All That Glitters is GOLD!

Greetings from Northern Iraq!

Asians love sparkle. It is one of the few constants across the vast continent. From the shinny suits and glitter ties of Seoul to the sequined Saris of India over to Oil soaked Saudi and across the bedazzled fingers of Istanbul. Asians love it! Ghandi might have thought it was the “eye for an eye” mentality that was going to make the whole world blind but with the sun rising in the east, surely the reflection off Asia will blind us all first! What might appall the average westerner will be the perfect fashion accessory for the average inhabitant of Asia. The Eastern hemisphere has unabashedly subscribed to “the gaudier the better”, over the top, tacky and garish beyond palatability mentality. The Middle East and the Far East don't bond on much but the one common ground they can always find is an undying allegiance to all things that glimmer, glitter and gleam.

But we learn, not all that glitters is gold and these days most of the gold dotting the markets and bazaars here in Asia are in actuality painted plastic. So, what happens to all this plastic after the gold paint chips off? Chances are not into a recycling program that doesn’t exist. So with the high production of cheap and chintzy shit ranging from home decor to jewelry to kitchen wear one begins to wonder in 2 years where will it all go? In a ravine, dot the road side, pile up in public places? Most likely.

With a myopic mind set, people are purchasing at the lowest price not the highest quality. The plastic pieces are not future family heirlooms. After a few years when these items loose their luster, they will likely be disposed of inappropriately. And with plastic taking centuries to degrade the environmental future looks bleak. However, this environmental bleakness is the symptom of greater problem. The complete lack of foresight that is being exercised world wide. Yes, “developed” nations have done it, they've destroyed the environment but, because it has happened before does not mean it needs to happen again or that it should continue to happen. Iraq is covered in litter!

Environmental issues aside, there are other cultural issues at work under the golden exterior and public masquerading. The women seem so modest and yet there is seriously scandalous clothing being marketed in the bazaars which begs the question who wears this stuff? Could it be those Hijab and Berka clad women sporting the scandalous duds? I’ll let you know when I find out!