Thanks zound I notice on Wiki other people have had the same problem as I'm having here, I can't tell if he's encouraging rampant consumerism or grimly acknowledging its existence.
Just noticed your question at the beginning. I think we should teach our kids about our throw-away society and what consumerism is about. Teach them about adverts on TV. I used to say to my daughter this is just people trying to sell you stuff, these people are not trying to help you. Teach them that the world is run by corporations and particularly multi-nationals, not governments.
Teach them to recycle and to support charities that are trying to save our environment, our home. WWF is great, it's not just about animals anymore, it's about keeping the oceans, rivers, air and food safe for all of us.
They will still want fancy phones but it will help them to see the big picture.