Even the smallest things that we do today, can have detrimental effects tomorrow.

This
was the theme exemplified in the documentary film, “The True Cost,” by Andrew Morgan in
2015. Despite the progress that we make; despite the benefits that we reap; despite the happiness
that we attain; all of these are at the expense of everything else. We the people whine and
complain about our environment and planet, yet we are the ones who shape it to be what it is
today – a capitalized juggernaut who values profit over people and planet. And Andrew Morgan
created a masterpiece reminding us of what we are doing and opening our eyes into what we
could become if we are to continue our ways.
The film started by comparing the fashion trends of the 1950’s and 60’s with what we are
experiencing today. Morgan stressed the fact that America consumes 500% more clothing today
than what the country did two decades ago. This can be attributed to fast fashion, a trend which
rapidly produces inexpensive clothing by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.
Sweatshops, companies who violate two or more labor laws, lower the prices of these outputs by
lowering the cost of inputs, mainly the cost and condition of the workplace and the salary of
workers. This in turn places underpaid workers in a hazardous place filled with chemicals, weak
buildings and the like. And it’s not like these sweatshops care for their workforce because
according to them, they “could be doing much worse”. This led to a backlash due to multiple
accidents occurring one after the other such as the collapse of the Rana Plaza killing 1132
garment workers and injuring thousands, the rally and the Dhaka fire which killed at least a
hundred people and sent tons of workers to the hospital. This is a big eye-opener for not just the
big companies out there who practice the same things, but also to the general public with how
our practices affect companies and their workforce. We need to realize that these companies will
not end up doing these if it weren’t for our demand. Hence, we should try to be more contented
rather than wanting everything. As for the companies out there, there are laws and regulations
already set up by the congress for fair trade. Hence, they should follow the set regulations in
order for accidents such as the one mentioned to be avoided.
The film went on with explaining how not only the human capital and production place
are affected with these new trends but also our environment. We need to remember that the
production process for these apparels also make use of the natural resources. And due to the
hefty demand of inputs, our environment is exploited to a plump, extracting all available raw
materials not aware of the possible altercations that may happen. Hence, pollution is everywhere,
the soil has been drained of its nutrients, oceans are contaminated, and companies still aren’t
doing anything to put a stop to this. And this is not just for the fashion industry, but the whole
business landscape. If this continues, there will come a time where not a single form of life on
Earth will exist. This may be an overstatement, but if these trends continue and, in some way, get
worse, these things will truly happen.
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, we are also experiencing a dilemma in our natural
resources. Due to industrialization brought about the rapidly increasing corporate world, more
and more forests and land areas are being converted into buildings and facilities. Furthermore,
businesses who make use of natural resources do not take accountability of replenishing what
they accumulated. Although we are not experiencing the same level of destruction other
countries are experiencing, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t care and wait until we have
nothing left. We already know the current situation. We are already knowledgeable about why
this is happening. We are already equipped with the information to put a stop to this. We only
lack the initiative and the mentality to pursue change. So why wait if we can do it now?
 There is a very evident line between mass production and abusing the workers and the
environment. Sadly, the Philippines, the United States, Bangladesh, the world for that matter is
in the latter. It took numerous accidents, tragedies, pollution, and deaths for us to realize what we
have done. This film exemplifies our mistakes for us to learn and be better citizens of our nation
and better inhabitants of our planet. We need progress but we also need to make sure we are
doing it morally right. We are given the power to change this entire land. We now know the true
cost. And it’s up to us on whether we use that power, that information, to save or destroy our
future.