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School Board bans use of Story of Stuff – please send an email!

MISSOULA SCHOOL BOARD BANS STORY OF STUFF!

We need your help! Please send an email!

A teacher in Missoula, Montana, U.S., recently showed the film The Story of Stuff to her high school biology class. An irate parent complained to the school board, which late last month voted that showing the video violated district policy—in effect banning the film.

Fortuantely students, parents, and teachers in Missoula and elsewhere are voicing their concern to the school board. Please join them!

You can read about this growing controversy in these two recent news articles from Missoula: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/02/11/news/local/news03.txt and http://missoulian.com/articles/2009/02/08/news/local/news02.txt. And we will post updates to this blog as things develop.

At a time when every reputable scientist and organization agrees that the future of the planet is at risk, educators need to help students to think critically about the causes and consequences of environmental degradation, especially climate change. Our nation’s textbooks and mainstream media have failed to adequately address the environmental crises we face, and teachers like Kathleen Kennedy should be commended for seeking out alternative materials like The Story of Stuff to encourage critical thinking and action for sustainability.
 
Please take a minute to send an email to the Missoula school board to ask that they reconsider their vote. I’ve pasted a sample letter below or you can write your own comment.

Email the school board at publiccomment@mcps.k12.mt.us and send a copy to the local newspaper, the Missoulian, at newsdesk@missoulian.com.

Stay tuned and thank you for helping!

Sincerely,

Annie Leonard
The Story of Stuff
Here’s a suggested note to the school board or, better yet,  you can write and send your own note.

Dear Trustees,

I am writing to urge you to reconsider your January 29th decision that found Kathleen Kennedy, a teacher at Big Sky High School, had violated district policy by airing The Story of Stuff for a biology class. I am deeply concerned that your decision violates Ms. Kennedy’s academic freedom and will have a negative affect on the ability of teachers in your district and around the country to prepare students for the complex and rapidly changing world of which we are all are a part.
 
It is clear from the public statements of both the teacher and students in the class that the film was intended to spark conversation, something it has done in hundreds of classrooms in the United States over the past year. I believe that The Story of Stuff is a valuable resource for teachers in a variety of subjects, biology included, because it covers exactly the kind of ecological and economic issues that students need to be critically examining, and does it in a straightforward and accessible way.
 
Please support a motion to reconsider your earlier vote and overturn that vote in favor of academic freedom, critical thinking and dialogue.

Thank you for your attention and interest.

Sincerely,

(Your Signature)
 

posted by Annie Leonard
February 16, 2009
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  • Neil

    It’s amazing how threatening the truth can be. From the heat and passion generated, you would think the film was a fiercely partisan diatribe on something as hot button as abortion, or gay marriage. Yet the topics here — overconsumption, resource depletion, pollution, migration, poverty — are at the core of the issues modern society is struggling with. Perhaps it is not so surprising that those wedded to the old, dysfunctional model would react strongly.

  • Alan Watson

    The decision of the Missoula County Public Schools board of trustees is disturbing even by the standards of a State in which it it is widely claimed that the law says it is illegal to have a sheep in the cab of your truck without a chaperone. My letter to the Trustees is below:

    Dear Trustees,

    I was surprised to hear that on January 29th you decided that Kathleen Kennedy, a teacher at Big Sky High School, had violated district policy by airing The Story of Stuff for a biology class. When the film was shown at my son’s school it received nothing but praise and the pupils were grateful for the opportunity to discuss the range of important problems that we, and more relevantly they, now face due to our excessive consumption of resources and careless disposal of wastes. These are urgent problems which I am pleased to see are now recognised as such by President Obama.

    I have looked at the Series 2000 Instruction Policies and find it difficult to understand why you considered the showing of the Story of Stuff was a violation of these rules.

    I note that Rule 2330 on Controversial Issues emphasises the importance of respecting the right of students to face issues and to have free access to information and showing the Story of Stuff film seems to be entirely consistent with this fair approach.

    Whilst I would agree that they are not those rules most pertinent to the showing of a film to a class I was also struck by the rules in relation to the selection of library materials which confirm:

    Every child has the right to a variety of learning materials to broaden interests and experiences and to stimulate mental growth. The well-administered school library media center is the most effective and economical way to provide each child with exploratory experiences, reading guidance, instruction in the use of a variety of materials and curriculum enrichment.

    The provision of a wide variety of library materials at all reading levels supports the District’s basic principle that the school in a free society assists all students to develop their talents fully so that they become capable of contributing to the further good of that society.

    In support of these objectives, the Board reaffirms the principles of intellectual freedom inherent in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and expressed in the Library Bill of Rights, endorsed by the American Association of School Librarians in 1996.

    Again this is entirely consistent with providing access to this film.

    If your aim was to restrict access to the film then it has undoubtedly backfired as there is no surer way of encouraging children to seek out a film like this than to ban or censor the use of it in class! Perhaps, recognising the importance of the subject, you were attempting a form of reverse psychology?

    If not then it is important to remember that on taking office as a Trustee you swore an oath to support the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Montana, to promote the interests of education and to faithfully discharge the duties of his/her office to the best of your ability. I am completely baffled by how you can reconcile observance of this oath with your approach to this issue and would be grateful for confirmation that you will urgently reconsider your decision before you do permanent damage .to the credibility of your board – and to your relationship the pupils and teachers whose interests you ought to represent.

    Yours sincerely,

    Alan Watson

    –
    Alan Watson C.Eng
    Oakleigh
    Wernffrwd
    Gower
    Swansea SA4 3TY
    Wales
    UK

    Tel: + 44 (0)1792 851599

    P
    Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

  • http://www.catavino.net Gabriella Opaz

    Part of the reason why I moved to Spain from the USA, was because of ignorant and self-deceiving teaching methodologies used in this particular school in Missouri. We have become accustomed to teaching down to children, as if our primary goal was to mold them into little robots that depend on the “expert” opinion to make a choice, rather than on their own critical thinking skills. I too am appalled by this decision, and will go out of my way to help spread the word! However, my suggestion would be to create an online petition that other people can sign. With the power of social media, this might be a wonderful, fast and efficient way to get the word out quickly.

  • jk

    OTOH-
    Dear Missoula School Board and irate parent,
    Thanks for the free publicity and ensuring that every Missoula teenager googles ‘story of stuff’ to view what you don’t want them to see.
    Streisand effect?

  • Levko,Adrian,Andrew

    dear annie leonard, your story was absolutly ridiculous this was a complete waste of my time. With all do respect the comments we leave are not personal, they are only our general opinions about this video, we hope that you are not offended. Now to begin,I can not withstand the amount of GARBAGE information that you are using to brainwash people. In your video you say that “we” cut down the trees, destroy livestock, destroy mountains and pollute the environment. Do you honestly think that you could live your whole life without using natural resources. Without metal, and tree cutting you or anyone you know wouldn’t have a house. Without killing livestock we would have very little to eat.When you say that we do this you are wrong, people who are payed to do this do it. First of all this is not the “STORY OF STUFF” this is a video that has many political undertones. This does not explain the story of stuff, this is trying to brainwash people to become closed minded TREEHUGGERS. When you say that people who make radios take so much effort and time is wasted by the low prices of stores, we worked for our money to buy this radio so we should spend our money the way we like it. YOu are trying to convince people to not spend their money which they worked hard for to not spend on what they want. This is truly a dis to people. You provided nothing that we did right when we do. you are merely a puppet to all environmentalist. You completely wasted our time and we are part of the environment and what did you do good to save our environment, you can only talk and complain about what you think we do. This is false information your providing us. We want our 20 minutes of our life back. Thank you if you actually read this. Sincerly students of the world.

