Why?

Why did I decide to join the consumer challenge? Basically, to stop consuming so much stuff - most of it stuff that I don't really need.
I read somewhere recently that at any one time there are 20 million people on this planet suffering from severe malnutrition. That's insane! While so many people in richer countries are eating so much that they are getting overweight, there are millions out there sharing the same planet as us who are struggling to eat enough to stay alive. Someone once said that all you need to live is food, shelter and some clothes. Everything else is just trappings. Well, I think I am drowning in my trappings. I certainly have more stuff than I need, and during 2008 I've made a pledge to reduce what I buy.
I read in the New York Times earlier this week that a person living in the US, UK or Australia consumes 32 times more than a person from a developing country. That means that we have a negative impact on this planet 32 times more than poorer people. And this is totally unsustainable. The poor planet is groaning while we dive into the post-Xmas sales to buy cheap clothes made in China, the latest plasma TVs and gadgets and stuff that we really don't need. Enough!!! It stops here!!!! No more!!!! Go the consumer challenge!!!