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We Are What We Buy | Anthony Sebastian | TEDxKenyalang


I was boarding a flight to the island of

I was boarding a flight to the island of Bali in queue in front of me is a couple

Bali in queue in front of me is a couple

Bali in queue in front of me is a couple and my eyes are drawn to them it looked

and my eyes are drawn to them it looked

and my eyes are drawn to them it looked like they are about in their late 30s

like they are about in their late 30s

like they are about in their late 30s maybe and they looked like they were in

maybe and they looked like they were in

maybe and they looked like they were in uniform they were both wearing the same

uniform they were both wearing the same

uniform they were both wearing the same sort of outdoor shirts you know with the

sort of outdoor shirts you know with the

sort of outdoor shirts you know with the big pockets and those pants with the

big pockets and those pants with the

big pockets and those pants with the zips where you can take a long pair

zips where you can take a long pair

zips where you can take a long pair pants and make them shorts you know

pants and make them shorts you know

pants and make them shorts you know those they were identically matched and

those they were identically matched and

those they were identically matched and you know what they couldn’t take their

you know what they couldn’t take their

you know what they couldn’t take their hands off each other

hands off each other

hands off each other it was so excited they were smiling

it was so excited they were smiling

it was so excited they were smiling jumping kissing each other so obviously

jumping kissing each other so obviously

jumping kissing each other so obviously I got involved with them I said what’s

I got involved with them I said what’s

I got involved with them I said what’s wrong with these people so I took a

wrong with these people so I took a

wrong with these people so I took a closer look at them and I realized hey

closer look at them and I realized hey

closer look at them and I realized hey they have the same backpacks same brand

they have the same backpacks same brand

they have the same backpacks same brand same color Hearst was smaller his was

same color Hearst was smaller his was

same color Hearst was smaller his was bigger they had the same shoes same

bigger they had the same shoes same

bigger they had the same shoes same brand same color

brand same color

brand same color hers were smaller his was bigger and I

hers were smaller his was bigger and I

hers were smaller his was bigger and I thought to myself hey oh that’s so

thought to myself hey oh that’s so

thought to myself hey oh that’s so adorable they on holiday they were going

adorable they on holiday they were going

adorable they on holiday they were going to Bali for a holiday and they were

to Bali for a holiday and they were

to Bali for a holiday and they were having a great experience we all love

having a great experience we all love

having a great experience we all love experiences we love good experiences am

experiences we love good experiences am

experiences we love good experiences am i right none of us wake up in the

i right none of us wake up in the

i right none of us wake up in the morning and say oh god please give me a

morning and say oh god please give me a

morning and say oh god please give me a bad experience right no we don’t we want

bad experience right no we don’t we want

bad experience right no we don’t we want good experiences and when this couple

good experiences and when this couple

good experiences and when this couple went in bought their holiday they

went in bought their holiday they

went in bought their holiday they purchased not just a product they

purchased not just a product they

purchased not just a product they purchased an experience and this ladies

purchased an experience and this ladies

purchased an experience and this ladies and gentlemen is what I’d like to share

and gentlemen is what I’d like to share

and gentlemen is what I’d like to share with you this today it is the

with you this today it is the

with you this today it is the experiences that mean much more to us

experiences that mean much more to us

experiences that mean much more to us than the purchase of products right in

than the purchase of products right in

than the purchase of products right in other words we buy experiences we don’t

other words we buy experiences we don’t

other words we buy experiences we don’t actually buy products the experience is

actually buy products the experience is

actually buy products the experience is combined is

combined is

combined is is a combination of several things first

is a combination of several things first

is a combination of several things first the location entire economies around the

the location entire economies around the

the location entire economies around the world have designed themselves to

world have designed themselves to

world have designed themselves to capitalize on shopping am i talking

capitalize on shopping am i talking

capitalize on shopping am i talking about shopping here oh maybe I am I mean

about shopping here oh maybe I am I mean

about shopping here oh maybe I am I mean look at it this way the whole world’s

look at it this way the whole world’s

look at it this way the whole world’s divided into two kinds of people all

divided into two kinds of people all

divided into two kinds of people all right those who love shopping and those

right those who love shopping and those

right those who love shopping and those who insist they hate shopping but

who insist they hate shopping but

who insist they hate shopping but actually they love shopping right so

actually they love shopping right so

actually they love shopping right so Dubai Hong Kong Malaysia Singapore these

Dubai Hong Kong Malaysia Singapore these

Dubai Hong Kong Malaysia Singapore these all countries have designed the shopping

