What is poverty and its impact on the environment in poor countries?

About 1 1 billion people in the world are struggling on the poverty line. They mainly live in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Latin America. These people, who account for 0/5 of the world population, only get 2% of the world's income. They live in thatched cottages and have no clean and safe drinking water; They have nothing, and their life is within walking distance. They are still worried about eating and are in a state of malnutrition. In order to get food, they have to meet their living needs at the expense of destroying the living environment without cutting down forests.

Consumerism in industrialized countries is affecting developing countries, and the lifestyle of high consumption is mistaken for a high fashion and followed. Spacious housing, private cars, brand-name clothes, etc. It has become a symbol of the new rich class in developing countries. Imported food, frozen food, disposable utensils, various household appliances and air conditioners are becoming more and more common among ordinary people. After the reform and opening up, China's economy has developed rapidly, people's living standards have also been greatly improved, and the consumption level has also increased accordingly.

Michael argyle, a psychologist at Oxford University, concluded in his book Psychology of Happiness: "The living conditions that really make happiness different are those covered by three sources: social relations, work and leisure. In these fields, the realization of satisfaction is absolutely or relatively independent of wealth. In fact, there are some signs that social relations, especially those in families and groups, have been neglected in the consumer society; The leisure of the consumer class is also worse than many assumptions. " So we should abandon the idea that having more and better materials will make us more satisfied, because the demand for materials is infinite. The material needs of life can be realized in a more frugal way. Happiness and satisfaction can only come from our own satisfaction with family life, work and development potential, leisure and friendship. Since there is no significant correlation between happiness and consumption level, happiness is only an inner experience, and it is not necessary to pursue the feeling of happiness by pursuing the enjoyment of material life.