The “1st Savings and Waste Symposium” was held
The “1st Savings and Waste Symposium,” organized by Üsküdar University, addressed the prevention of waste and raising awareness of savings from all perspectives.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that “The obsession with luxury is currently one of the main causes of waste. The consumer economy has consumed not only our relationships but also our mental well-being.”
Prof. Nazife Güngör stated that “We have also consumed the mind, which is humanity's most important treasure, because now we have artificial intelligence as our safety net. Consequently, the mind has become less significant.”
Prof. Mehmet Zelka stated that “Increased consumer spending does not lead to greater happiness for people.”
Founder of the Turkish Foundation for Waste Prevention (TİSVA) Prof. Aziz Akgül stated that “We can say that Türkiye wastes about 15% of its GDP. In this case, approximately 4 trillion Turkish liras of resources have been wasted.”
The “1st Savings and Waste Symposium” organized by Üsküdar University was held on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at the Main Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall. The symposium explored different aspects of preventing waste and promoting a culture of savings.
The event, which was also broadcast live on ÜU TV and the official YouTube account, began with opening speeches by Üsküdar University Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, Rector’s Advisor Prof. Mehmet Zelka, Rector of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör, and President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that “Waste and savings are highly neglected issues in Türkiye”
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that waste and savings are critical yet often neglected topics in Türkiye. Tarhan made the following remarks: “The United Nations highlights three major threats to humanity's future: income inequality, climate change, and loneliness. These three threats require a serious responsibility concerning resource usage. The aim is to develop a shared culture on many issues, from ensuring healthy living conditions for people and reducing inequalities to protecting life on land and in water and achieving goals of peace and justice.”
“People are dying due to hunger and lack of access to clean water”
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized the fundamental principles outlined by the United Nations, such as “Ending Hunger,” “Ending Poverty,” and “Responsible Consumption and Production.” He made the following remarks:
“All these goals should be prioritized on humanity’s agenda. Today, approximately 2 billion people worldwide face difficulties accessing clean water and meeting basic needs, most of whom live in Africa. On the one hand, the consumption of a single American is equivalent to that of five citizens of other countries. On the other hand, people are dying due to hunger and lack of access to clean water. This stark contrast further highlights the importance of reducing waste and adopting a culture of savings.”
"A child who learns budget management also learns behavior regulation"
Noting that “Despite the world’s population reaching 8 billion, resources are not running out”, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan continued his remarks as follows:
“However, people fail to use these resources equitably. Resources are not diminishing; in fact, they are increasing; however, fair distribution is not being achieved. At this point, it is crucial to teach resource management to children from a young age. A child should learn budget management in elementary school and acquire this skill by the age of 10. Families and parents must instill the habit of budget management in their children by this age. Otherwise, the child may struggle to manage their life. A child who learns budget management also learns behavior regulation while managing financial resources. The essence of resource management lies in regulating inputs and outputs and enlarging the existing pool. That means increasing inputs while managing outputs wisely. This principle applies not only to financial resources but also to time, which is a significant asset. Psychological capital, social capital, and our lifespan are also resources. Learning how to use a precious resource like our lifespan correctly is a fundamental necessity in all areas of life.”
"Governments and institutions should also manage social resources"
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that behavior development begins in childhood and that resource management is learned at this stage. Tarhan stated that “The way an individual organizes their internal world or relationships should be mirrored by the state, institutions, and public systems in their regulations. This principle operates on the same regulation logic at both individual and societal levels. Just as an individual manages their resources, governments and institutions should manage societal resources similarly. When the Ottoman Empire started borrowing for the first time in the 1850s, it began to lose self-confidence against the West. The Tanzimat reforms were the initial signs of this psychological state. Acting with the sentiment of ‘We are not fallen, we are still standing,’ the Ottoman Empire constructed the Dolmabahçe Palace with borrowed money. However, this brought about significant expenses.”
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that waste played a significant role in the Ottoman Empire’s decline. Tarhan added that “Learning lessons from such historical mistakes is critical for individuals and societies to build their future correctly. At this point, raising awareness of waste and resource management is essential for both individuals and societies. In the final years of the Ottoman Empire, grand projects were undertaken to display magnificence; however, their foundations were weak. Combined with resource waste, this accelerated the state’s collapse.”
"Global narcissism correlates with neoliberal policies"
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that global narcissism is another emotion that encourages resource waste, and its equivalent is neoliberal policies. Tarhan stated that “Neoliberal policies, especially after the Cold War, gained momentum during Ronald Reagan’s presidency in the 1980s. The excessive reduction of regulations under neoliberal policies deepened income inequality further. Today, a similar situation is observed in Türkiye. Insufficient regulations and uncontrolled competition continue to increase inequality in society. The long-term effects of such policies must be evaluated carefully.”
