“When people don’t pay the true cost of something, they tend to consume it

inefficiently,” – Steve Levitt. This concept was showcased in Andrew Morgan’s 2015
documentary film, “The True Cost”. Morgan wanted us to realize what is truly happening behind
the scenes of the operations of companies out there, how it affects us, the workforce and the
whole world. He was more than successful in doing so citing multiple experiences of garment
workers, companies, accidents and professionals to serve as testaments for the point he is trying
to make. Hence, we need to change our ways and we need to begin today with ourselves as we
are the only ones to blame for this catastrophe. If we are to avoid a Thanos-like situation in
which the character gave up everything for self-fulfillment, then we should act wise and we
should act now.
The film made use of the fashion industry to introduce the situation. Morgan compared
the old (1950s) and new trends in the industry and there were shocking results. According to the
film, America consumes 500% more clothing today than what the country did two decades ago.
Hence, the trend was fast fashion was coined. Fast fashion refers to the rapid production of
inexpensive clothing by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. However, in order
for companies to produce massive inexpensive clothing, they cost cut their inputs. Since the
expenses for the raw materials of clothes cannot be trimmed, companies instead lessen their
expenses through their workplace and workforce. This is highly practiced in Bangladesh, with
sweatshops, companies that violate two or more labor laws, employing millions and millions of
garment workers. These workers only have salaries amounting to $2 per day whilst working in
an unstable and hazardous environment filled with chemicals and cracked walls. This brought
about a rally by the workers asking for a raise. However, the companies along with the
government disregarded their plea and instead let the police dispatch of their stubborn ways. This
resulted to the death of several innocent workers with hundreds left injured. Moreover, several
accidents have also occurred due to the instability of the workplace resulting to the death of
thousands in the workforce and injuring even the public.
Although its already bad, it doesn’t stop there. Other than human capital, these
sweatshops, along with other companies, also abuse our environment. We need to realize that
natural resources are also needed in order to produce outputs. Due to the massive increase in the
needed inputs, our environment is exploited, extricating all forms of resources without the
initiative to replenish it back. Thus, land areas have no nutrients, bodies of water are adulterate,
some of our natural resources are already going extinct yet we are still tolerating these kinds of
activities. And this is only the damage brought about by the industry of fashion. There are still
several other industries out there which also significantly contribute to the depletion of our
planet. If these trends continue, there will come a time that there will be nothing left of our planet
and we will all be forced to die.
Fortunately, the Philippines doesn’t experience the same degree of problems other
countries are facing. Although there are some manifestations of similar activities, their impact is
of a lower degree compared to what others are experiencing. Still, that doesn’t mean that we
should care less because if we do not try and change our habits, we might and will just end up
like other countries.
 You may think that the companies are the only ones to blame in this situation. However,
that is not the case. If we are to find the root of everything, we are going to end up with us, the
people. We are the cause of our dilemmas. It is because of our unsatisfaction which creates a
huge demand in the market. If we were to demand less, companies won’t produce in massive
amounts. Thus, resources won’t be scarce and depleted, bodies of water won’t be contaminated,
and the exploitation of our planet will not occur. This might be a cliché but, we are the root of
our problems so it’s fitting that we should be the ones to solve them. The change we desperately
long for should start with ourselves. The change we desperately aspire should start now. For if
not, our country, our environment, our planet and our future is at stake.