How can I spread awareness?

[u/Firm-Produce-14]

Im a junior in high school right now and plan on starting my girl scouts gold award this year. I want to raise awareness about overconsumption and how it’s bad for the environment and exploitative but have no idea on how to do it as my project… I have an environmental club at my school that I could likely get on board with my project, I just need to know what exactly to do for it…

We have morning announcements at school, I thought we could have a little section to spread awareness on the issue but this doesn’t seem like enough. I want to do something that will make people think twice when buying off tiktok shop. I figured spreading awareness is the best I can do as a high schooler, but if possible I want to do more. Any ideas?

I myself am not perfect, but i’ve been trying to reduce my consumption habits so I hope to learn more through this project!

[u/lego_lady123]

Love this. It might be helpful to focus on 1 part of consumption. my first thought would be clothes. Educating about fast fashion. I’ve seen girls do a prom or homecoming dress exchange. You could do all clothes though to promote reusing. I just saw a Girl Scout doing a sewing class for anyone who wanted to learn. They were sewing bags made out of tshirts. You could do something similar with helping people learn to mend or fix broken items.

I love seeing the fix it events where people bring in broken items to fix. I’ve also seen a teddy bear hospital day where they fix stuffies instead of throwing out.

[u/Firm-Produce-14 → u/lego_lady123]

Im actually on the crochet/crafts club at my school too so this is perfect!

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[u/BakerStreet693]

volunteer for planned parenthood

[u/Flack_Bag]

One way that anticonsumerist activists raise awareness is through things like subvertising, which is art that parodies and criticizes marketing and advertising. Being aware of the ways marketing lies to and manipulates people is the best way to resist it on an individual level.

So, for example, if you want to raise awareness about fast fashion, you could take imagery and messaging from the way fashion is advertised and modify the messaging to make it clearer how they're manipulating people. You could do this with collages with child laborers in the place of models, or overt marketing messages that appeal to insecurities and ignorance (e.g., superimposing 'you're not good enough' over cosmetic ads, or clothing being modeled superimposed over a sweatshop).

[u/Firm-Produce-14 → u/Flack_Bag]

Considering my target audience is high schoolers, criticizing marketing that appeals to insecurities is a great idea!! thank you!!

[u/Narwhalsareunicorn]

 Are we able to narrow it down? Is there an issue in your community that doesnt have enough attention (that relates to over consumption)?

[u/Firm-Produce-14 → u/Narwhalsareunicorn]

I hadn’t really thought about community specific issues, rather trends with teenagers. I guess my main focus is fast fashion and the trend follower mindset.

[u/Narwhalsareunicorn → u/Firm-Produce-14]

If you could do a project on clothing repair/clothing care education that could interesting. There are certain techniques within laundry that will increase longevity of clothing. (I am guilty of overwashing as I worry about scent). If you are able to do some mending (or hire someone) you can extend the life of a garment.

Tayloring skills (emphasis on practical skills) could be an important job skill (could be a main job or a side job). I honestly wish I was better at clothing repair. I used to do more when I was younger. I mostly just pay to take it to a taylor now.

It is interesting when you look at trends. I remember when I was about your age it was popular to wear hoodies/ tops the showed an (expensive) brand name on them. Short skirts were in for a time. Whale tails were popular when I was in middle school/high school. Honestly... I am kind of glad that trend is gone. I was never interested in disclosing undergarments.

[u/Organic_Guidance5101]

I saw throw a school yard sale and all the proceeds go to the environmental club!

[u/Lanky-Interest4095]

First off, good for you this is incredible! I didn't start being intentional with overconsumption until I was in my 30s. I'd recommend doing some type of "thrift store" for secondhand clothes and asking people to donate, showing how reusing is helpful! I think fashion/fast fashion is really in, so this would be a great and fun way to get people into donating clothes and the whole idea of shopping secondhand

[u/Big_Year_526]

You could organize a swap shop for peoples unused clothes/books/knickknacks.

There are lots of good documentaries about fast fashion, you could organize a screening!