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.