Transforming Cultures

Annie Leonard’s newest Story of Stuff Project video just came out—a decent critique of the electronics industry. But here’s the highlight: at one point she jokingly suggests sending all of our closeted electronic junk to the CEOs of the companies that manufactured the stuff. But joking aside, I say let’s do it! And let’s organize this effort now, so our packages arrive just in time for Christmas….

Once upon a time there was a man who discovered that he could easily steal hundreds of thousands of Euros from the kingdom and redistribute it to the poor and to those working to stop the exploitation of the land and the people. So Enric Duran took on that noble but dangerous quest, becoming an outlaw—a modern-day Robin Hood—stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor. The question is whether others will now follow in his footsteps.

Good news! The Story of Stuff Project has come out with a new video—this time targeting cosmetics. And better news: the cosmetics industry called it a biased “shockumentary,” which must mean it hit too close to home and they’re concerned it might influence the political debate. Hopefully the industry’s fears will come true and the video will help people push for better regulation on cosmetics while taking off some of the toxic products they currently smear on their bodies.

There’s a budding trend in the coffee market: coffee made from beans that have worked their way through the bowels of a civet. If unchecked, this could lead to a whole new type of factory farm, the CoCAFO. But acting now might prevent this from ever brewing….

According to The New York Times, the US oil industry is being nationalized and the profits will fund climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Wow. What an amazing day.

For such a great job selling burgers, fries and Coke to kids, Ronald McDonald deserves an early retirement. Just like Joe Camel and Spuds MacKenzie. The new Retire Ronald campaign is trying to do just that….

Have you ever wanted to introduce two friends that seem very similar and you think they’d make a good couple? I’d like to do this with two films I saw recently. So Avatar meet Crude, Crude meet Avatar. I expect an invitation to the wedding.

A battle is being waged over how we wipe our behinds. Who will win?