lbuktawlab4

Lab 4 Story of Stuff

 The story of stuff is a documentary about the life cycle of material goods. It takes us through the extraction, production, consumption and disposal of ‘stuff’. According to this documentary we currently have ‘a system in crisis’ because we are abusing it. In the video Annie Leonard defines the system of materials economy as the natural and manmade structures, systems, policies and practices that guide how materials move from extraction to disposal.
 * 1) Write three paragraphs on how Annie Leonard defines the system of the 'materials economy' and describes its interactions.

One problem that she sees in the material economy is that it is a linear system, meaning that it that system only moves in one direction. Along the way of the materials system is interacting with the real world such as societies, cultures, economies and the environment, which in the long run has created a negative impact to it.

It also makes suggestions on how to protest this materials economy and calls for the adoption of a new, sustainable and just way of living. I highly recommend watching this engaging, enlightening and easy to understand 20 minute animation.

2. Define extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal. (One paragraph for each term)

Extraction - Is the exploitation of natural resources such as cutting down trees, blowing up mountains and wiping out animals. Most corporation or companies have gone to third world countries to exploit there natural resources just to produce ‘stuff’ for the developed nations. Both the government and companies are abusing the worlds natural resources and can one day wake up without any.

Production - The second stage wherein we use energy to mix toxic chemicals with the natural resources to make toxic contaminated products. These toxic products are being brought to our home where we use them to eat and sleep. These higher toxic levels have caused higher risk of disease. In fact babies get the highest toxic level from breastfeeding from their mothers which can be attributed to what they put in their bodies.

Distribution - The next stage is distribution it is when products go from the factory to the stores.Distribution means selling toxic contaminated junked as much as possible. Companies externalize the cost of products meaning the cost of making the product is not captured in the price. They do that by paying their workers who are more likely in the third world less and without health care. Consumption - Consumption is the golden arrow of the system and the top priority of government and companies. As a result peoples identity has become that of a consumer. We define ourselves by the products we have and own. 99% of stuff we run in the system is trashed within six months. The companies top strategies to get p[eople consuming are Planned obsolence they design products for the dump. Make things useless as possible so that people will buy another one. Perceived obsolesce in the other hand convinces us to throw away stuff that are still useful Advertisements and the media play a big role in facilitating these actions. Ads make us unhappy of ourselves and the only way to fix it is if we go shopping. As a result we have more stuff but less time for family

Disposal - In the end the ‘stuff’ that we no longer need is dumped into landfills and burnt which in the long run pollutes the air. And by burning the products it creates a super toxin called dioxin. The number source of dioxin is through incineration Companies deal with these problem by exporting the garbage.