Leonar Leonard: The Story Of Stuff By Annie Leonard

Cameron Klatt The Story of Stuff The United States is currently home to three percent of the world’s population, but is responsible for approximately thirty percent of the world’s resource consumption. This disproportionate amount of consumption is the result of the very comfortable way of American life. Although this way of life is conducive to well-being, it also yields many unnoticed externalized costs. “The Story of Stuff” is a website and movement that was created in 2007 by Annie Leonard. During her debut YouTube video that went viral, Leonard fully exposed the faults of the United States’ system of consumption and disposal. A few of the topics Leonard explored thoroughly include: the consumption habits of Americans, the planned and perceived obsolescence of products, and the role that media plays in stimulating buyers.

Not teachers, mothers, or farmers, but consumers,”(“Story Of Stuff”). According to her, the system began to unwind following the attacks on September 11th, 2001, when President George Bush encouraged spending on all fronts to stimulate the American economy. Today, the average American disposes of 4.38 pounds of garbage per day, while in 1968 that average was 2.68 pounds (EPA). This increase in the amount of garbage produced is the result of the increased consumption rates that have taken place during the past fifty years. Although there are many different factors that have played a role in the development of our current consumption giant, the utilization of planned and perceived obsolescence by manufacturers has contributed