One of the purposes of commerce is to build strength. Gaining wealth gives us power, which is the ability to influence others. There are three main types of power: first, power gained through coercion or threats; second, power obtained through payment or inducement; and third, power gained through attraction. The power obtained through coercion, threats, payment, or inducement—that is, force or tactics—is called ‘hard power,’ while the power gained through ‘attraction’ without using force is called ‘soft power.’ Additionally, the ability to effectively achieve your goals using coercion, payment, and attraction is known as ‘smart power.’ Depending on the situation, we may need all three types; however, soft power is something that everyone admires. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Cotton needs 500 mm of water to produce cotton wool, and 1 kg of cotton wool requires 8,500 liters of water to fill 40 baths. A fashion company can make a pair of jeans from this. It needs at least 2,700 liters of water to create a T-shirt. This amount is enough for one person to use as drinking water for three years. Clothing consumption has recently increased by an average of 60% each year on Earth. The Aral Sea in Uzbekistan was the fourth-largest lake in the world, but it has now shrunk to one-tenth of its original size, as river water has been used to grow cotton due to increased consumption. Few people are concerned about how their consumption affects the global environment. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”