Annie Leonard’s video “The Story of Stuff,” was the single strongest influence on me during my first year on The Compact (I’m almost halfway through my second already).
So I was happy to see her on The Colbert Report and learn that she’d written a book of the same name. The idea that we should all be aware of where our stuff comes from and try to move toward a more sustainable model for the future seems like common sense to me. But of course, it’s a big threat to those who have a lot invested in our endless pursuit of buying more and more cheaply made throwaway products. And it turns out what she’s doing is much more subversive than it appears at first glance.
She’s an author, environmental activist, sustainability expert, and consumerist critic. And now her critics are calling her a lot of other things. Check out this article from the Denver Post about Leonard, called “Crusading for Mindful Consumption,” and let us know what you think in the Comments section. Is she a positive force or a dangerous radical whose ideas would cause our economy to crater?
And if you haven’t watched “The Story of Stuff,” you can watch it here. And click here to see her on The Colbert Nation if you want a laugh with your news.
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