The Story of Stuff
Posted on 19. Nov, 2009 by I Have Hope in Madeline
The other day in outdoor ed. class we were watching YouTube videos about climate change. We came across a video called the Story of Stuff.
This video talks about the making, consuming, and disposing of “stuff,” and how it relates to our environment. Most of the information that was provided was shocking to me and most of the class. Did you know that only 1% of all products made by man (including food, cars, telephones,garbage bags, paper…) is still in use six months after being purchased?
This video also talks about the way our society functions and the mindset westerners have. We seem to believe that buying new things all the time is the way to go. Our society allows us us to continue to function this way. Why do fashions change? So we can buy more things.
The Story of Stuff talks about how we continue to poison our environment in the making and disposing of our “stuff.” We make it all in factories using toxic chemicals (poisoning the workers that have no choice but to work there because their livelihood has been taken over by these large companies who make the “stuff”) and them incinerated releasing these toxins and newly made worse ones into the air. This process is ruining our environment and we are the cause. Us and our “want” attitude. We want everything, so we go and buy it, and (unknowingly to some people) destroying our world.
I can’t seem to get this video out of my mind. The more I think about it the more I want to never buy anything again. I want to only shop at consinment stores from now on because I now realize the full consequences of my actions. I think everyone should take a look at this (pass it on to your friend) and really think about what it is saying and what you can do to solve the problem. We are all a part of the problem, now lets solve it.
