In this lesson, we will analyze how creators use different media to build arguments and persuade an audience on important environmental topics. Understanding these techniques is crucial for the ITEP exam. We will break down a campaign that uses fashion and video to advocate for a specific point of view about waste in the fashion industry.
Reading Input
First, watch the following short video. Then, read the text below, which is based on the campaign. As you engage with both, think about the creators' main goal. What do they want you to believe or do?
Atacama Fashion Week
A campaign to draw attention to clothing waste in Chile's Atacama Desert.
The Desert That Dresses the World
In the vast, dry expanse of Chile's Atacama Desert, a new, unnatural mountain range is growing. It’s made of clothes. Each year, nearly 40,000 tons of discarded and unsold garments, much of it from Europe and the US, are dumped here, creating a shocking symbol of our global addiction to fast fashion. This is the problem the fashion industry refuses to see. If we continue to ignore this crisis, we will allow one of the world's most beautiful landscapes to become a permanent monument to our waste.
To expose this issue, artists and activists have proposed a radical new platform: Atacama Fashion Week. This isn't a typical industry event; it's a form of protest. The collections featured on its desert runway are crafted entirely from the textiles and materials salvaged from the clothing dump. It’s a powerful statement that turns the industry’s waste back on itself. We must confront the reality of where our "disposable" clothes end up.
This event advocates for a circular economy, where waste is reborn as something of value. It urges consumers and designers alike to reconsider the lifecycle of a garment. Some might claim that recycling initiatives already exist, but the scale of the Atacama dump proves they are not enough. A solution could be to hold major brands accountable for the entire life of their products. If the industry won't look at its own mess, then we must bring the mess to the world's stage. The message is clear: destroying the planet must go out of style.
Vocabulary: The Language of Persuasion
To understand and write persuasive texts, you need to know the language of argument. These words are often used to present a position or call for action.
| Word | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| persuade (v.) | to make someone do or believe something by giving them a good reason. | The campaign tries to persuade people to reconsider fast fashion. |
| advocate (v.) | to publicly support or recommend a particular cause or policy. | The event advocates for using recycled materials in fashion. |
| oppose (v.) | to disagree with and try to prevent something. | The creators oppose the fashion industry's wasteful practices. |
| urge (v.) | to strongly advise or try to persuade someone to do a particular thing. | They urge consumers to think about where their old clothes go. |
| claim (v.) | to state that something is true, often without providing evidence. | Brands might claim they are sustainable, but the evidence suggests otherwise. |
| propose (v.) | to suggest a plan or action for others to consider. | The campaign proposes using fashion as a form of protest. |
| stakeholder (n.) | a person, group, or organization that has an interest or concern in something. | Key stakeholders include clothing brands, consumers, and the local communities in Chile. |
Grammar Focus: Conditional and Modal Structures for Argument
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