"The word of the year: 'Crowded Loneliness'"
Highlighting that the term “crowded loneliness” was chosen as the word of the year in Türkiye, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that “This expression reflects an important emotional state of Turkish society. Surveys have revealed that many people feel lonely even in crowds. This points to a societal problem that requires in-depth examination. It is impossible to expect societal improvement without addressing our behaviors on an individual level. Therefore, it is critical to begin preventing all forms of waste at the individual level. Individual awareness and responsibility form the foundation of societal transformation.”
"One of the major causes of family conflicts is spending money"
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that one of the primary reasons for conflicts within families is the spending of money and stated that “Eighty percent of family problems arise from issues related to children’s education, relationships with extended family members, and spending money. This pattern is evident in the examples we encounter. As individuals, we must first put our own affairs in order. We should purchase only what we need and periodically review the items in our closets. Preventing waste also holds significant importance in our religious and cultural values.”
"Luxury addiction is currently one of the biggest causes of waste"
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan explained that money plays a balancing role in commerce, and Tarhan also added that “However, one of the primary factors disrupting today’s economic order and negatively affecting our behavior is egocentrism. This has turned into a global ailment, which we refer to as ‘global narcissism,’ and it has become a significant factor adversely impacting the economy. Another issue is the mentality of ‘You work, I will spend it.’ This is also one of the biggest causes of waste. There is an obsession with luxury, a tendency towards extravagance. Luxury addiction is currently one of the most significant contributors to waste. The consumer economy has exhausted not only our relationships but also our mental state. The result of this mental exhaustion is depression in individuals, much like an economic collapse. The culture of consumption needs to be rebuilt. Luxury living and brand perception have been ingrained as prejudices, negatively influencing our youth. The process must start with families, and societal change will naturally follow.”
Prof. Nazife Güngör: "Waste has an ideological dimension"
Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör emphasized that waste has economic, social, moral, and even ideological dimensions and explained that “In today’s capitalist world, if you do not consume, capitalism does not grow. The competitive mindset of capitalism, this mentality of rapidly selling and consuming constantly produced goods, is being driven globally. When viewed in this context, consumption could arguably be defined as the most significant curse and the most problematic ideology of the 21st century. If capitalism has a driving force, it is consumption, and consequently, waste. If you save, the capitalist system cannot function and strengthen perpetually.”
"One side produces, the other side consumes"
Prof. Nazife Güngör explained that the Western capitalist world faced a major crisis in the late 1950s, as capitalism encountered a bottleneck because its products were not being consumed sufficiently. Güngör continued her remarks as follows: “To overcome crises and avoid new ones, to ensure continuous strength and growth, consumption was transformed into the ideology, mindset, morality, and lifestyle of the 21st century. In this sense, the world is divided into two. On one side, there are the producers, that is, capitalist countries, powerful nations, constantly producing. On the other side are countries deprived of power, reduced to mere consumers. Western capitalism has significantly prevented the rest of the world from engaging in production, directing them solely toward consumption. One side produces, and the other side consumes.”
“Consumption does not bring happiness either”
Prof. Nazife Güngör stated that humanity has turned to consumption as a means of proving its worth in the world and continued her remarks as follows: “Capitalism told us, ‘Your value is measured by how much money you have.’ That is when we started worshiping the values that money can buy. That is when moral problems began to surface. We are facing a moral impasse. Economically, on one side, there are the producers, and on the other, only consumers. This creates economic inequality, which in turn leads to social chaos. Societies and masses are now deeply restless because they have realized that consumption does not bring happiness either.”
“The obsession with showiness drives consumption”
Noting that consumption now lacks any principles and is driven by a desire for showiness, Prof. Nazife Güngör continued her remarks as follows: “The fundamental understanding of life and energy for today’s societies has become consumption. You do not need it but consume anyway. Advertisements, TV shows, movies, and billboards on the streets constantly tell us to consume. If you do not consume, you do not exist. You are only as valuable as what you buy. You are only as beautiful as what you consume. The more goods you acquire, the more objects surround you, the more important you are. However, humans should be valued simply because they are human. There is a fundamental problem in today’s world that we must comprehend thoroughly. Someone is imposing this on us, breaking down our awareness, and trying to create a new mental formation. And at the core of this mental and perceptual format lies consumption.”
