The Story Of Stuff

I found the short movie made by Annie Leonard to be very informative. She has conveyed her message and all the information in a very interesting manner.

In modern age, industrial progress has a marked effect on the country’s economy. In today’s competitive market, companies strive to develop low price products. But as Annie pointed out rightly in her short video that someone somewhere is paying the price for all these low priced goods that we consume. Whether it be the people in the third world countries or the environment or the consumers. The people in the third world countries become the victim of it because they provide the cheap labor required for constricting the price for all these items.

I am very interested in the solution proposed at the end of this clip for avoiding the problems normally associated with the industrialized countries i.e. environmental problems, social injustice with workers. She has put forward the idea of local living economies upon which a sustainable world economy can be based. A local living economy ensures that economic power resides locally, sustaining healthy community life and natural life as well as long-term economic viability. Living economy communities produce and exchange locally as many products needed by their citizens as they can, while reaching out to other communities to trade. Living economy consumer appreciate the benefits of buying from living economy businesses. Living economy investors value businesses that are community stewards and as such accept an average return on their financial investments rather than a maximum return, recognizing the value derived from enjoying a healthy and vibrant community and sustainable global economy. The fancy features of sustainability, equity, green chemistry, zero waste, closed loop production, renewable energy can be made an integral part of local living economies.

Public awareness and education is the key to successful implementation of this solution. Because, in the end it is down to the people to identify the problem and then finally work for its’ cure.

Snooping Bosses

At present, the world is going through an economic recession. The competitive market is pushing the companies to find cost effective solutions for everything. As a result, companies are raising the bar by each passing day to keep themselves in pace with their competitors. It has prompted most of the companies to opt for modern technology i.e. email control, GPS and video surveillance to keep track of their employee’s activity. These techniques are being implemented to make sure that employer gets the maximum worth for his investment. One wonders reading this article, with the advent of modern technology, how much companies can pry into their employee’s private life.

It is hard to disagree with the surveillance techniques used at workplace. Companies consider it as their right to ensure that their secret designs, patented formulas and innovative techniques are not being leaked out. Keeping a check on the content of emails and the websites visited seems to be a good idea. Although it is not a very pleasant feeling that you are constantly being monitored by a video camera, but I think video surveillance at workplace can be tolerable knowing the fact that you are honest with your work.

Some limits should always be defined in this regard as well. Employees must be notified of the fact before joining a certain company that their activities will be monitored by the authorities. But it is very difficult to agree with the surveillance techniques used to monitor employee’s activities when he is not at work. Regarding the use of Facebook, Twitter and other public forums as a mean to puke one’s anger, show disapproval or to reveal company secrets seems to be a little childish act. Both employers and the employees need to abide by the company’s privacy policy and should be mature enough to realize their responsibilities within the company.

In conclusion, I would like to say that today’s world demands a little sacrifice of the private life. We have to adapt ourselves to slightly newer set of conditions and should be a little more responsible in our acts.