Home - YouNet

How to Slow a Fast world

After the Second World War, the economy of industrialised countries went through an unprecedented period of development based on industrial capitalism. Thus was born the consumer society, based on the growth of purchases of goods that satisfy ‘secondary’ needs, so-called because they are not related to food and survival. In order for this growth to be continuous, it is necessary for the products to be cheap, to have an ever-shorter shelf life and to be supported by the action of advertising techniques, which make real needs appear fictitious. Access to this consumption creates a ‘democratisation of luxury’, i.e. an increasing number of individuals can afford to buy any good on the market, experience a certain lifestyle and be assured a certain degree of well-being.
This consumer society, however, is not sustainable in the long run.
From an environmental point of view, the constant production of goods leads to a disproportionate exploitation of natural resources. Production and consumption generate pollutants and waste, the management of which is a further problem.
From a social point of view, consumerism is a source of social inequality, since there are few who hold economic and political power and who exercise it to the detriment of a share of the population that remains marginalised. Profit maximisation and the need to charge low prices leads to extreme cost minimisation, which implies the choice of polluting raw materials and production processes and the reduction of wages.
From a human psychophysical health point of view, the pressure of maintaining a consumption-based lifestyle causes anxiety, stress and continuous dissatisfaction. In addition, the aforementioned environmental impacts undoubtedly have an impact on human health.

Le nostre principali attività

Volontariato internazionale

Dal 2011 YouNet è attiva nell’ambito del Servizio Volontario Europeo e ora nei Corpi di Solidarietà Europea, come ente di coordinamento, accoglienza ed invio.

Scopri di più

Attività locali

YouNet collabora con diverse realtà locali nel bolognese al fine di organizzare laboratori, giornate informative, eventi pubblici, attività ludiche.

Scopri di più

Progetti Europei

YouNet idea e partecipa in progetti europei in linea con le sue finalità statutarie, cooperando con organizzazioni giovanili ed educative. Scopri i progetti attivi e leggi le ultime news!

Scopri di più

Collaboriamo con

- MARCEL PROUST

"Il vero viaggio di scoperta non consiste nel cercare nuove terre, ma nell'avere nuovi occhi”