'Progress' in a global society

Recently I watched the documentary "Manufactured Landscapes," which covers photographer Edward Burtynsky's work and the price our consumption of manufactured goods costs our earth and humanity. Largely focusing on globalization's impact on China as the country industrializes, the film opened my eyes to how my consumer decisions affect people on the opposite side of the world. In our age of globalization, we are connected with people all over the globe in real ways, and while some effects -- such as the creation of jobs -- may be positive, many ramifications of our culture of consumption are destructive.

There are several images from this documentary I can't get out of my mind. The first is of a town in China being overtaken by piles of trash as tall as one-story buildings. This garbage is imported e-waste -- old computers brought in largely from western countries to be recycled. Two women sit separating the precious metals that can be recycled from the parts that can't. These pieces of metal are much smaller than a fingernail and picked apart using tiny tools, exposing the people and environment, according to Burtynsky's website, to toxins such as lead, mercury and cadmium. This metallic odor can be smelled outside the city, and the water is so contaminated that drinking water must be imported.

The second image is of Chinese people demolishing their own city, tearing down their homes and history, ordered to relocate to make way for the Three Gorges Dam. Thirteen cities were destroyed to build this monument, to produce electricity and expand shipping capabilities.

The third image is of miles of factory space. Thousands of irons hang from bars that move around the ceiling of the factory. It is one woman's job to shake each iron, ensuring there are no loose pieces inside. I never before thought about this being someone's job, that a human life -- an image of God -- works to make sure my iron works. Before now, I would complain if I got it home and something inside was loose.

I can't forget these images, and yet I am part of this: I like having nice things, buying new clothes, using technology. I drive a car and buy food imported from unnecessarily faraway places because it's a lot of work to do otherwise.

It can be easy to think these are other countries' issues to solve. The truth, however, is that we live in a global society. Our rapid consumption of imported material goods no longer allows us to consider the impact of our choices only on people in our own country; our lives touch people's lives half a world away, and because of this we must begin to reconsider if what is good and convenient for us is also good for our brothers and sisters -- other images of God -- across the globe.

We must ask ourselves: is all innovation truly "progress?" Who does this progress take advantage of and what does it destroy in its implementation? Finally, are we willing to do with less, to choose inconvenience in our own lives for the betterment of the earth God has made and the well-being of other images of himself, people he has created to love and be loved?

Mia Pohlman is a Perryville, Mo., native studying at Truman State University. She loves performing, God and the color purple -- not necessarily in that order