A great 20 minute short film by Annie Leonard and Free Range Studios may really be an eye opener for you and your friends about the horrors of our continued consumption — especially to those of us living in Western society.

The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

For me, the real eye opener of this short film is the discussion on planned obsolescence.

Wikipedia explains:

Planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence is the process of a product becoming obsolete and/or non-functional after a certain period or amount of use in a way that is planned or designed by the manufacturer. Planned obsolescence has potential benefits for a producer because the product fails and the consumer is under pressure to purchase again, whether from the same manufacturer (a replacement part or a newer model), or from a competitor which might also rely on planned obsolescence.

I don’t want to spoil all the points in the movie, but essentially Leonard shares that in the mid-50′s American economists and corporations began planning ways to grow the economy by manufacturing products that were designed to break and last for only a certain period of time — thus forcing the consumers to continue buying products.

I’ve heard this discussed before, but to hear it put in this manner really opened my eyes to how duped we’ve become into thinking we need the latest fashion, the latest gadgets, the latest technology.

When we find our value in our stuff — we’ll continue rushing out to buy the latest “it” and simply add to our struggle to live simply.

Take action

Of course you can watch this film, walk away and think, “Hmmm that was nice.” Or you can actually get up and DO SOMETHING about what you’ve seen. Here’s a few ideas…

Host a screening. The film is available as a free download from the Story of Stuff website (normal and hi-res). You can also purchase DVD copies of the movie. Bring a bunch of friends over, watch the movie and then discuss what you’ve seen.

Volunteer with a group that’s targeting these issues. Find an area you’re passionate about and then get involved in a group in your community.

Reduce your consumption. Do your part and be an example to others by reducing your own consumption. As mentioned in the film, recycling is great — but cutting consumption has an even greater impact.

Share links with your friends. Use your social network for good. Use your Twitter account, Facebook status updates or even e-mail signature to encourage people to watch the film and to re-think their consumption mindset. Or perhaps write your own extended blog post (Facebook note) about the film for your network to see.

In addition, Annie Leonard offers 10 more ways you can make a big difference in very small ways.

“There’s a promise that I ask everyone who works here to make: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Do you know why?”
“Because it’s the only thing that ever has” – President Josiah Bartlet and Will Bailey on The West Wing

Update: The Story of Stuff is now available in printed text now as well!

Anyone grabbed a copy yet? What’d you think?

(HT Re-Nest for the heads-up on the movie HT to Sustainablog for the heads-up on the book)

keep reading...

• The Story of Electronics
• The Story of Stuff for Kids
• Simple Manifesto #50 – Reduce your consumption of advertising