Weekly+Lab+4+Response

=The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard=

Annie Leonard shows a detailed account of where consumer products come from, how they get to our house, and what happens to it after we dispose of the product. When products are made it affects several parts of culture, society, and pretty much the whole world especially if we are dealing with companies that outsource the production of their products. The "materials economy" is a process of consumers becoming obsessed with purchasing "stuff."

The things we purchase moves along 5 key stages: extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Leonard shows us that we are accustom to purchasing things everyday that we are oblivious to where all this stuff comes from and where it goes after. The way we get these materials has had harmful affects all over the world. Humans are simply killing their surroundings without the slightest idea. The more we purchase and throw away the more we kill the planet.

Leonard shows us that large corporations are taking over our lives. Usually, we would look to the government for some kind of guidance but corporations are becoming bigger than governments. With than said, it seems that the government is working to make the large corporations happy rather keeping their citizens happy. We use to purchase items because we need it to live. Now, we purchase products in excess. It becomes a vicious cycle of buying to make us happy but in the end we continue to buy to satisfy personal needs that are instilled in us through advertising. through the 5 stages Leonard is able to show how are economy has become based on materials.

__Extraction__ Extraction has to do with natural resources. Corporations are using up all the world's resources in order to make the products that we see on store shelves. It is no surprise that we are chopping down more trees than we can grow back. Our resources are deminishing at an alarming rate. We are also affecting the water to the point where it has become undrinkable. We are outsourcing production to places that have an abundance of resources. People's natural surrounding are being torn down to make way for production.
 * //The Materials Economy//**

__Production__ This is part of process which involves processing the raw materials. Ideally, combining raw materials with chemicals in the production of new "stuff." These added toxins enter our homes through the products in which we purchase. These toxins are also being passed along through other members of our families such as babies (Leonard 4).

__Distribution__ When it comes to distribution the key is to keep prices down as best as they can in order for more people to consume. In order for prices to stay down companies need to cut back on production and employee costs. People pay with the cost of their natural resources. With that said, we are also affecting the future and not having enough resources.

__Consumption__ Leonard mentions the "golden arrow" as an important aspect of consumption. We have become a society that depends on the consumption of goods. We purchase more than we need and we purchase in excess. Leonard uses the example of computer being a means of constant consumption. Every year computers are changing and updating small things that make it seem like we need to buy a new computer to day updated. Another example is fashion where every season a new style is introduced where we are forced to go shopping in order to conform to current trends. We become deceived by media and advertising instilling the value that we can only be truly happy when we purchase new stuff.

__Disposal__ All that stuff ends up in the landfill after were finished with it. Although recycling helps reduce the amount of landfill it will really never be enough. We are always limited to the amount of recycling we can do because of the material mix; for example juice boxes that all contain a layer of metal, plastic, and paper (Leonard 12).

//**How does her Flash presentation effectively organize the categories comprising 'the materials economy' in its interface design?**// Leonard's flash presentation helps present the concept of the materials economy very well. It was able to illustrate and provide a visual presentation to understand concepts a lot better. By organizing the materials economy into steps it was easier to understand where our products come from and what happens after we dispose of it. It makes readers understand the state of the world and what will happen if we fail to change now.

__Bibliography__ The Story of Stuff.org. 2010. The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard. 31 January 2010 