all countries have designed the shopping

all countries have designed the shopping experience people from Dubai will go to

experience people from Dubai will go to

experience people from Dubai will go to Hong Kong and buy the very same thing

Hong Kong and buy the very same thing

Hong Kong and buy the very same thing that’s available in Dubai the Malaysians

that’s available in Dubai the Malaysians

that’s available in Dubai the Malaysians crossover and go to Singapore and buy

crossover and go to Singapore and buy

crossover and go to Singapore and buy the exact same thing that they can buy

the exact same thing that they can buy

the exact same thing that they can buy in Malaysia

in Malaysia

in Malaysia am I correct why is that it’s because

am I correct why is that it’s because

am I correct why is that it’s because shopping is an experience going to

shopping is an experience going to

shopping is an experience going to another country paying in a different

another country paying in a different

another country paying in a different currency staying in a hotel for a couple

currency staying in a hotel for a couple

currency staying in a hotel for a couple of days going to different malls that’s

of days going to different malls that’s

of days going to different malls that’s what people are buying that’s what you

what people are buying that’s what you

what people are buying that’s what you and I buy the second thing that defines

and I buy the second thing that defines

and I buy the second thing that defines an experience is the value of what we

an experience is the value of what we

an experience is the value of what we buy some people may say oh I had a

buy some people may say oh I had a

buy some people may say oh I had a really good experience today I bought a

really good experience today I bought a

really good experience today I bought a really cheap thing that same person on

really cheap thing that same person on

really cheap thing that same person on another day will say I had a really good

another day will say I had a really good

another day will say I had a really good experience today I bought a really

experience today I bought a really

experience today I bought a really expensive thing I wore a handbag or an

expensive thing I wore a handbag or an

expensive thing I wore a handbag or an expensive pair of shoes we didn’t buy I

expensive pair of shoes we didn’t buy I

expensive pair of shoes we didn’t buy I mean we bought it because it was

mean we bought it because it was

mean we bought it because it was expensive this is the experience the

expensive this is the experience the

expensive this is the experience the third part of the experience which is

third part of the experience which is

third part of the experience which is most valuable to all of us is whether we

most valuable to all of us is whether we

most valuable to all of us is whether we deserve it

deserve it

deserve it this is very important and this is

this is very important and this is

this is very important and this is actually the crux of what my message to

actually the crux of what my message to

actually the crux of what my message to you today is we must feel that we

you today is we must feel that we

you today is we must feel that we deserve it let me give you an example

deserve it let me give you an example

deserve it let me give you an example I’ve always wanted a Rolex watch so one

I’ve always wanted a Rolex watch so one

I’ve always wanted a Rolex watch so one day I went out and stole one I fulfilled

day I went out and stole one I fulfilled

day I went out and stole one I fulfilled my desire to own a Rolex watch but

my desire to own a Rolex watch but

my desire to own a Rolex watch but what came along with it was guilt shame

what came along with it was guilt shame

what came along with it was guilt shame fear I couldn’t use it in public right I

fear I couldn’t use it in public right I

fear I couldn’t use it in public right I got none of the I deserve it and then my

got none of the I deserve it and then my

got none of the I deserve it and then my friends is a bad experience and I don’t

friends is a bad experience and I don’t

friends is a bad experience and I don’t want bad experiences let me take you to

want bad experiences let me take you to

want bad experiences let me take you to a slightly different place the world

a slightly different place the world

a slightly different place the world today is not a very happy place it’s a

today is not a very happy place it’s a

today is not a very happy place it’s a bit of a topsy-turvy world there are far

bit of a topsy-turvy world there are far

bit of a topsy-turvy world there are far too many people human beings honest

too many people human beings honest

too many people human beings honest they’re not there’s not enough space for

they’re not there’s not enough space for

they’re not there’s not enough space for our cities and our streets we don’t have