  • Jeff

    I had to watch the film to see what the fuss was all about. Being from Missoula, I have been able to follow the media reports and letters to the editor.If the intent of showing the film is to stimulate discussion and critical thought, that’s fine. It makes valid points about the folly of consumerism. However, it also paints an overly demonized picture of an entire economy. I would hope that the discussion taking place after students view the material recognizes the valid points, and also recognize the bias and agenda suggested which should be apparent to any critical thinker. That being said, the school board has been swayed by an articulate and well prepared challenge by a parent who obviously has too much time on his hands.Perhaps if the discussion also involved examining the neo-Luddite movement the entire episode may have been avoided.

  • Nathan Bourne

    Ok, so I find it interesting that comments about the Missoula school board come from so far away, Spain, the UK….. I live 50 miles north east of Missoula and attended a Missoula county public schools highschool. I am a little confused about the motive of them “banning” this…. Missoula tends to be ALOT “greenier” than most of Montana. I would guess that the parent who complained is one of US who works hard, plays hard and CONSUMES alot…. I think its good to at least think about and talk about these issues though….. Montana is one of the places that the resorces have been being taken out of at a none sustainable rate.. Here is a thought to ponder about the “work, shop, consume, watch TV, sleep on toxic pillow, dispose, work some more, consume some more” cycle Annie talks about…. If you cut your consumpion by 10%…. one would assume that you could cut you income by 10% as well….. so 4 hours a week if you work a 40hr week…. FOUR HOURS a week to spend with your family…. freinds….. hiking, fishing, hunting, GARDENING????? all those things that we are too BUSY to fit in…. hmmmmm…… Is it unreasonable to cut 10% of what your consuming?????? THINK about it this way…. cut 20% and you could take one DAY a week off, NOT driving your car to work to PAY for GAS… Heck spend a couple of your saved hours REPAIRING something instead of tossing it out for a new one…… This disposable world we’ve come to know is sick and wrong in so many ways…. AND yes, I make my living off others people’s CONSUMPTION!!!!! I CAN proudly say that the product I produce is built to LAST…. But as green as it could be???? :( I’ll start working on that one… So many ways to consume less… So LITTLE TIME… hahahahaha…

    Nathan

  • Big

    At first I thought about posting something that echoed the kids above me, but upon reading it I found that I’d never want to be associated with people that use the word treehugger as a slur. Nature is something we enjoy and should strive to keep. I believe the film vilified our dependence on natural resources and the way they are processed, but on the other hand it didn’t underplay the consumerism that has come to plague this country and the world. I commend it for trying to open the eyes of people living lives driven by consuming and disposing so much, but I think certain aspects of your story are over-simplified to emphasize your points. This is where the vilification comes in. As for Missoula, I live there. Fairly liberal at times, it is not without it’s thick-headed conservatives, but to fight a school board on a film that can be accessed easily from any internet connected computer seems to be a waste of time. If interested, students can find the time to watch “The Story of Stuff” on their own time.

  • Sydney Johnson

    how many of you actually know the missoula county public school policy? it states that no teacher can teach bias material. this is a VERY bias film! it has many personal attacks on people such as our former president. even if it were true, it is still bias.

    being from missoula, i believe i know more about the situation then most responding. especially since i am a student at big sky. this teacher has had problems in the past with only accepting students opinions that line up with her own. i feel that if you do not understand the situation you should not comment.

    thank you

    sydney

  • cerial reepist

    if we kill all of the hippies, there will be less consuming.
    :)

  • Alan

    “Even if it were true, it is still bias”.

    Right! Because presumably “fair and balanced” coverage means telling lies. We take two politicians one from each side, get them to both lie to an uninformed journalist who listens uncritically, and assume that the truth lies somewhere between the two sets of lies. This encourage each participant to tell ever bigger lies. It also fails to recognize that each party is invested in maintaining the existing system.

    Has the need for discussion, critical analysis and independent thought become a socially divisive viewpoint? It may appear sensible to have a policy that prohibits teaching biased material, but who gets to decide what “bias” is?

  • Andrew

    I live in Missoula. The high school, Big Sky High, has teachers who force their students to watch Bill O’Reilly and Fox News commentators. It’s assigned and viewed in the classroom.

    Ms. Kennedy, the teacher who showed the film is one of the finest in the district and is very thoughtful, responsible, and engaging. Her attempts to introduce the film as a discussion in class were well met by all but one student who complained to her father.

    Her father then took up this cause and decided that this and another film produced by PBS were too “biased”. He used a policy argument that equal time must be given for all both sides.

    Of course he ignored the “Forest Days” when local timber companies sponsor events and “education” to “teach children the benefits of logging on public lands”. No equal time is required from industry, but is demanded for the Story of Stuff.

    The good news is that this has greatly increased the awareness of the local population and they are getting involved. Normally school board positions are non-partisian, but because the father who started this mess has gone on the local right-wing speaking tour, the Democrats in the county have also jumped in.

    I am saddened that students like Syndey are already past the point of being able to thoughtfully respect others opinions and see new perspectives as positive, not threatening. Luckily with the community now engaged we will again bring balance to Big Sky.

    Keep up the good work, you make more of a differance than you suspect!

  • Luciana Cantarelli

    I would like to know if any of you have shares in the stockmarket? Do you think you can affort lose money to save the planet? Or put in risk your mothers and grand-mothers future due to crashing of their retirement savings?

    I would like to know what specialits think about this… My e-mail is l_cantarelli@hotmail.com

    Let me know if anyone wants to discuss this… or advice an appropriate forum.

    Luciana
    (Brazil)

  • Paul Christian

    Hi Annie

    - Hum – time to go national with this! Have you (or “someone”) considered a lawsuit against the Missoula County Public Schools Board?

    Your video is so well done and presents a very complicated planned linear consumption model in the light of day under which it was not created for sure!

    Good luck!

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  • B

    I can’t believe some of the comments on this board – wow – Alan Watson I made sure to send your entire comment to the school board to consider, so when they make a decision based on your input they also know that we in Montana are backwards perverts that have sex with animals.

    Gabriella Opaz I too am glad you moved to Spain to get away from us ignorant people, especially those that are so ignorant that we think we live in Missoula MONTANA, but clearly we must be 1/2 a continent away in Missouri because we are ignorant and you are elite.

    You all will be happy to know that there are people in town who have “bought” into your new religion and are fighting consumerism on your behalf, teaching kids to be Freegans and eating out of garbage cans.

    “I’m new to the role of elder, but passing the torch was my motivation last week when I headed out on a run with “Trixi” and “Pork Chop Sandwich,” two Hellgate High students who’ve seen and tasted the fruits—and the vegetables—of my labors and were looking to get knee-deep in garbage themselves.

