The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard

This video was a real eye opener. Although I have been exposed ideas such as comsumer products made to break for the sake of newer models being resold again, the whole linear process of how the consumer is getting ripped off right at the start by this present system was interesting to hear. It presents a challenge for designers to design with the present process in mind; to kerb their designs around it and do things, as Annie says, for the people. She rounds her arguement quite well about how political and corprate powers have destroyed the planet and smaller sustainable communities to get to resourses for production exposing workers to toxic chemicals and how the products are then distributed as fast as possible so that consumers can come back for more, and in only 6 months!

From the 19 50's we as people have been getting unhappier by the year, and it all seems to point to the idea of consumerism. Marketing ventures set out to not just inform you of a new product but to convince you that you need it, even and especially if it isnt necessary. And as has been this build up of stuff that everyone has that has been making people unhappy. Clearly consumerism has to ultimately stop being at the levels they are at the moment. However, unfortunately, we've built up ourselves a society that relies so heavily on either the success of corporate factions for jobs and money or the products themselves so much, that it would take such an enormous gesture from a government power to turn the situation around that i doubt we'd see any significant turn around in even the next half decade.

In saying that goals to turn the idea of mass consumerism around can be achieved at a smaller level by controlling what a comunity has access to, ie to make the purchasing of 'healthy goods' (healthy to the system) easier to obtain, as one example.

The goals that Annie suggest are good, not sure if they'd have a big enough impact, but her message is definately a point that should b heard by everyone.