our cities and our streets we don’t have

our cities and our streets we don’t have enough space to flower plant our food

enough space to flower plant our food

enough space to flower plant our food climates are changing its suddenly hot

climates are changing its suddenly hot

climates are changing its suddenly hot in cold places and it is suddenly

in cold places and it is suddenly

in cold places and it is suddenly flooding in dry places the sea levels

flooding in dry places the sea levels

flooding in dry places the sea levels are rising islands are disappearing so

are rising islands are disappearing so

are rising islands are disappearing so much of our beautiful unique wildlife

much of our beautiful unique wildlife

much of our beautiful unique wildlife going extinct being abused being eaten

going extinct being abused being eaten

going extinct being abused being eaten on our tables being put in boxes and

on our tables being put in boxes and

on our tables being put in boxes and shipped from country to country right

shipped from country to country right

shipped from country to country right not a very nice thing that’s happening

not a very nice thing that’s happening

not a very nice thing that’s happening in the world today and the scientists

in the world today and the scientists

in the world today and the scientists and the conservation is are throwing

and the conservation is are throwing

and the conservation is are throwing their hands up in the air and saying

their hands up in the air and saying

their hands up in the air and saying there is nothing we can do about it

there is nothing we can do about it

there is nothing we can do about it the juggernaut of human development is

the juggernaut of human development is

the juggernaut of human development is unstoppable the only people who can do

unstoppable the only people who can do

unstoppable the only people who can do something about it are huge corporations

something about it are huge corporations

something about it are huge corporations companies and government you mean we

companies and government you mean we

companies and government you mean we ordinary people walking around on this

ordinary people walking around on this

ordinary people walking around on this planet here we can’t do anything about

planet here we can’t do anything about

planet here we can’t do anything about it well my friends call me old-fashioned

it well my friends call me old-fashioned

it well my friends call me old-fashioned not rooted in reality but I disagree I

not rooted in reality but I disagree I

not rooted in reality but I disagree I think each and every one of us here

think each and every one of us here

think each and every one of us here ordinary people can actually do

ordinary people can actually do

ordinary people can actually do something about it

the world works around trade around

the world works around trade around consumerism and we are the consumers of

consumerism and we are the consumers of

consumerism and we are the consumers of the world perhaps true consumerism we

the world perhaps true consumerism we

the world perhaps true consumerism we can make a little difference we can be

can make a little difference we can be

can make a little difference we can be what we buy let’s go back to our happy

what we buy let’s go back to our happy

what we buy let’s go back to our happy couple in Bali they bought two seats on

couple in Bali they bought two seats on

couple in Bali they bought two seats on a plane to go to Bali some airline spent

a plane to go to Bali some airline spent

a plane to go to Bali some airline spent millions of dollars to buy an aircraft

millions of dollars to buy an aircraft

millions of dollars to buy an aircraft to sell them those two seats to go to

to sell them those two seats to go to

to sell them those two seats to go to Bali on board they were served a meal

Bali on board they were served a meal

Bali on board they were served a meal with customized cutlery they had

with customized cutlery they had

with customized cutlery they had blankets provided for them they had an

blankets provided for them they had an

blankets provided for them they had an in-flight entertainment system which if

in-flight entertainment system which if

in-flight entertainment system which if you could take hands of each other for

you could take hands of each other for

you could take hands of each other for about one and a half hours they could

about one and a half hours they could

about one and a half hours they could watch a movie right enhance their

watch a movie right enhance their

watch a movie right enhance their experience you see when you look at it

experience you see when you look at it

experience you see when you look at it that way this holiday of the couple was

that way this holiday of the couple was

that way this holiday of the couple was not just about their experience it

not just about their experience it

not just about their experience it actually was a very large commercial

actually was a very large commercial

actually was a very large commercial enterprise people supplying Neil’s

enterprise people supplying Neil’s

enterprise people supplying Neil’s people designing in-flight entertainment

people designing in-flight entertainment

people designing in-flight entertainment systems it was a involve many companies

systems it was a involve many companies

systems it was a involve many companies and it involved billions of dollars take

and it involved billions of dollars take

and it involved billions of dollars take that on they reach Valley they get to

that on they reach Valley they get to

that on they reach Valley they get to the hotel the soap in the bathrooms the

the hotel the soap in the bathrooms the

the hotel the soap in the bathrooms the beautiful menus on the fine dining for

beautiful menus on the fine dining for

beautiful menus on the fine dining for their meals tonight in the restaurants

their meals tonight in the restaurants

their meals tonight in the restaurants the sculptures in the lobby the

the sculptures in the lobby the

the sculptures in the lobby the landscaping in the gardens of the resort

landscaping in the gardens of the resort

landscaping in the gardens of the resort all of this created the experience for

all of this created the experience for

all of this created the experience for the couple and also was a massive

the couple and also was a massive

the couple and also was a massive enterprise the question is do they want

enterprise the question is do they want

enterprise the question is do they want to know all of this

they come into Bali for holiday right

they come into Bali for holiday right should they want to know about what goes

should they want to know about what goes

should they want to know about what goes on behind should you as consumers want

on behind should you as consumers want

on behind should you as consumers want to know how your products are created

to know how your products are created

to know how your products are created for you where did it come from how are

for you where did it come from how are

for you where did it come from how are they made I bet you almost every single

they made I bet you almost every single

they made I bet you almost every single person in this room at some point in

person in this room at some point in

person in this room at some point in your life has bought a pair of jeans

your life has bought a pair of jeans

your life has bought a pair of jeans right I’m wearing pair of jeans now

right I’m wearing pair of jeans now

right I’m wearing pair of jeans now somewhere in the world some cotton

somewhere in the world some cotton

somewhere in the world some cotton farmer planted cotton did you wonder who

farmer planted cotton did you wonder who

farmer planted cotton did you wonder who he was which company when I bought the

he was which company when I bought the

he was which company when I bought the cotton from him made some textiles dyed

cotton from him made some textiles dyed

cotton from him made some textiles dyed it blue and made denim which company

it blue and made denim which company

it blue and made denim which company bought that denim from him stitched it

bought that denim from him stitched it

bought that denim from him stitched it and cut it into jeans packed into nice

and cut it into jeans packed into nice

and cut it into jeans packed into nice big boxes which company trucked it from

big boxes which company trucked it from

big boxes which company trucked it from that farm in which country in which part

that farm in which country in which part

that farm in which country in which part of the world to a port and which company

