The Story of Stuff - A Really Inconvenient Truth

The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute short, part animation, part monologue, that deals with the ecological, social, and personal impact of the linear mode of consumption and production found in Western capitalist society. Though it deals with some pretty heady shit, it’s tone is somewhat maternal, with host Annie Leonard taking the role of kindly kindergarten teacher. But the subject matter is anything but lighthearted. Here are some of the facts:

• 80% of the world’s forests are gone.
• 2000 trees a minute are cut down in the Amazon alone. That is 7 football fields a minute!
• The U.S. has less than 4% of its forests left.
• 40% of our waterways are undrinkable.
• The U.S. has 5% of the world’s population and 30% of the waste.
• 75% of global fisheries have been fished beyond capacity.
• 100,000 synthetic chemicals are used in production today.
• Bromated Flame Retardants (BFR) neurotoxins (toxins to brain) are in computers, mattresses, pillows.
• Food with highest level of contaminants is mother’s milk.
• 200,000 people a day are moving to cities from environments that no longer support them.
• U.S. industry *admits* to 4 billion pounds of toxic pollution released per year (likely far more).
• We see more ads in one year than people 50 years ago saw in a lifetime. 3,000 ads a day!
• Average house size has doubled in the U.S. since the 1970’s.
• Average American creates 4.5 lbs. garbage a day — an amount doubled from 30 years ago.
• For every one garbage can you put out at the curb, 70 cans were filled by all the processes needed in order to make it.
• 99% of all those things we buy are not in use after 6 months.

For a more hard-hitting, and depressing breakdown of The Story of Stuff and it’s related harsh realities, check out Jill Ettinger’s ‘The Wasted Years” over at Reality Sandwich. You’ll never look at your pillow the same way again…

Related posts

• US Still Getting Pwn3d by Chinese Pollution (1)
• The Meat Industry is Destroying The World (1)
• Synchromysticism and 9/11 (0)
• Reason #345654 Why Your Life is Worthless (12)
• Daniel Pinchbeck is the New Emo (1)
• Antibiotics Will Kill Us All (1)