A consumer is a person who buys or uses goods and services. Goods are the items bought, like plants or food. Services are the actions performed for consumers, like landscaping or a grocery store. http://www.ican.org.au/shop/consumer.htm The grocery store is a service because it keeps the consumer from having to grow his or her own food but instead, conveniently stock items for sale. The rights of consumers became a national topic during 1962, when U.S. President John F. Kennedy, delivered an address to the U.S. Congress where he outlined his vision of consumer rights. It was a first. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=9108 Those rights provide for access to basic goods and services like food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, public utilities, water and sanitation. http://www.consumersinternational.org/who-we-are/consumer-rights
Consumers have the right to be protected against products, production, processes and services which are hazardous to health and life. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=9108Being provided facts needed to make an informed decision and being protected from dishonest advertising and labeling, are also rights of consumers. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=9108Consumers have the right to select from a range of products and services at competitive prices with an assurance of good quality.http://www.consumersinternational.org/our-work/consumer-protection-and-law/un-guidelines-on-consumer-protection Consumers have the right to have input in the making of government policy and in the development of products and services. Consumers have the right to complain and receive compensation for defective goods, unsatisfactory service and misrepresentation of the facts as it relates to consumers. http://www.consumersinternational.org/our-work/consumer-protection-and-law/un-guidelines-on-consumer-protectionConsumers have the right to access information to make informed decisions about goods and services and to be aware of basic consumer rights and responsibility and how to carry out the instructions. Consumers also have a right to live and work in a healthy environment that is non-threatening to current and future generations.http://www.consumersinternational.org/our-work/consumer-protection-and-law/un-guidelines-on-consumer-protection
Buying and Selling Helps the Economy Video
Consumerism is discussed in this video. It is a tongue-in-cheek explanation of how people in a society can become good consumers by buying and spending on a regular basis. It explains the importance of household brands and the importance of buying them. It explains that following current fashions is a way to be a good consumer. It is explained that without the buying and selling of goods can be detrimental to an economy.
References
Fast Facts
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Wealthy Consumers
The wealthiest 20 percent of the world accounted for 86 percent of total private consumption.
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World Consumption
The US and Canada, with 5.2 percent of the world’s population, are responsible for 31.5 percent of consumption. South Asia, with 22.4 percent of the population, is responsible for 2 percent of consumption.
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African Consumers
The average African household today consumes 25 percent less than 25 years ago.
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Consumer Boycotts
A survey of 15,500 consumers in 17 countries revealed that more than a third were boycotting at least one brand.
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Young Consumers
The average baby uses 10,000 diapers before being toilet trained. Each year, 1,000,000,000 trees go to the use of making diapers.
