Thank you so much Ms. Leonard for educating us on these vitally important issues that play a very large role in our daily lives. I discovered your original Story of Stuff video online about a year and a half ago, shortly after I had done some globe trotting to a developing nation myself, and I was truly inspired by your passion. I love that you really dissect the cultural, environmental, economic, political and even psychological factors that all play a part in consumerism in our society. Thank you for coming back to the United States to teach us about how we can be better global citizens in in this world of complex global systems. Thank you also for showing how living more simply benefits EVERYBODY: living simply benefits the INDIVIDUAL and SOCIETY. While political parties on both sides of the spectrum support only personal or social responsibility as the magic bullet for saving the world, I think personal and social responsibility are BOTH key in mending the brokenness of our nation. You describe how the processing of stuff causes environmental degradation and social injustices…but maybe if we were able to hark back to what our ancestors experienced, I think our economy would be a lot more stable at the community and national level, and eventually the international level. If we were able to simply reuse the stuff that was already in use, but have our economy based off how individuals and businesses within society could use their skills to refashion the materials, I think our nation’s economy would be much better off. I know that having products made fairly and carefully by individuals would be more expensive, but I think it makes sense. I think people must learn to accept when they have enough especially when so many other unseen people get hurt in the process of making stuff. My family and i already try to live simply and find that it gives us much more time to spend with each other, and in the end we feel much more happy, successful and alive! A sustainable system would help so many people who want to live the American dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, because it refashions how we achieve this for ourselves without depriving it it from others. Individuals and their businesses would benefit, society would benefit, and our planet could stay a healthy place for future generations to grow up in. This world is made up of so many individual people with their own needs and life desires, but they also have, by being born, been placed within global systems that greatly affect their chances of how much this world will entitle them to. Thank you for recognizing how the individual and society must work together to accomplish all of the challenges you have brought to light. And thank you very, very much for bringing this non-partisan issue to center stage! A sustainable system of living is a precious investment in the world that our children will inherit from us.

Oasis Charitable Trust (OCT) is a not for profit organization based at Delhi India, with a commendable service of over four years in enabling self reliance for the poor and downtrodden and promoting socio-cultural values of its clientele from different parts of the country. Over a period of four years, the Trust has critically impacted the lives of around 3000 families from three states. The chief beneficiaries of the Trust are the ultra poor people living in very abysmal conditions. Our services in the forms of Education, Community Health, SHG & Micro Finance are reaching out to the underprivileged people of 5 underdeveloped colonies in Delhi and 5 most backward villages each in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Our SHG & Micro Finance Program has become the lifeline of all these target areas.

We would like to submit this proposal for your kind perusal. We also submit a brief summary about our organization along with this proposal. We would like to foster a strong partnership with your esteemed organization, in our mission to serve the disadvantaged masses. We request you approve this proposal and provide us an opportunity to join hands with you. We solicit your early response.