    One evening’s haul proved impressive: shop rags, snowshoes, pizza and picture frames comprised only part of the loot.
    From shop rags to snowshoes, pizza to picture frames, the evening’s scores were impressive. But more important, as with proper hunter education, were the tips on safety and etiquette. Wear gloves. Never take everything. Only tell people you trust. Always clean up. If the Missoula County Public Schools’ board continues stonewalling attempts to educate young people about our culture’s love affair with disposability—as they did by effectively banning the film The Story of Stuff—then perhaps the dumpster diving community should respond with more of these kinds of clandestine after school activities.”

    http://www.missoulanews.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=8B109CE1-14D1-1357-9CABAD8CF47B6709

    “They’ve held recycling and Dumpster-diving events.”
    http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/02/27/news/local/news03.txt

    Nothing radical or biased in any of these activities, no reason to provide balance that maybe this is an opinion on consumerism. By the way, don’t you sell the video. If the school bought the video didn’t they consume a product made of some of the worst pollutants known to man? Why is it o.k. for you to make and sell products, but we should quit buying products from everyone else, give up our jobs and live in a primordial hunter gather society? I wonder if the teach posed any of these types of questions about the hypocrisy of your message, or simply told the students to go find a good garbage can to eat out of?

  • Tante Waileka

    You are pushing one agenda. You need to remove your head from your ass and pay attention to the OTHER side of the story. Like landfills that generate methane gas that is siphoned off and then used to generate electricity. Like how the Thames River was totally unfishable for 200 years and now it is teeming with fishable, EDIBLE, FISH. Like how just 30 years ago you could see two blocks down on a smoggy day in Los Angeles, and now I can see the mountains and the beach from my LA high-rise condo. There are always two sides, your side is shortsighted. You are pushing a baloney agenda. Go join Al Gore who has yet to ‘green’ his offices, or his homes. And ‘global warming’? Hardly! Naivete your name is ‘liberal’.

  • Barb

    This video shows extreme bias. Why is it Government’s job to “take care of us?” I thought we were promised life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not a guarantee of happiness. Also, I do believe in reducing pollution, living more simply, reusing, and recycling, but I do not believe global warming has been adequately proven. Given the inefficiencies of government, why would more government and fewer of the rest of us be a good answer?

  • http://www.finflog.blogspot.com John Gallant

    That’s crazy. I showed it to a grade 6 class on my last practice teaching venture and even though some of the words were above their level, they still got the idea and we had a great discussion about it.

  • Dave

    This video is ineffective. If you want this video to inspire people to get involved (and not get banned from schools), I suggest you stop blaming and start educating. For instance, tell viewers what they can do, not who they can hate.

    Until then, you will find the only people your video inspires, are those which are already sympathetic to your viewpoints.

    Tell me how I can make the world a better place.

  • Sarah Caine

    I sent a more emotionally charged (though strictly factual) email. Hopefully it helps.

    Sarah

  • Joe

    Interesting movie. Our government schools turn out people who can actually think they “suck” because they see it on TV. Personal responsibility is the goal. If you buy into the “I gotta have” mentality then you are a loser. You’re cute but your bias runs deep.

    As a conservative I’m not for banning movies like this. These make great conversation starters.

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  • Marcelo Lewin

    This is great. A bit hypocritial don’t you think? I mean, you guys talk about all the stuff that is polluting our planet, and here you are selling “DVDs”. Now that’s not stuff that won’t polute our environment no?

    Come on. And by the way….the reason computers are thrown away is not because the chip is made a different shape on purpose. Where did you get that information from? The bus speed changes, design is improved, memory is upgraded, graphic chips are enhanced…

    Anyhow…good video production though. I enjoyed that part of this video.

  • Rick

    Whatever anybody else is doing doesn’t seem to be working, especially the name calling. I know something needs to change, or rather we need to change. For every change there is a crisis and I am reluctant to change especially when the crisis affects me.
    This is what I get from this:
    1. I shouldn’t blame the government or “evil” marketing schemes. (We are the problem and we are the solution.)
    2. Consumerism is a problem for my personal finances/time and environment. I buy more + Producers make more = more waste/pollution
    3.I need to learn more about this subject.
    4.I need to teach others without being biased so I won’t offend the people trapped in consumerism that haven’t seen the problem.
    5.Everything comes at a price. We will have to pay to change or we will pay if we don’t.
    6.This video got me thinking.
    Thanks everyone for your comments, there are good points in all of them.

  • Jeff

    I think awareness is always a good thing. However, there needs to be a balance as well. The cries of “down with materialistic consumerism” ring hollow. The example she chose about her computer monitor being “big and fat”, vs. the slimmer one her co-worker had is a prime example. It’s called technological advancements. We’re not going to go back to horse and buggy, and this website would not have been possible without technology. Everything comes with a price. However, I do agree we can be smarter about how things are made, just not at the total expense of forward momentum of technology.

  • Jada

    Dear whoever,
    My 6th grade science teacher recently showed our class the video, The Story of Stuff, and we loved it! <3 (heart) It got us to do and think more about our country and world. I don’t see anything wrong with the video!

  • Iurko

    I am absolutely appalled by some of the replies in this post. I used to live in the US, in the greater DC area. And I had a chance to witness this consumerism “Story of Stuff” describes, sometimes accurately, sometime biased; and I witnessed it from an outsider’s standpoint which I’ll share with you in the following lines.
    I am originally from a South American country (yes, it is that big old jungle underneath Mexico, in case you where wondering). During my time in the US, I met several people of all kinds and colors. I noticed that even allegedly educated people ignored or chose to ignore that the people living in the country I’m from has access to the same everyday commodities you find in the USA (YES, we have cars, PCs, TVs and all that crap, which by the way, they are produced and distributed in the exact same way as any other industrialized country), but they were oblivious to this and I endured with stoicism such questions as: Do you build houses in *********? Do you have TVs in *********?
    So, cutting through the chase, what I want to say to both, the incurable conservative consumerist and the ever bashing liberal, that “Story of Stuff” is biased, it is extremely biased, and I support its claims, not because I was brainwashed; but because when you are challenging something as huge and as rooted as the western economic paradigm, you HAVE to be biased, meaning, you have to take sides, and also take responsability for the views you support. America has an obsession with political correctness. But guess what… You can’t challenge an entire system and remain neutral, you can’t defend an entire system and remain neutral. There comes a time when you have to become politically accountable, and involved in current affairs, or live the rest of your life blindfolded and guided through the loop like brainless cattle waiting for a ticket to a slaughterhouse without even knowing what’s going on.
    I believe that decadent systems can be replaced, but History shows us that radical changes do not just happen, they come with sacrifice, and with ruthless confrontation from the dying but still dominant paradigm. You people, above all, Americans I mean, should know this.

  • http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SolarCycle/ John Hayes

    Boy, you really drank the Kool-Aid. There is a case to be made about waste (materialism, litter, etc.) but all this “crisis” talk is way out of line with reality. Your “facts” are so badly simplified that they are simply lies.

    Like this business about having only a few percentage of our original forests left: You have twisted a statement about where people have never ever harvested any wood to make people think there are only a handful of trees left standing in the whole nation. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

    I’m a pilot and when I take someone flying who has never been in a small plane, one comment I hear all the time is “Wow, I had no idea there were so many trees and so much green”. This is because people live, work, and drive on man-made structures and are constantly fed this line about how there are no trees.

