A few things

Complex arguments on why the postmodern west is bad in their commodification and materialism has been watered down, sieved and finally simplified to all things from the west is bad for week-kneed Asians. Talk about presumptious generalisation. Apparently, this is how students are being taught at school. Currently reading an old book (from the last century) by Ziauddin Sardar called "Postmodernism and The Other: The New Imperialism of Western Culture". Many of the arguments by various scholars could all be obtained in this book. He has valid points though I think he sometimes make certain generalisations about the West as much as the Non-West. But then, this is what one calls angling and perspective. Virginia Woolf does a good job in providing the pan-optican sweep. Though I agree with the points his made, I disagree with his overwhelmingly negative take on postmodernism, as well as his simplifying of it. Everything has its good and bad. Sometimes, bad things is packaged as something acceptable just to make its presence omnipotent. So many things are lumped into the postmodern because nobody really understands it. I am still trying to figure it out myself. SOmetimes, I think these things have more to do with human failures than human theories. I do disagree with theorists who over-step boundaries to demean the meaning of life. Or perhaps if life is so meaningless, why do we all bother with theories. Lets just live the life of a hedonist, try everything then kill ourselves.

Then there is the question of the soul......or would it be total annihilation?

I supposed Ziauddin is just trying to critique the negative aspect of postmodernism, though from the tone he uses, it seems like he doesn't like postmodernism. That's alright, many people don't like it either. Heck, many don't even like modernism, let alone what comes after...and I don't mean anti-globalists.

Anyway talking about the issue of how The Body Shop and sundry other western cosmetic companies who capitalise on the longing for the so-called exotic, I think it should be the part and parcel of every child's primary education to understand
1. The basics of health care and medicine....especially on drugs use (including THAT prescribed by the doctors). I think many doctors in poorly regulated health care systems tend to over-prescribe on drugs that can lead to overwhelmingly negative consequences.

2. The issue of choice. How does on make a choice when assaulted with so many reasons for swinging this way and that? How to be conscious that we DO leave in a world of propaganda and that we need to make INFORMED choices, and how to go about finding the information.

3.How to be a proactive citizen and take an active in legislations that will affect their lives. We realise that we allow many things to happen coz we couldn't be bothered. Instead of giving ourselves a hard time fighting against a bad system that is already there, be aware of it before it even happens. I know this is hard, since some people will always try to keep information from going out to the people at large. So, lets champion for an act, that not only allows freedom of information flow, but one which we could sue for NOT letting an issue of public interest be MADE KNOWN in its early stage.
Then, there is this chicken-and-egg theory as to what is or is not public interest, but these are details that could be work out.

4.How to be a good consumer of whatever items and products.

5.To understand that everyone does not share 100% of your viewpoints with you. That includes beliefs, ideology, creeds, whatever.

Any more points?

Btw, now that I have installed the comments option, you can all add your comments to mine.
Heh