of the world to a port and which company

of the world to a port and which company shipped it all the way across the world

shipped it all the way across the world

shipped it all the way across the world from who knows where to the port in your

from who knows where to the port in your

from who knows where to the port in your country trucked it to the store where

country trucked it to the store where

country trucked it to the store where you were standing to buy a pair of jeans

you were standing to buy a pair of jeans

you were standing to buy a pair of jeans I just want to buy a pair of jeans some

I just want to buy a pair of jeans some

I just want to buy a pair of jeans some people asked why are you asking me all

people asked why are you asking me all

people asked why are you asking me all these questions right the question is

these questions right the question is

these questions right the question is should you want to know and this is if

should you want to know and this is if

should you want to know and this is if you want to know the things you buy it

you want to know the things you buy it

you want to know the things you buy it sends a powerful message that cotton

sends a powerful message that cotton

sends a powerful message that cotton farmer if nobody wanted to know how he

farmer if nobody wanted to know how he

farmer if nobody wanted to know how he planted his cotton he could do he was

planted his cotton he could do he was

planted his cotton he could do he was caught in any way he wanted right he

caught in any way he wanted right he

caught in any way he wanted right he could use the worst chemicals in the

could use the worst chemicals in the

could use the worst chemicals in the world he gotta employ children and turn

world he gotta employ children and turn

world he gotta employ children and turn them into slaves to harvest his cotton

them into slaves to harvest his cotton

them into slaves to harvest his cotton he could be a bad businessman nobody

he could be a bad businessman nobody

he could be a bad businessman nobody wants to know he just want to buy its

wants to know he just want to buy its

wants to know he just want to buy its cotton right away jeans but if the

cotton right away jeans but if the

cotton right away jeans but if the customer and the consumer wanted to know

customer and the consumer wanted to know

customer and the consumer wanted to know the cotton farmer would do things very

the cotton farmer would do things very

the cotton farmer would do things very differently and you know what he would

differently and you know what he would

differently and you know what he would want to do things very differently the

want to do things very differently the

want to do things very differently the question among ourselves is do we want

question among ourselves is do we want

question among ourselves is do we want to know do we want to ask

to know do we want to ask

to know do we want to ask how many of you recall way back in the

how many of you recall way back in the

how many of you recall way back in the 80s there was a big controversy about

80s there was a big controversy about

80s there was a big controversy about cosmetics and animal testing yeah

cosmetics and animal testing yeah

cosmetics and animal testing yeah before that facial cream was placed on

before that facial cream was placed on

before that facial cream was placed on the shelf for you to buy they wanted to

the shelf for you to buy they wanted to

the shelf for you to buy they wanted to make sure that it did not burn half your

make sure that it did not burn half your

make sure that it did not burn half your face off so they tested it on animals

guess what it did burn half the faces

guess what it did burn half the faces off some of those animals that was just

off some of those animals that was just

off some of those animals that was just cruel

cruel

cruel people said stop it I will not buy your

people said stop it I will not buy your

people said stop it I will not buy your products if you treat animals like this

products if you treat animals like this

products if you treat animals like this find another way to test the products

find another way to test the products

find another way to test the products today you pick up several products

today you pick up several products

today you pick up several products several brands and it says this product

several brands and it says this product

several brands and it says this product was not tested on animals the Christian

was not tested on animals the Christian

was not tested on animals the Christian ladies and gentlemen is if you went and

ladies and gentlemen is if you went and

ladies and gentlemen is if you went and picked a brand some other brand on the

picked a brand some other brand on the

picked a brand some other brand on the shelf and it did not speak to you would

shelf and it did not speak to you would

shelf and it did not speak to you would you be Kline to buy that product does it

you be Kline to buy that product does it

you be Kline to buy that product does it matter to you

speaking to me is a very very important

speaking to me is a very very important message that every single one of us can

message that every single one of us can

message that every single one of us can send out to the industry speak to me

send out to the industry speak to me

send out to the industry speak to me this is the one stand that we can make

