I can’t bear throwing things that still have a useful life into the bin (for that matter, I can’t bear throwing anything in the bin so I recycle as much as I can). So I was very interested when a friend told me about the website “The Story of Stuff”; it’s scary stuff! The video’s writer and presenter Annie Leonard is very engaging and entertaining.

It’s so well made that even ardent non-environmentalists may stop and think twice (or perhaps I’m just being optimistic). The onslaught of consumerism is just relentless, at least until a “crisis” comes along to make people think whether they really need the latest DVD player when the one they have works fine but doesn’t have the latest gizmos.

How much of the stuff that you own do you actually use or need? I would love to do some scientific research into this. “What volume of stuff in your home actually serves a purpose on a regular basis?” “Are there objects that will never serve a purpose ever again until they rot into a landfill, there to remain for centuries hence?” For sure we are all guilty of harbouring this stuff, giving it (increasingly expensive) house-room year upon year.

It’s quite long but watch the whole video, it is definitely required watching. Prepare to be entertained, but also to be a more aware consumer afterwards.

Watch it from the website link:

www.storyofstuff.com

Or watch it on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8&NR=1

Or directly on your computer using Quicktime by clicking on this link:

http://web.1.c3.audiovideoweb.com/1c3web3536/StoryOfStuff.mov