Construction of Natures and Protests on Instagram: A Study of Virtual Environmental Activism in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in India restricted ‘real world’ protests, shifting dissent to digital spaces. In this article we explore virtual environmental activism on Instagram by looking at two case-studies that gained prominence during this period. The first was the death of a pregnant elephant in Kerala by consuming cracker-laden food meant to deter boars from crop-raiding. The second was an oil and gas leak in Baghjan, an ecologically sensitive region in Assam. Through content analysis of ‘Top’ posts, we thematically classified the representations of nature and non-humans constructed through Instagram visuals, identifying overlaps and contradictions in the two cases. Observing that the images of animals in pain generated massive response, we argue that Susan Sontag’s (2003) framework on the haunting power of images of human suffering can be expanded to include non-humans. These visuals highlight certain creatures, excluding other species and vilifying human communities belonging to the same landscapes. We show how unilinear models of economic development and progress, as well as hierarchical and casteist notions in Hinduism continue to shape environmental debates in India. The religious overtones discount the environmental discourse based on scientific knowledge, and disrupt nuances of community driven action. By tracing the online trajectories of the two protests, we also illustrate how virality limits Instagram activism by sidelining local voices and privileging short-lived consumer action over systemic change.

Do Millennials share similar perceptions of brand experience? A clusterization based on brand experience and other brand-related constructs: the case of Netflix

This study aims to explore, in the case of the Over-The-Top (OTT) sector, Millennials’ perceptions of brand experience in relation to the well-established brand Netflix. In particular, the work addresses a clusterization of Millennials on the basis of their experience with the brand. The study first explores the theoretical background, highlighting current perspectives on Over-The-Top industry and on brand experience as a strategic process for creating holistic customer value, achieving differentiation and sustainable competitive advantage. Second, it offers a quantitative study (using a survey) and highlights the principal results related to the brand. Moreover, this work will attempt to use cluster analysis methodology exploiting brand experience validated scale and other related brand and behavioural constructs to cluster consumers. Both academics and marketing managers should focus on approaches able to deliver strong and memorable brand experiences. A positive and durable brand experience is related to other important consequences for consumer action and behaviour, such as the willingness to place brand trust, consumer loyalty towards the brand, an enduring consumer-brand relationship, repurchase intentions, and lastly, the long-term life of the brand

Marine Litter and Waste and Tourism by C Michael Hall

Marine litter and waste have been found at all ocean depths (Pham et al. 2014) and in the most remote islands (Lavers & Bond, 2017) and form one of the most important contemporary issues facing the marine environment. Growing awareness of the impacts of marine plastics (Bergmann et al., 2015), together with concerns over the environmental effects of cruise ships, especially in relation to sewage discharge (Hall et al., 2017), has meant that marine waste has gained a high media profile and generated substantial public awareness and concern. Three-quarters of all marine litter is composed of plastic and this has become a focus for government and consumer action (UNEP, 2019). However, it is important to note that although there is growing awareness of plastics in the marine environment, and particularly their impact on wildlife and beach composition, the reality is that the predominance of plastics in marine litter is not necessarily the result of relatively more plastics compared to other waste in the oceans, but its durability (Andrady, 2015).

Strengthening Democracy

Political action to foster social and political change, as described in this chapter, is the fourth and final element of the book’s four-tiered stewardship strategy. Stewardship that is politically astute can identify a spectrum of strategies to steer possible paths forward. Each strategy requires respectful dialogue that reframes debates across worldviews to identify and act on shared concerns rather than to reinforce blame. Collaboration with like-minded individuals within government and business often reduces barriers to progress. Active engagement in politics (informing, advising, participating, and voting) and in business (consumer action and socially responsible investment) can nudge politics and business toward stewardship. Sometimes, however, direct confrontation is more effective at precipitating transformational change. In this case, clear goals, identification of allies and of strategies to eliminate barriers, and a concrete plan to sustain successes increase the likelihood of successful transformation.

Consumer Action

Many people wear lip balm to moisturize their lips. In this research-informed action project I investigated some of the hidden issues associated with lip balms by examining some of the living and non-living components that are involved during the life cycle of lip balm. Each stage in the life cycle of a product (from extraction to disposal) has some negative impacts on the wellbeing of individuals, societies and environments (“Story of Stuff,” 2007). In addition, I conducted a study involving 40 teenage girls to learn more about their frequency of use of lip balms, the features of lip balms that appeals to girls the most, and what brands the girls preferred. My study reveals that 50% of the girls surveyed use lip balm on a daily basis. Fragrance appears to be the most preferred feature when selecting a lip balm. There are no specific colours or brands that stand out as most popular. Corporations use fragrance, colour and fancy packaging to attract consumers and, at times, distract them from some of the negative impacts of their product. I suggest alternatives to lip balms and tips to stay lip balm-free.

Revisión crítica del consumo en el siglo XXI. ¿Nuevas formas de politizar la ciudadanía?

<p>Los últimos estudios sobre las formas de consumo en el siglo XXI identifican un cambio en los comportamientos de compra de la ciudadanía. En concreto, la mayor parte de las investigaciones al respecto coinciden en señalar la existencia de un nueva cultura de consumo y de acción consumidora concebida como práctica política propia de una ciudadanía activa, crítica con el consumismo y orientada por un consumo responsable y sostenible. Este artículo revisa críticamente ese nuevo modelo de consumo que sugiere una transformación en el estatus de la ciudadanía-consumidora, para determinar si el comportamiento de consumo en el siglo XXI es o no alternativo al consumismo, es decir, capaz de emanciparse de la lógica consumista característica de las sociedades económicamente globalizadas.</p><p><strong>Palabras clave. </strong>Cultura de consumo; ciudadanía-consumidora; consumo político; ciudadanía sostenible.</p><p> </p><p>The latest studies on the forms of consumption in the 21st century identify a change in citizens' purchasing behavior. In particular, most of the studies coincide in the existence of a new culture of consumption and consumer action conceived as a political practice of an active citizenship, critical to consumerism and guided for responsible and sustainable consumption. This paper critically reviews this new consumption model that suggets a transformation in the consumer-citizenship status, to determine whether or not the consumption behavior in the 21st century is innovative and alternative to consumption, that is, capable of emancipating itself from the consumerist logic characteristic of economically globalized societies.</p><pre><strong>Key words. </strong>Consumption culture; consumer-citizenship; political consumption; sustainable citizenship.</pre>

INNOVATIVE AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR IN PARADIGM OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY – A RESEARCH MODEL

The following paper is innovative and based on the premise that consumers play a vital role in the development of the economy in Poland. Its structure, in addition to introduction and summary, consists of two parts: cognitive and practical. The research question is: Can consumer influence the implementation of the principles of circular economy in Poland towards their faster and more efficient application? The aim of the paper is to offer a theoretical model for research and stimulation of changes in consumer behaviour towards an innovative and socially responsible consumer action (CnSR). We used experimental, descriptive model and visual research methods. The paper is normative.