it, nothing you can change what the volcano is going to do. It's hard as human to except this existential reality. So these cultures had these practices of making sacrifices to the volcano, giving them the idea of influence over the actions of the volcano and avoiding any feelings of guilt towards the outcomes. Basically for working/middle class people climate change is our volcano and recycling is our ritual sacrifice.