“While some countries produce, the rest are excluded from production”
Prof. Nazife Güngör pointed out that the foundation of neoliberal policies is a system where certain countries produce while the rest of the world is excluded from production, and Güngör stated that “Globally, decisions were made under neoliberal policies to designate some countries as producers and exclude the rest from production, turning them into mere markets. A significant portion of the world is being used as a market. We need to raise awareness in these areas. We need to be cautious. It is essential to examine who created this ideology, for what purpose it was created, and why it is being imposed on the masses.”
“We have consumed the most valuable asset of humans: the mind”
Prof. Nazife Güngör also noted that we have entered into a strange relationship in the virtual world without physical contact or genuine interaction and made the following remarks:
“We no longer touch people. We have consumed relationships, warmth, and genuine love. Because now, we do not need each other anymore. We have our computers and smartphones. We have even consumed the most valuable asset of humans: the mind. Because now, we have the reassurance of artificial intelligence. Thus, the mind has become irrelevant. We just consume and derive great pleasure from it, or so we think. The point we’ve reached is a sadomasochistic deadlock.”
Prof. Mehmet Zelka: "Waste is one of the most critical issues of our time"
Prof. Mehmet Zelka emphasized that waste, when considered together with savings, is one of the most important issues facing society today and stated that “Unfortunately, people today lead consumption-driven lives, disconnected from values and oriented solely towards consumption. Those who expect happiness from such a lifestyle often face results contrary to their expectations. Various scientific studies confirm this contradiction.”
Savings and consumption: two sides of the same coin
Prof. Zelka described savings and consumption as two sides of the same coin and stated that “Savings are the portion of income that is not spent. In a sense, when examining factors affecting savings, we are also examining those influencing consumption. Without consumption, there is no demand; without demand, there is no production. This makes sustaining economic life difficult.”
Increased consumption does not lead to happiness
Prof. Zelka noted that rising consumption reduces savings and continued his remarks as follows: “From an economic perspective, decreased savings lead to reduced investments, lower production, decreased national income, and ultimately a decline in societal welfare. Research shows that after meeting basic needs, increases in national income also drive higher consumption spending. However, this rise in consumption does not lead to greater happiness. On the contrary, increased consumption often brings stress and a sense of dissatisfaction.”
Rising consumption drives debt
Prof. Zelka explained that growing consumption also leads to debt and said that “In Türkiye, the relationship between income and savings over the years shows a steady decline in savings rates. According to statistical data, between 1992 and 1999, people saved an average of 21.8% of their income. By 2000, this fell to 20%, dropping further to 16% in 2006. By 2020, the rate was 11.2%, 11.4% in 2021, and 10.5% in 2022. Increased consumption tendencies have steadily decreased the propensity to save. As people consume more than they produce, problems arise—one of the contributors to today’s inflationary conditions.”
Time as a wasted resource
Highlighting the misuse of time, Prof. Zelka continued his remarks as follows: “Waste does not just occur in material good, and it also applies to time. Statistics show that students spend an average of 3 hours a day online and 2 hours watching TV, with 50.6% of this time spent on entertainment. When we talk about waste, we need to consider all resources, including time.”
12 million loaves of bread wasted daily
Drawing attention to food waste, Prof. Zelka remarked that “When we look at bread, a resource we regard as a significant blessing, 12 million loaves are wasted daily. Imagine what could be achieved with the money spent on these wasted loaves. Globally, approximately 10% of the world’s population struggles to obtain sufficient food. Around 11 people die from hunger every minute, which is equating to 25,000 deaths per day. This is a profound social, economic, and moral issue.”
Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin: "When waste is mentioned, the material aspect comes to mind"
The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin stated that when waste is mentioned in society today, the material aspect is what comes to mind and added that "Expenditures, consumption, a fascination with ostentation… However, when we look at the spiritual aspect of the matter, waste emerges as a very important concept in many areas. Waste exists in many areas. Religions are also sensitive to this issue. In our religion, this issue has been particularly emphasized in a very significant way."
Noting that waste is not only a concern for our country, society, or people but a universal issue for the entire world, Prof. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin also said that "On one side of the world, we see people struggling with obesity and related diseases due to waste and overeating, while on the other side, people are dying of hunger and falling into extremely dire conditions."
Prof. Aziz Akgül: "The world has enough resources to feed everyone"
The first session of the symposium took place under the moderation of Prof. Adnan Ömerustaoğlu.
