This is a troubling picture. Such comparisons are designed to make children feel guilty and to promote the governmental redistribution of existing wealth to poorer countries. This stress on cutting consumption and redistributing wealth omits the fact that the Western world produces a disproportionate amount of goods. These goods are used around the world, benefiting poor countries as well as rich ones. Unless the poorer countries create wealth, redistribution will accomplish nothing.
Technology Is Bad Most environmental education condemns technology.
Children learn that factories and cars pollute the air, air conditioners and refrigerators contain CFCs that destroy the ozone layer, and burning fossil fuels increases the CO2 in the atmosphere, causing global warming. In contrast, primitive lifestyles are exalted. They rely on human labor rather than expensive machines. It has a picture of Chinese farmers using their feet to operate an irrigation device. She does not mention that bikes are not very useful for other than short distances and are not convenient in rain or snow.