case_studies_4

Write three paragraphs on how Annie Leonard defines the system of the 'materials economy' and describe its interactions.

Let me just say this was one of the most inspirational and powerful videos I have ever seen! Thanks for bringing it into the classroom!

__The Story of Stuff__ The material economy has five big steps "Extraction-Production-Distribution-Consumption-Disposal" with a lot of other vital factors working //within// the system and being affected //by// the system. The five steps describe a linear system, which absolutely cannot work forever in a finite planet; as a result we have a system in crisis. Cultures are involved, people are involved, and ignoring this (or as the government and corporations do - turning a blind eye) has lead the system to keep hitting limits. This system is failing us.

Extraction trashes our homes, our lives, and our planet, but the need to produce is so great that we have not corrected the problem, instead we just trash other peoples' homes, lives, and planet. Throughout this process, nasty toxins are being used to make the stuff we buy, and thus creating a vicious circle where these toxins are touching each and every one of us. Those with no other choice but to work at these factories because we have taken all of their natural resources, are forced to work at these factories, and end up suffering more than the rest of us. There are so many of them, that they are able to make stuff as fast as people need to sell them.

The goal is to keep prices down, keep people buying, and keep the inventory moving. It is a process of flow. Who loses out the most? Again, those who have no other choice and work for low wages and miss out on health care. This does not matter to the powerhouses as long as the golden arrow is still bright and glowing. The whole system is essentially kept alive by shopping. So, they push us, convince us, brainwash us, and bombard us with the message that we do not have enough (which is absurd) and that we will only be happy if we go shopping. Even the things we are buying are not meant to last - so the things we are putting our hope and faith into are really all.. just another sham. Eventually, we have so much stuff that we have to throw it out - the garbage creating more toxins and contributing even more to our own self-destruction.

As Annie says, this system is not gravity.. we don't just have to live with it. It was created by someone and we can create a new system.

Thankfully, people like Annie are thinking about alternatives and trying to get the word out. This system is on it's way to crashing, so it seems much better to think of a new goal and start working towards accomplishing it before we have no other choice...