Christmas and The Story of Stuff
Wednesday November 25th, 2009 // Written by Andrea
Christmas is the time for giving. And I’m sure like me you’ve given and received some useless gifts. Of course it’s always the thought that counts. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but some of the stuff I’ve received over the years has gone into the garbage along with the wrapping.
You know the kind of stuff I’m talking about, little knick knacks, cutie figurines, gadgets to make your life easier etc. Of course now with a three year old and one year old, our house is bear of anything that could be swallowed, used as a weapon, or otherwise used in a manner not intended. Even BC (before children) I was a pretty minimalist person. I hate those knick knacks and figurines, and little novelty items are lost on me.
But this year after watching The Story of Stuff I have a completely different take on these gifts and just stuff we buy in general. This short movie really opens your eyes to what it takes to make all the consumer goods we think we just have to have.
Usually I would just think about stuff in terms of what happens to it when I throw it out. But this movie makes you realize that adding to our landfills is just a small portion of the impact all our junk has. We don’t realize what it takes to manufacture and deliver and then get rid of all of our stuff. Little useless knick knacks have a bigger impact than we think and not just on our environment but on the people that work to make these items available to us. So watch the movie, its only twenty minutes, and let us know what you’re doing to have a green Christmas. Regifting maybe be tacky but its ecofriendly!
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Re-gift is the way to go! Either that or charity shops, one mans tacky is another beautiful object de art!
I would love to watch the link but..dial up..meh!
Sounds very cool though.
Of course you have to remember that so much of the “trashy” stuff is often made in thrid world countries in sweat shops or using child labour.
EDUCATE YOUR FAMILY!!!
Its the only way to let people know that less is most definitly more over Xmas .xx
Shoot I forgot about the dial up. Its a really great clip. Basically its just about how unsustainable the whole consumerism cycle is and how it isn’t really a cycle. How both the earth and people are exploited. In really great layman’s terms.
I’ve regifted and proud of it! I’m giving the gift of a futre regift to that person LOL.
This Christmas the husband and I are making each other things that are thoughtful, something we actually want or need and as close to free as we can get. In the victorian days christmas was all about making thoughtful gifts and gathering your decorations for your house from the nature around you and if movies have tought me anything, it’s that the victorians could make something good out of any situation.
Why not simplify?