The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard

For wonderful web wednesday I want to highlight "The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard." If I try to tell you about "The Story of Stuff" in my own words I wouldn't do it justice, so here's a synopsis from the site:

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. ... 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.

The video is only 20-minutes long but I guarantee it will be the best 20 minutes of your week and quite possibly your life. The ideas of perceived obsolescence and planned obsolescence will definitely change your thinking about the "stuff" you buy.

How often do I perceive my "wants" as "needs?" Do I need a new cellphone just because it plays MP3's or does my old cellphone work just fine? What kind of footprint am I leaving on the environment with the types of products I buy? Am I doing all I can to reduce, reuse and recycle? Our family no longer buys bottled water by the case, so that's a start! Watch "The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard" and prepare for a serious paradigm shift. --Emily