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The hidden face of the consumer society |
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Thursday, 12 June 2008 |
www.thestoryofstuff.com
The Story of Stuff is a short online
documentary about the processes
which go into consumption as we know it.
Apparently, two million viewers have
already watched the video since it went
online in December 2007. It was made by
Annie Leonard, a scholar who has spent
many years of research on consumerism,
development, sustainability and
environmental health. She guides us
through the linear process which drives the
material economy: extraction, production,
distribution, consumption and disposal.
It is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled
look at the underside of our production and
consumption patterns, with a special focus
on the United States. All the stuff in our
lives, beginning with the extraction of the materials through to its production, sale, use and
disposal, affects communities around the world, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story
of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and
calls for all of us to create a more sustainable and just world.
The site also suggests “10 Little and Big Things You Can Do”, along with a resources page
with recommended reading and links to NGOs working on these issues. While you may not
agree with everything in the film, and Ms Leonard’s presentation could be accused of bending
some facts and distorting others, the film does make you laugh while teaching you something,
and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life.
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