    Of course there are places in the world where irresponsible loggers don’t replace what they cut, but it is a deliberate distortion of reality to use words like “crisis” on the topic to manipulate people. In fact, I would wager that there are more trees alive in the US than at any other time in history. Here’s a news flash: there are no “original” forests – because fire is a regular and natural occurance. But because of the wisdom of you self-titled “environmentalist”, so much forest land has been managed without fire for so long, it’s heavily overgrown. To make matters worse, when a lightning strike begins what would otherwise be a localized fire, it rapidly spreads to do its long-overdue business, killing people and destroying homes. Now that’s real crisis.

    This is a regularly occuring theme with so-called environmentalism: The “solutions” make the problem worse. How about all this “green” talk and marketing? Think it’s reversing consumption trends and consumerism? Nope, just gives every company a great new marketing fad to sell more stuff so the stuff we currently have can be thrown away. My grandfather never threw anything away. When his pants had a tear, he would mend it with a thread, not drive to town and buy a new pair. For the vast majority of people, “Green” is now a synonym for “good” and is a grand excuse to go out and buy a new hemp rug instead of the polyester one that was doing just fine because everyone will notice how “green” you are. When billions of tax dollars are spent to make government buildings more efficient for heating and cooling, do you think that taxpayer money came with no impact to the environment? Of course not; people had to work and commute and build and do a lot of consuming to make that money – all to save a few hundred dollars a month on air conditioning. Whatever is being spent on being “green” above what would have otherwise been spent equates to a certain amount of GDP. In the billions of dollars range, this equates to an enormous amount of fuel burned. The waste generated by these efforts is like setting a mountain on fire to reduce the amount of wood you need in a fireplace.

    There are some great lessons we can teach others about taking care of what we have personally and locally. But you are distorting facts and advocating something more akin to a religion – defining who is “good” and vilifying others. Clearly you are passionate about so-called environmentalism, but it does not give you license to claim the sky is falling when it’s not. Same as Al Gore’s hockey stick graph. I think everyone should take a break from the “facts” promoted by sites like this and the unbiased mainstream media and take a dispassionate look at your assumptions. Look out the window and step outside. Take a deep breath and think for yourself about the “crisis” that you hear so much about. There’s much more to the story than you’re being fed.

    By the way, the globe isn’t warming either. The Earth warms and cools by the cycles of the Sun. It has been cooling since 1998 and there is just as much ice at the poles as at any time on record. In fact, you might want to bundle up. The Sun has been inexplicably very quiet for a few years now and we might end up in a Maunder Minimum before long.

  • Fabian andres

    good good very good,, bien excelente

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  • Rational Consumer

    You video is nuts. You have a right to say what want, but you are still nuts.

  • Lofton Alley

    I apologize for being slightly off topic, but I am a teacher in China, which is rapidly becoming a consumerist leviathan, and would like to try to use this as a teaching tool in my (business oriented) Intensive English classes for university students. Would it be possible for me to get a copy of the transcript? Of course I could do the work myself, but transcripting 20 minutes is a big undertaking so I’d appreciate it if you could send me a copy.
    BTW, as an older person who grew up during the rise of consumerism (in other words my parents came from a non-consumer based society– during the great depression and the Wars) I have often railed against consumerism and all its manifestations (how about “the triumph of style over substance” one of my favorite rants) till I am tired of the fight. I remember when this consumer society was being built, and was never happy with it. Coming to Asia years ago I realized that whatever happens in the US has little effect to the real future because we have managed to poison not just the environment, but the future of most of the rest of the world. Ask my students what they do “for fun” in their leisure time and they will say “shopping” An answer that I find baffling.
    OH well, good luck kids.

  • Sue

    As a follow up, I am certainly glad that this issue hit the news in Missoula and put this great resource on the map for myself and many others.

    Thanks to Mr. Zuber’s objections, the public not only became aware of this great educational tool, but also of the biases and limited understanding of teaching among our school board members.

    As an educator, I would point out that this whole situation provides a great little case study for future lesson plans too:

    Present Background: School Board decision in Missoula, MT.
    Show Video: ***
    Discussion: Do you agree or disagree with the school board’s decision? Why or why not?

    (optional follow up: Do you think this video relates to wildlife biology? Explain.)

    Personally, I find it has relevance to many academic discipline areas: civics/U.S. history, biology, ecology, speech, environmental science, resource management, political science, critical thinking, ethics, education, economics, business, media studies, sociology, public policy, … to name a few :)

    I showed the video to a community college freshman seminar last week and they really enjoyed it. Great discussion starter for understanding an extremely complex situation!

    Thanks, Annie!

  • Tommy

    Annie, you are Right On with your message! You struck straight to the heart of it all! I am a Christian and we are to be good stewards of all the gifts God gave us. Yet an enormous number of us have destroyed so much through our greed, our carelessness, unwillingness to know the facts, the truth. I read just part of reply #2. This man thinks we are trying to reprieve him of the enjoyment of living his life as he choses. It’s clear that he hasn’t read in some of the enviro information that we DON’T have to give up what we love. Just make adjustments whereever we can. I live in apartments built in th 1960s and in ANY apartments there are limitations. re: no composting. Certain lights can’t be replacd. The windows can’t be replaced. And so forth. Private residences can make ALL the changes they want.
    He can still eat his same food, and chose his favorite drink. Just chose wisely; those that are made toxin-free.
    On Planet Green I learned the numbers of years per metals used in CELL PHONES that remain to us ALL and if the Other nations used them as fast as we do, there’d be barely any left. I have reycled each one I’ve purchased using those plastic envelopes for recycling small electronics as soon as I learned of them. T-Mobile provides them IN THE BOX with the phones. There are way too many new models coming out. Too much money for the cell providers to make! So RECYCLE.

    MY heart hungers for a pure and clean planet.Unspoiled. The late singer John Denver spoke of this; he went on a voyage with the late Jacque Cousteax. My deep apologies to Mr Cousteax’s son as I know misspelled the environmental oceanographer’s name. I’m not familiar with some forgien spellings. He, and actor Steven Seagal does in several of his movies.

    We don’t all agree on the best strategies for sure. But to keep open minds and hearts helps all of us. Listen.

  • Maurika

    My letter as follows:

    Dear Trustees,

    When I heard today that you had banned something from our public school system, ( wait. I have to just have a side bar here: banning!?! In a country of freedom! In Missoula Montana? Kids used to have guns in the back windows of their trucks on school grounds less than 10 years ago!!! In a country where we find it acceptable to have the Pledge of Allegiance in our public school system which actually states “one country under GOD” I’m sorry – what?) so I’m thinking to myself: “this must have been some truly wicked and indecent stuff!” Was this video an atheist movement designed to collect children and deposit them into a brainwashing cult? Propaganda for suicidal bombing recruitment? Maybe something that condoned building a Meth lab to sell drugs as a school fundraiser?

    Being the curious mind that I am (because I have visionary parents who inspired independent thought and an inquisitive nature), I investigated to see for myself what such drastic action and frankly, public ridicule you have imposed on Ms Kennedy – was all about. Surely something was going on here that dramatically threatened the lives and well being of our children! Surely!!!

    Now let’s just get to know each other a little bit before I go any further.

    Unfortunately I don’t know most of you, but please – I would love to learn more about you. Hello! My name is Maurika, I am 36 years old – and a proud mother of 4 wonderful, brilliant, thoughtful children, 2 which are in our public school system right here in Missoula Montana. I am a professional, have a college degree, believe in people as a whole, celebrate diversity, treasure education for our children, love our country, voted for our president, and oh! I can bake 30 minute brownies in about 21 minutes. I am also a Montana native and am a proud member of our community in many ways. I have great neighbors and friends, appreciate all of our differences – and have a fondness for the celebratory independence that Montanans seem to inspire and hold dear.

