Cost of Living: Teachers in Seoul
According to a 2008 cost of living survey - Seoul has been listed as the 5th most
expensive city. But it was only a year ago, when Seoul was ranked 3rd.
When a veteran instructor was asked about the differences of then and now - he simply shrugged,
"It's seems all the same, just as expensive...or just as cheap."
Although Seoul has been de-ranked - this still does not mean that Korea is immune from the current
economic and resource crisis.
Just this week, National Public Radio (NPR), has just reported the continuing increase of
cost of Beef in the U.S. Despite the massive protests against U.S Beef imports,
the Korean Government is still accepting cheap U.S Beef products.
It's possible that the economic effects wont be on such a large scale.
Eating out in downtown Seoul, is still relatively cheap. But one has to remember, back in The U.S, many would never have foreseen these unsuspecting rise of costs, a year ago.
Perhaps some teachers may start budgeting more carefully - going extra lengths to cheaper markets
and buying in Costco-Bulk quantities to save.
But considering the effort and time required to save - one might also start to consider an alternative diet.
The most efficient solution to the problem. A diet without meat.
Jyu Young Lee
References:
Cost of Living Survey (2008)
http://www.mercer.com/costoflivingpr
Rise in cost of U.S Beef
htp://www.npr.org
expensive city. But it was only a year ago, when Seoul was ranked 3rd.
When a veteran instructor was asked about the differences of then and now - he simply shrugged,
"It's seems all the same, just as expensive...or just as cheap."
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economic and resource crisis.
Just this week, National Public Radio (NPR), has just reported the continuing increase of
cost of Beef in the U.S. Despite the massive protests against U.S Beef imports,
the Korean Government is still accepting cheap U.S Beef products.
It's possible that the economic effects wont be on such a large scale.
Eating out in downtown Seoul, is still relatively cheap. But one has to remember, back in The U.S, many would never have foreseen these unsuspecting rise of costs, a year ago.
Perhaps some teachers may start budgeting more carefully - going extra lengths to cheaper markets
and buying in Costco-Bulk quantities to save.
But considering the effort and time required to save - one might also start to consider an alternative diet.
The most efficient solution to the problem. A diet without meat.
Jyu Young Lee
References:
Cost of Living Survey (2008)
http://www.mercer.com/costoflivingpr
Rise in cost of U.S Beef
htp://www.npr.org
Nice Jyu
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I feel sorry that cost of living has become a matter of such serious concern. But you talk of 'diet without meat'. That is interesting. It is definitely worthy of serious consideration. Why not study more about vegetarianism. It is good from a point of view of health and also from a viewpoint of humanitarianism.
The world is facing an acute food problem. It is aggravating day by day with the increasing population. But vast acrages that could be utilised for cultivation of food crops are being used for cultivation of animal fodder. Vast amounts of animal fodder is required to produce a kilo of consumable meat. What a wastage! Statistics on the enormous wastage are available but I am not going to burden this note with those. It has now been found that the only long term solution to the world's food problem is for man to turn to vegetarianism. Also, consider humanitarian aspect of it quite apart from the economic aspect. How far is it reasonable for the stronger man to kill a weaker living being and eat its flesh simply because it is weaker? Should man's superior intelligence be utilised for such mean purposes? Then the health aspect. Today there is agreement among nutritionists that vegetarian life style rather than meat-eating life style leads to better health and disease-free life. You may just ponder over these matters and come to your own conclusions. Thanks.
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Yes, it's true that a lot of resources are wasted manufacturing meat- but it's not only in what we eat. There are numerous ways individuals (or even nations as a whole) can inefficiently use limited resources. Such as driving to work, instead of public transportation - wastes oil/gas.
It's interesting that the idea to gauge your own "carbon footprint" has started to become popular. People are now starting to become aware of the consequences their lifestyles may have on the Earth.
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Interesting. I too agree that a diet that has less meat is healthier and more energy efficient but there are a few points I wish to raise.
i) Humans are omnivores. Our teeth are designed to chew both plant and animal matter. For those that say that eating meat is inhumane and cruel, countless generations ate it beforehand and countless will continue to eat it in the future. However, that does not justify the way these animals are treated before they get to the slaughterhouse and the incomprehendable feed some used to eat (ex animal matter - animals like cows are NOT carnivores)
The world could afford to feed itself or at least a much higher proportion of itself, but much food is burned in several countries as it is "surplus" and would drop the value of the food down (meaning farmers would get less in their pockets). This surplus food is often burned...it's rather frightening. Even doughnut shops trash "old" doughnuts after a day and while they aren't exactly "healthy and nutritious food" it goes to show what will be done in the name of business.
Lastly, I just read an article last night that suggests that eating too much tofu can be detrimental to one's health and that eating low fat beef can actually help lower bad cholesterol if eaten in the right amounts.
The long term solution to overpopulation is education, feeding many people, improving their health and wealth and sharing the resources we have. Examine any of the G8 countries and you'll see very low birthrates. Even Korea's birthrate has been dropping quite a bit...
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