this is the one stand that we can make

this is the one stand that we can make okay let’s go back to our couple in Bali

okay let’s go back to our couple in Bali

okay let’s go back to our couple in Bali again last time they should have left by

again last time they should have left by

again last time they should have left by now let’s say that they were in asking

now let’s say that they were in asking

now let’s say that they were in asking couple right they wanted to know so the

couple right they wanted to know so the

couple right they wanted to know so the hotel they went in they would ask the

hotel they went in they would ask the

hotel they went in they would ask the questions how many of you have been into

questions how many of you have been into

questions how many of you have been into hotels and you’ve seen a little tag in

hotels and you’ve seen a little tag in

hotels and you’ve seen a little tag in there saying saved water put your towel

there saying saved water put your towel

there saying saved water put your towel there and we will not replace it because

there and we will not replace it because

there and we will not replace it because we saved so correct I’m sure you’ve seen

we saved so correct I’m sure you’ve seen

we saved so correct I’m sure you’ve seen that sign in the hotel well let me tell

that sign in the hotel well let me tell

that sign in the hotel well let me tell you the only way you can make sure that

you the only way you can make sure that

you the only way you can make sure that they do not change your towel is to take

they do not change your towel is to take

they do not change your towel is to take it with you because the sign is just a

it with you because the sign is just a

it with you because the sign is just a sign but if the couple for example in

sign but if the couple for example in

sign but if the couple for example in value were an asking couple this is

value were an asking couple this is

value were an asking couple this is where the the touch is this is the irony

where the the touch is this is the irony

where the the touch is this is the irony of it all if you were a bad company if

of it all if you were a bad company if

of it all if you were a bad company if the hotel was not a very good operation

the hotel was not a very good operation

the hotel was not a very good operation the things it would not tell you about

the things it would not tell you about

the things it would not tell you about how it does business and the very same

how it does business and the very same

how it does business and the very same things a hotel that was doing those good

things a hotel that was doing those good

things a hotel that was doing those good things a good hotel would tell you the

things a good hotel would tell you the

things a good hotel would tell you the same thing what are you practices what

same thing what are you practices what

same thing what are you practices what is the environment of footprint do they

is the environment of footprint do they

is the environment of footprint do they pollute the waters around them do they

pollute the waters around them do they

pollute the waters around them do they contribute to the communities around

contribute to the communities around

contribute to the communities around them today have good or you can employ

them today have good or you can employ

them today have good or you can employ him and they they pay good salaries they

him and they they pay good salaries they

him and they they pay good salaries they treat their work as well right they

treat their work as well right they

treat their work as well right they contribute back to the community they

contribute back to the community they

contribute back to the community they are good businesses the good businesses

are good businesses the good businesses

are good businesses the good businesses they’ll tell you all of this because

they’ll tell you all of this because

they’ll tell you all of this because it’s part of their marketing and they

it’s part of their marketing and they

it’s part of their marketing and they want to tell you this ladies and

want to tell you this ladies and

want to tell you this ladies and gentlemen is at the end of the day my

gentlemen is at the end of the day my

gentlemen is at the end of the day my message to you you had a recipe you and

message to you you had a recipe you and

message to you you had a recipe you and I all the big companies and governments

I all the big companies and governments

I all the big companies and governments as the scientists are saying are the

as the scientists are saying are the

as the scientists are saying are the only people who can save our world I

only people who can save our world I

only people who can save our world I don’t think they got it right because

don’t think they got it right because

don’t think they got it right because you and I are the people who buy things

you and I are the people who buy things

you and I are the people who buy things on an everyday basis we can change

on an everyday basis we can change

on an everyday basis we can change we can feel that we deserve it by asking

we can feel that we deserve it by asking

we can feel that we deserve it by asking questions I want to know we will be what

questions I want to know we will be what

questions I want to know we will be what we buy

”

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