This raises the question of what it is to be anthropos in the Anthropocene (Palsson et al. 2013). In this circuit illustrated in this chapter, modern desires are causing and
exacerbating environmental harm and injustice. The more Thais and other Asians strive to become modern by visiting shopping malls, the more demand there is for energy—and in these countries, most, if not all, of the production of energy harms the environment and, in some cases, livelihoods in distant locations. Even if shoppers strive to become green consumers by using fewer bags or “buying green”, this whole system is designed for them to fail. Consequently, systematic change is needed for these desires to be attained without also causing continual harm to the environment and further injuring those across borders.