    And I am shocked.

    Maybe more disgusted and shocked.

    Ok, mostly I am scared. Scared and troubled that this is actually HAPPENING!!! in my own community.

    I’m sorry, what?

    Actually I’m NOT sorry. This must be a mistake, just has to be a mistake. Help me to understand what moved you to make such a decision!

    What about freedom? What about teaching independent thought, learning about our world? Can you honestly sit there and think that on one hand – it IS ok to have middle school teachers encouraging their students to write poetry in our public school system about Catholicism – teaching sexual education – educating our children about drugs, (none of which I disagree with, but are all controversial on some level) yet on the other hand – it is NOT ok for teachers to encourage students to CONSIDER, discuss and THINK about the possibility that we could make our world a better place?

    I am still at: what????

    Pretend that 99% of the content in the Story of Stuff is false. (which is isn’t, and has been proven – but let’s just pretend) If you could go down that path – what is the harm? Is the message of non-consumerism that scary? Detrimental?? The idea and concept of less waste and more global consciousness is perhaps something that we should HIDE from our CHILDREN?!?

    I personally have never met Ms Kennedy. But is this a witch hunt? I mean, should we all start worrying about what sort of information we give to our children for fear that you might someday want to rip that information out of their hands and perhaps drag all of us “earth loving witches” out to be burned at the stake??

    This sounds ridiculous. Yet, not really that ridiculous when you consider what actions you have already taken to ban a 20 minute video from our school system that candidly discusses the state of our country, our people, our world. A video that advocates awareness about “wasting less” “recycling” “environment issues” and “socially conscious economies”.

    Bluntly, this is horse crap. I think that maybe it is time to recycle our school board officials if this is the type of leadership we can expect for our children as they grow into their bright futures as educators, farmers, parents and upcoming leaders in our world.

    This decision you have made to ban the Story of Stuff must be overturned. Banning the Story of Stuff goes against the very foundation our country was built upon, insults the public education system, and hinders us from evolving, learning and growing a better future.

    I eagerly await your change of heart.

    Please contact me anytime.

    All of my best,

    Maurika

  • A Gallaher

    Just glad my AP teacher had us watch this video….the whole idea is to make people think. Most people are very passionate about their ideas, and that’s great….you have freedom to think! I have the freedom to think and we have the freedom to disagree!!!!

  • Tania

    Dear Annie! Your story is brilliant in how accessibly and simply it tells the stinging truth about our complex and troubled world! And yet, at the same time, you are also able to point in the direction of solutions and optimism.

    It was shocking to read some of the comments here, however, regarding the “global warming all being a lie” or regarding “true but still bias” and other horribles along those lines. Reading some of these made me feel like I live in the dark ages, where stoning is the norm and evil witches lurk around in the night, while the act of thinking is an illicit activity.

    And, indeed, who ever said that the government we elected (perhaps we did this time around? What about in 2000?) should protect US? US?!! — Isn’t its REAL job to enslave, exploit, and brainwash the sheeple. ooops, sorry, I mean the people for the benefit of the super-rich? If this weren’t the case, why would the people in the wealthiest country on Earth end up with the least vacation time of all industrialized nations, the least holidays, millions without health-insurance, non-existent or unaffordable and low-quality child-care, overwhelming monstrous debt-burden, unaffordable college-level education, horrible quality of K-12 education, and something like a quarter of all U.S. children dependent on food-stamps for nutrition?

    Also, and not surprisingly at all: while billions of our tax dollars are being poured away to the very Wall-Street thugs who robbed us of our life-savings — no money is coming our way, AND we are out of work. And the credit-card companies are allowed to charge us 29% interest rate!!

    Judging by some comments on this blog, few people are able to THINK these days, let alone think CRITICALLY and INDEPENDENTLY. What a job this clever system did on most of us! Our brains seem to have entirely atrophied on the meth, and the GMO hormone & pesticide-laden food we eat, fried by all the TV watching and endless shopping for meaningless junk.

    Your film made me hopeful, however, because it turns out that there ARE, still thinking and talented people like yourself, who deeply CARE and who have the courage and the skill to tell the truth (risking being crucified or eaten alive by some). And the FIVE million views of your film prove that there ARE still people interested in learning and in hearing the truth and, possibly doing something about it. Thank you for making this film, not afraid of subjecting yourself to the assaults and the insults from those who hate the truth.

  • Jeff

    Just watched the video in a college level zoology class yesterday. I found it disturbing that the students around me didn’t seem immediaely to recognize the blatant lies, propaganda, and distortion emanating from the video.

    This entire production is reminiscent of creationist anti-science propaganda. It uses the same types of half-truths and unrepentant lying, relying upon the audience’s ignorance and laziness.

    Does anyone care about critical thinking? Or ethical arguing?

    Poor form. Touch right.

  • Linda in NYC

    In the interest of promoting discussion of a critical topic in a class of young minds, and to forestall any hint of bias in the presentation, it is imperative to spell-out both sides of the issue. Perhaps there would have been less conflict had the students been exposed to a video explaining economics and the workings of free enterprise (incorporating, of course, the same intensity-level as Story of Stuff).

    Ms. Kennedy was probably unaware that her well-intentioned lesson would be seen as one-sided and controversial and is probably nonplussed by the resulting conflict. After all, who could oppose preserving the earth?

  • I Meier

    What is amazing to me is that the so called consumerism pays Miss Leonards bills.. how many of these amazing organizations come from poor nations..Where do they get their support? Do they live on air.. and I would wonder if she lives in a tent or in the woods and lives off the land in order to further her anti life agenda.. because that is what this is about.. in order to save the earth we need to decrease the population because humans are the cause of all the environmental damage perpetrated against the earth.. right..I would venture to say her living comes from taxpayer dollars which came from this evil of producing goods and services or from tax free foundations who also get their $ from the evils of producing all this stuff.. so the irony is that she would not be able to push this agenda without the help of the system that produced this stuff. Not too many environmentalists around during the depression.. probably because they were a little more concerned with food on the table and a roof over their heads.. Ironic isn’t is.. the very fact of our prosperity resulting from making alot of stuff has given these people the ability to promote their anti prosperity message..

  • Ike

    Story of Bunk.
    Nothing like a bit of good old horse puckey. Lets tell all the young kids out there that being less prosperous is a better alternative to moving backwards. Don’t you realize that the poor underdeveloped countries like China and India are creating greater levels of pollution because they ARE POOR! Wealth enables business to spend large amounts of resources they could clearly spend differently to minimize environmental effects of production? What dope liberal school did you get your economics degrees? Nothing like watching liberals lie and ignore the truth. Nice try, dopes. Sell this crap to your own kids and buy them horses instead of cars.

  • http://www.michaeljanzen.com Michael Janzen

    It is baffling that anyone would call The Story of Stuff propaganda. I sent my letter earlier this morning, here’s a copy:
    ——
    Hello,

    The evidence is overwhelming and pollution and the economy are not partisan issues. No matter what personal or political beliefs each of us holds dear we’re forced to face these challenges together. We’re stronger together.

    Humanity is consuming natural resources at an increasingly rate. Waste of all kinds is being produced at alarming rates. Pollution is spiraling out of control around the globe as nations require more energy and consume more natural resources to produce more consumer goods. But lets not focus on mother nature for a minute and instead turn to the immediate impact on humanity.