In his presentation titled "The Magnitude of Waste in Public Administration in Türkiye and Its Solution," the founder of the Turkish Foundation for Combating Waste (TİSVA), Prof. Aziz Akgül stated that according to natural law, which is the mother of all laws, humans are created equal and have a natural right to life. Ak gül expressed that "The world is being mismanaged in a way that is contrary to the principles of natural law, and resources are being wasted significantly. The world has enough resources to feed everyone. Greed, selfishness, and avarice are among the main causes of waste. In a world where the richest 1% own more than double the wealth of the rest of the population, inequality is increasing. Unhappiness and unrest are growing."
"Resources are not scarce. The sun, sea, and air are infinite resources"
Explaining that poverty, scarcity, and all kinds of societal corruption, conflicts, and wars stem from the capitalist economic system, Prof. Aziz Akgül stated, "Humans do not have infinite needs. People have limited needs but infinite desires. On the other hand, resources are not scarce. The sun, sea, and air are infinite resources. In fact, there are enough resources on Earth. However, because these resources are not distributed efficiently and fairly, they are wasted. In reality, there is enough food, energy, and water for everyone in the world."
"We do not have infinite needs, we have infinite desires"
Identifying money as one of the most important causes of waste by creating artificial scarcity, Prof. Aziz Akgül continued his remarks as follows:
"A world without money means a compassionate world. Merely chasing after money leads to a lack of compassion. People have started to idolize money. As a result, we observe a great societal collapse. Babies are being killed for money. There is decay in health, education, justice, and eventually in every segment of society. Eliminating money would mean eliminating the entire discipline of economics as we know it. Approximately 300 years ago, the vast majority of the world's population lived almost without using any money. There are enough resources on Earth for everyone. However, there is greed. We do not have infinite needs, but we have infinite desires. This is why artificial scarcity created by money is one of the major reasons behind the world's problems.
"The age of abundance in the world...
Highlighting the need for a "renewable energy revolution," "material (or matter) and synthetic biology revolution," and "production revolution with AI-supported automation" for an age of abundance, Prof. Aziz Akgül stated, "Thus, the cost of almost all goods will decrease. Many will even be produced almost for free. For the first time in human history, developed countries will be able to eradicate poverty and hunger."
"We can say that Türkiye wastes 15% of its national income"
Sharing their assessment of the magnitude of public waste in Türkiye, Prof. Aziz Akgül continued his remarks as follows: "We can estimate that the cost of waste in Türkiye amounts to approximately 15% to 25% of the Gross Domestic Product. In 2023, Türkiye's GDP was around 26 trillion liras. When we evaluate this, we can say that 15% of the national income is wasted, which amounts to approximately 4 trillion liras. With 4 trillion liras annually, 657,000 housing units, each worth 6 million liras, could be built, resolving Türkiye's housing problem."
"We need to change the DNA of the public administration system"
Prof. Aziz Akgül said that "One of the most critical points in preventing waste in public administration in Türkiye is to change the DNA of the public administration system. Are there examples of this being done? Of course. For instance, the Singapore miracle. A strong legal system and zero tolerance for corruption, and that is the essence. Now look at Argentina; it has closed down unproductive positions in the public sector. This is being done in many countries worldwide. Trump even brought Elon Musk into the government efficiency ministry. There, too, significant efforts are being made to achieve efficiency and prevent waste."
What happened at the symposium?
The Dean of Biruni University's Faculty of Education, Prof. Adnan Ömerustaoğlu, presented on "Savings, Waste, and Quality of Life," while Assoc. Prof. Said Ceyhan from Bartın University's Department of Economics spoke about "Budget Monitoring and Smart Logistics Management System." Prof. İsmail Barış, Advisor to the Rector and Head of the Social Work Department at Üsküdar University, delivered a presentation on "Brain Waste."
The second session, which began after the lunch break, was moderated by Prof. Sırrı Akbaba, Advisor to the Rector and member of the Psychology Department at Üsküdar University. The Chairman of TİSVA's Board of Trustees, Halil Fatih Akgül, gave a presentation on "Individual Waste: A Silent Threat Consuming Our Resources," while Assoc. Prof. Rıdvan Karacan from Kocaeli University's Department of Management and Organization discussed "Living Beyond Means: The Social and Economic Impacts of Waste."
Prof. Sırrı Akbaba delivered a presentation titled "The Waste of Values and Virtues," emphasizing the role of protecting ethical values in a culture of savings. Additionally, Asst. Prof. Şemsi Kamile Canbay and Prof. Sedat Murat from Istanbul University examined the moral and economic elements underlying waste and savings in their presentations.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)