    The economic meltdown was triggered by an over-extension of credit at every level. The abundance of credit fueled an artificial increase in the economy, like air filling a balloon. When the balloon popped, banks stopped lending money and corporations began to fail because the margin they had built their business on had disappeared. This collapse triggered repercussions throughout our economy. But all this should go without saying, we all know what happened.

    The underlying problem seems to be that the American dream has shifted from real freedom to one built on visible material wealth. Borrowing money has become the norm. Mortgages, auto loans, and credit debt seem perfectly natural today and it’s almost unheard of that someone actually owns their home and is debt free. Over consumption has destroyed freedom through its reliance on debt. The majority essentially live an existence of voluntary indentured servitude simply because there’s no obvious alternative.

    The Story of Stuff tells this story and quite clearly shows how consuming at an unsustainable level steals our freedom. The film is not about eliminating commerce but simply encourages us to do a better job of living within our personal and planetary means. By labeling The Story of Stuff propaganda and banning it from your school you are in effect condemning your students to a life of debt, not to mention a world filled with trash and a future full of trouble.

    Please reverse your decision and give your students a chance. The Story of Stuff is not propaganda. It is a lesson in protecting freedom and our future.

    Regards,
    Michael Janzen

  • Pingback: My letter to those who banned The Story of Stuff : Michael Janzen

  • Aaron

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It’s ingenius to package this in a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis.

    P.S. Thanks Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

  • Aaron

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It’s ingenius to package this in a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis.

    P.S. Thanks Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

  • Aaron

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It is ingenius to package this in a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis.

    P.S. Thank you Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

  • Aaron

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It is very ingenius to package this in a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis.

    P.S. Thanks to Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

  • Aaron

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It’s ingenius to package this in a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis. Disgusting.

    P.S. Thank you Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

  • http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html Aaron

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It’s ingenius to package all of this into a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis.

    P.S. Thanks Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

  • http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html Aaron

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It’s ingenius to package this in a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis.

    P.S. Thanks to Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. Very well done. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

  • http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html Aaron

    Why not one more time!!

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It’s ingenius to package this in a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis.

    P.S. Thanks Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

  • http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html Aaron

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It’s ingenius to package this in a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis.

    P.S. Thanks Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

    Check it out yourselves.

  • http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html Aaron

    Just doing what libs and environazis do to other sites that they disagree with. Roundabout being fair play and all.

    I mailed the school board a very strongly worded email and CONGRATULATED THEM!! This is blatant propaganda where the facts are skewed just enough to sound true and reasonable, but are actually wrong and way off!

    It’s ingenius to package this in a cute little movie and try to brainwash our children into going home and arguing with reasonable AND CONSUMING parents and becoming little environazis.

    P.S. Thanks Fox News for debunking some of the garbage in this garbage about garbage…lol. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520207,00.html

  • Patrick Chisholm

    I sent the following letter to the Missoula school board:

    Dear Sir/Madam:

    Hi. I recommend that you not show the Story of Stuff because of its one-sidedness and most importantly, its factual inaccuracies. Among them: that 50 percent of our tax dollars go to the military. The figure is actually 20 percent. You can verify that here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals/ See “Table Table 6.1—Composition of Outlays: 1940–2014″, at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2010/assets/hist06z1.xls Go to the section for “As a Percentage of Outlays” and you can see that for 2008, spending for National Defense is 20.7 percent. Many decades ago that percentage was in the neighborhood of 50 percent, but now it’s way down. (The majority of our tax dollars go toward entitlement programs.)

    There are many additional inaccuracies in the presentation as well, as reported elsewhere. On a broader scale, though, Ms. Leonard’s main argument seems to be that citizens of the United States should produce and consume far fewer goods and services. But consider the main factor that differentiates the United States and other developed countries from third world countries: the amount of goods and services per person.

    If we produced and consumed, say, one-quarter the amount of goods and services than we currently do, we’d be a third world country — equivalent to the standard of living of Panama (as measured by GDP per person).

    Also looking at the broader picture, you have to take into account population growth. At more than 6 billion, the number of humans on Earth is unprecedented. Providing for all of them requires extracting, modifying and distributing the Earth’s resources on a mass scale. And what are the social units that do the extracting, modifying, and distributing? Companies/corporations. Without them, there would be a mass die-off of the population.

    I offer this challenge to Ms. Leonard and like-minded people: Why don’t they simply quit using the products of corporations? Not feasible? Sure it is. The Amish do it. Simply find some good land to farm and livestock to raise, give up all modern conveniences and equipment (at least those manufactured by corporations), and use a horse and buggy to get around.

    Of course, forgoing all corporation-supplied products would mean committing to a life of poverty.

    So let that be a lesson. Were it not for corporations (and capitalism), almost everyone everywhere would be living in poverty. Many would starve.

    Perspectives such as these should be given along side of the Story of Stuff. And I only scratched the surface. There’s a lot more in the video that needs rectifying. (Perhaps when I have more time, I’ll tackle that, too.)

    Sincerely,

    Patrick Chisholm

    (My background: One-time writer/editor, now videographer.)

  • http://monpetitminiscule.blogspot.com/ Chris

    It’s too bad that this short film/video is so overtly political in nature. this is such an important subject matter and requires every Americans immediate attention.

    The first “Wow – oh no” moment for me was at 1:42 – 2:08. The immediate demonizing of the “government” and the “military”. I could not disagree with Annie Leonard more regarding the “job” of the government. She says it is their job to “take care of us” ” to watch out for us”. I reject this socialistic perspective. I do not want my government taking care of me. I can take care of my self just fine thank you. Now I do want and expect my government and my military to proctect me. There is a big difference between the 2 – socialism.

    I think that Annie Leonard’s video/film has a fair amount of interesting and useful information but because of her overt socialist politics I am unable to share this video with others. I just cannot perpetuate this level of manipulation. Maybe someone will come out with less partisan materials with an objective and helpful perspective in a nice little package such as this.

  • Economist

    you might as well be peeing on adam smith’s grave

  • Rob in MN

    Maurika has great points. I think it would be best to show The Story of Stuff followed by an excellent critique, such as presented here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5uJgG05xUY . This would surely provide for good educated discussion.

  • Steven L.

    It is totally inappropriate to be discussing political economy in a science classroom.

    I wouldn’t have let my teachers get away with it.

    “The Story of Stuff” is not a scientific documentary, but a documentary that is attempting to critique the American economy. That belongs in an economics classroom.

    In any case, there ought to be some attempt to balance the point of view in “The Story of Stuff” with some alternative or opposing points of view.

    You may not believe this,
    but some of us are still not Leftists in America.

    I am extremely proud of America, its free market economy, AND its military.

    Even though you, evidently, are not.

    And I would like MY point of view to be represented to America’s young as well.

  • Andy

    I’ve seen this several times now. I really enjoy it. It sums up a lot of truths, which, having studied it for over 10 years myself, know that nearly all the story presented, actually has a basis in fact. Unfortunately, people are so caught up in the lies of capitalist mass consumption society, that they can no longer see the woods from the trees. Anything that even dares to critique the status quo, the golden arrow, will create a huge denial by many people. People, such as those above. People who are on the treadmill. People who can’t seem to understand a work/life balance because they spend all their spare time watching TV or shopping at the mall, whilst their parents sit lonely in a nursing home. Their children probably also spend half their lives in daycare centres, so that their parents can both work to buy more stuff…If these same self-deniers stopped consuming by even half of what they consume and instead spent that extra time not earning, but learning and dealing with what’s important in life. We’d all be much happier and we might even have a planet left in a few generations too. Now..wouldn’t that be something?

  • Mike

    This video is propaganda. I was shown this kind of thing in my 5th grade class in 1993. It was a video explaining the ill affects of logging and tuna.

    After the video, the presenter proceeded to encourage the students (11 year old children) to boycott non recycled paper and non dolphin safe tuna. We were instructed to tell our parents the news.

    This kind of environmentalism is the luxury of the rich. I am in favor of recycling when it makes economic sense. Economic feasibility is a good indicator of whether or not resources are being properly used. For example, recycling plastic consumes more energy than throwing it away. Buy a shiny new hybrid has a more negative environmental impact than continuing to drive a sedan which might get 5 or 10 fewer miles per gallon. I can’t wait for the collective face-palm when the hybrid batteries begin to expire.

    Environmentalism and capitalism are not enemies, as this video depicts. Capitalism without government protections would be inherently conservationist. Saving energy and resources is saving money. Business and industry love money.

    The critiques of consumer culture in this video place blame on business. Claiming they have brainwashed everyone into buying things they don’t need. The responsibility sits with the consumer. The “people” are responsible for the behavior of business. Business caters to desire, it is their function.

    This video attempts what many religions attempt; to influence young and uncritical minds.

    If it works, perhaps their consumption habits will change, and that would be wonderful. People voting with their dollars. Supporting industry which goes out of its way to reduce environmental impact by paying more of their hard earned money for the luxury.

    The video gave preposterous responsibility to government. This is socialist propaganda.

  • Mike

    Oh I almost forgot. The reason for computer obsolescence put forward is laughable. It really sheds light on the lacking depth of research put into this video.

    I think the culprit was supposed to be the processor. If only we switched our processors, we could use the same machine for decades with ever increasing performance.

    Please go ask a computer engineer about this.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_engineering

    After they finish laughing at you, they might be kind enough to explain how complex computer systems are and how many different systems have changed/improved over time.

  • Steve

    The video is informative and entertaining. Its certainly worth a watch with a grain of salt sitting next to you. Lets take some of the films advice and recycle the film. This time use a far left filter to remove all the politically motivated, half truth, cheap shots. When you couch a great message with this far far left stuff, you turn off many people, cloud the message and as seen above, flat out turn people against you. Try it in your head, blank out the military comments (which is statistically inaccurate, remove the government philosophy stuff and soften the evil industry by showing that some companies are making in roads to making the linear production more circular. (oh, and we should support this kind of thing with our “golden arrow”)

    $0.02 worth. (well I suppose my computer used half of that in energy cost while I typed)

  • Nick Smyth

    Congrats to the school board. I would be the angry parent at my kids school if this ridiculous video was shown to my kids!

  • Elaine Marie

    This info is distorded. The government hid the report on global warming!

  • kris hangley

    Bravo to Annie Leonard for taking the guts to create this movie. There will always be hatred for change and ignorance to knew innovations, but I applaud all those who strive not to be perfect, but strive to improve. Even if not all the data is 100% correct (which the majority of the information is vetted and valid), it wouldn’t be the first time incorrect data made it into a classroom. Teachers are there to present all theories and encourage critical analysis. Annie, please be encouraged that this message is causing people to think about their future. Thank you for creating this film and please don’t be discouraged by the closed minds of the world. You are a true leader going against the grain.

  • http://lechfk.ru ??????

    ??… ??????? ?????????? ?????? ??????. (? ??????? ? ??? ???-?????? – ??? ???????) :)

  • http://Hallidayadam@ymail.com Adam

    Why would anyone be angry at a school board, none the less a teacher for showing a video concerning the problems of the stability of our existence not to mention our planet as a whole?

  • http://Hallidayadam@ymail.com Adam

    Why would anyone be angry at a school board, none the less a teacher for showing a video concerning the problems of the stability of our existence not to mention our planet as a whole?

    I believe that environmental sustainability should be a primary subject instructed to students anywhere on the planet. Why would anyone NOT at least want their own kids, who will most likely be living to see further progression of the problems prior to the ugly predicament ahead, to see a 20 minute presentation of ways to SAVE humanity? What kind of issues are more important…the anatomy of a fetal pig? It’s SCIENCE people chill out.. Let your kids learn a thing or two about the place we live in.

    Congratulations to any teacher who has or will show this video to their class in the future.

  • Christ0pher

    Nick,

    I’d have been right next to ya, buddy.

    Surprise, this is another offering by the helping hands of the Tides Foundation, among others. Thanks again for the propaganda folks!! Did you get a grant from the NEA for this one? I sure hope we, the tax payers, funded this.

  • Barb

    I sent the school board a congratulatory email for banning this nonsense from our schools. The results of this kind of “education” are in! And they are not a bit good. I hope every single school board in the country will ban it. Protect out children from this indoctrination! Absolute nonsense!

  • Dante

    What a bunch of anti-American, liberal bunk.

  • Jon Woodrum

    My letter to the school board.

    Dear Trustees,
    You were correct to ban this film, it is the most intellectually dishonest piece of propaganda I have ever watched. It is fine to have other views, however it is not ok to be dishonest. This is not what we want to teach our children.

    Respectfully,

  • Gifford

    Just saw the video for the first time. I will ask my children if they were forced to watch this anti-US propaganda at their school. Political correctness has become such a cottage industry and is so full of misrepresentations and hypocrisy. That is what the problem with the Story of Stuff is. It propogandizes and demonizes the U.S. and American corporations unnecessarily. It is ignorant at best.

  • William Horace

  • Pingback: Should this be shown in public schools: The Story of Stuff - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum

  • Bmomma

    I’m absolutely appalled at this video. Thankfully my children will not be subjected to this bit of liberal propaganda. This could have been done in a much more responsible manner and without political slant, but that would be defeating the true purpose of the video…creating little socialists. I hope more parents with “too time on their hands” research this video and take their concerns to their school boards.

  • Bmomma

    “Also looking at the broader picture, you have to take into account population growth. At more than 6 billion, the number of humans on Earth is unprecedented. Providing for all of them requires extracting, modifying and distributing the Earth’s resources on a mass scale. And what are the social units that do the extracting, modifying, and distributing? Companies/corporations. Without them, there would be a mass die-off of the population.”

    Unfortunately, Patrick, this is exactly what some of our leaders and elitist want to happen. They absolutely believe in depopulation and are using the environment as way to achieve their goals.

  • Peebaggers are Healthcare idiots

    Get real, this video is liberal nonesense.. I’m starting to get really sick of you libs messing with everything in this country, you start messing with our kids minds, you’re going to have serious problems.

  • http://www.scrappleface.com paul revere

    This is propaghanda and anti-American, and people should be complaining and against this being shown in schools.

  • Kenny

    Doesn’t all the outright lies in the video prove the liberals are wrong? Capitalism and freemarkets built the greatest country the world has ever seen. Big govt is the absolute most wasteful entity ever developed.

  • Brian Connaghan

    Although Ms. Leonard as a point that recycling is important, many of her so called facts are actually false. There will be a time when everything will be recyclable and will be recycled, but it will be businesses that will develop all the technology to do this. Any government involvement would only damage the progress we have achieved so far.

    I am reminded at this time of an old poem by Nipsey Russell, refering to pro and con being opposites. He asks us to think about that if progress means to move forward, what DOES congress mean?

    Strange thing. It always turns out that when a government becomes involved or controls a countries resources or businesses, it does cause that country into a depression and a technological malaise. It is only with the help of others that that country may revive.

    As for her video, it is not wise for it to be presented to anyone in its present form. I wrote to the school board that was mentioned on this site and thanked them for removing this video. I wrote to my child’s school district asking them not to show it either. I can tell that by the way Ms. Leonard speaks and by its layout and design that this video has been made for school and adolescent comsumption. Which is why we find it on Youtube.

  • Len Adams

    I see there are some Beck-heads posting comments, I’m hoping some of them will post some actual critique instead of just calling the film anti-american. I think all of us buy stuff and throw stuff away, which I thought was one of the main points of the film, but maybe Beck-heads recycle?

  • VotersOfNY

    Good. We’ll be the ones to brainwash our kids, not you. There’s too much controversy about this so why even do it? yeah, we know, you think we’re degrading the planet. great, some of us don’t Just because YOU believe in that doesn’t mean you can indoctrinate our children. Go write a book or magazine article, stand on a corner, who cares, but stop forcing your beliefs on our kids thank you. NO VIDEOS. Teach them how to count and read, PERIOD.

  • NHred

    why should I in NH get involved in any way, shape, or form in a local school issue 2000 miles away? I don’t want people out of my school district telling us what to and not to do.

  • Justme

    I’m sure I get blasted or my post will get deleted here but I have to say it, in theory the video would be good but they told way to many lies in it. First one, the military doesn’t get 50% of the federal budget, it’s more like 20%. Second, the fire retardent is a fedral mandate not a company mandate. The 4% forest thing is a lie, as we have more forest than we did 50yrs ago not to mention the loggers have to replant what they cut. I could go on, but the fact is this video was far from actual truth. That’s why alot of people are upset. We don’t like lies, and frankly people are fed up with it. Adminstration after adminstration. This isn’t about democrates or replublicans, one being better than the other, it’s about both trying to dumb down the education system. If you can’t see that god help you

  • Anonymous

    Annie,
    Many of your arguments are fundamentally flawed. Flawed facts have no place being taught as truth in the classroom and that is the reason why this video does not belong in the classroom.

    As a chemist, I believe that it is things like this that make people very paranoid about the modern developments being made in chemistry and science that can actually help people by improving health, safety, and quality of life. It is difficult to approach people about the good that chemistry can do for them when their worldview is shaped by such flawed thinking and facts.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5uJgG05xUY&feature=player_embedded
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZzHU3ZfTtY&feature=player_embedded
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgLrZc7cws8&feature=player_embedded
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XeW5ilk-9Y&feature=player_embedded

    That being said, I don’t entirely think that this video is 100% false. I actually agree that things are being produced in ways today that make them fall apart sooner leading us to buy more. If I had a dollar for every time my grandparents said “They don’t make these like they used to.” I would be rich! But in a free society (which thank God we are), we have the choice to buy things for quality. This is something I do regularly because it makes financial sense. I save money that way.

    I agree that we are blitzed by adds urging us to buy new stuff all the time but we have a choice. I regularly chose not to buy the newest/hottest/top of the line widget to replace the same functioning widget I already have. I would be broke if I did that. Some of this video makes you (and you assume) everyone out be brainless slaves to advertising.

    This video also makes it seem like you are pretty insecure about your computer and belongings when working next to your friend with the flat-screen monitor. Annie, is the problem with the “system” that it is “destroying the planet” or that you are jealous of the others out there who may have nicer stuff than you?

    You might also want to consider what this “system” has provided to you in this society; the cloths you are wearing, the video camera and audio equipment used to film this, the immunizations and medicines that keep you healthy and even the cash donations to the TIDES foundation that helped produce this.

  • Firecop

    This attempt to indoctrinate children is just a bunch of ignorance. Next it will be kids singing Obama songs and waving Aks over their heads as part of the recruitment for ‘civilian security’ forces. The creaters of this propoganda studied at Gerbils Institute. Annie are you that deluded or are you trying to secure a $$ place in the socialist Administration of change movement?

  • Firecop

    Awaiting moderation. I like that. Just like Germany 1938. You’re pathetic….

  • Jonathan

    I want to thank the Missoula School Board for having the common sense to ban this film that is so full of errors. I am very proud to have grown up in Missoula Montana!!!!

  • Alejo Vada

    This is a copy of a letter I sent to the Missoula School Board:

    I am for freedom of expression

    Please rescind your ban regarding the educational video “The Story of Stuff.” Don’t act like “big brother” censoring the educational material our children have access to.

    I have had the opportunity of watching the video and I believe that it has educational value and that it is thought provoking. Even thought the video may have some factual errors, it reminds us that the function of the economic system is to serve the needs of humans, not the opposite. It also forces us to reflect on the fact that human beings are an integral part of the environment and that we are totally dependent on Earth for our survival. As an American Indian proverb stated long ago, “Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.”

    The video question the spiritually empty materialistic values that many nations, including the United States, have embraced. There are those who claim the video is a socialist assault on capitalism. I must remind those critics that Communist nations are among the worse violators of the environment. Let’s not forget that the Soviet Union’s economic policies created the Aral Sea ecological disaster that continues to affect the livelihood, health, and well being of the population resident in the area. Who does not remember about the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in Ukraine? Also, there are the ecological disasters brought on by the present communist dictatorship in China and our dependency on cheap imported Chinese goods. There are Chinese citizens dying of throat cancer due to their drinking chemically laden contaminated water. There are many Chinese cities whose air is heavily contaminated with the pollution from factories and whose citizens suffer the ill effects of breathing the air.

    The situation is made more difficult for the citizens of those countries because in a Communist country there is no freedom of expression. There is no free press to question the policies of the government. No freedom of dissent. I hope the Missoula Board of Education does not imitate those policies that are prevalent on Communist regimes.

    Alejo V. Vada, Ph.D.

  • joe jacovino

    Geez, how am I ever gonna get Goin’ to Montana Soon and Become a Dental Floss Tycoon if they keep allowing the Story of Stuff to be shown to kids in Missoula ? Frank(Zappa)ly i don’t see how it will happen lol

  • Brian

    I’m glad the school is listening to parents and not the Tides organization.

  • http://learntosingathome.blogspot.com jazz singing lessons

    Have you ever considered adding more videos to your blog posts to keep the readers more entertained? I mean I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good but since I’m more of a visual learner

  • http://www.texcigars.com/Cigars/Oliva/ Oliva Cigars

    How outrageous! I hope this has since been overturned, because there are lot less reputable sites and information sources that are allowed and available! This seems harmless!
    -Sylvia

  • Leo

    I think that the school should not have banned the video. It was a very informative(Big Word!)

  • Michael

    Leo, this video is blantantly wrong not only does it just show one side of an issue but it presents wrong facts such as how it states the military make up 50% of the budget when it only makes up 20%. OR how forests in the US have actually grown since the early 1900s. If anything this video should only be shown in college classes where students have the critical thinking ability to form their own opinion otherwise this is indoctrination.