Story of Stuff

Answer the following questions with details:

Annie says the U.S. has 5% of the world’s population but uses 30% of the resources and makes 30% of the waste, and that this is, well, a problem.

In what ways has the U.S. economy, government and companies encouraged and influenced people to buy more things? Name at least three ways.

Annie says “you can’t run a linear system on a finite planet indefinitely.” Another way to say this is you can’t have unlimited economic growth with limited resources. What does this mean for our future?

Who are the people that have the most say in how this system runs? Who are the people that are most affected by the loss of natural resources and pollution? Who are the people that work in the different parts of this system? Where are you in this system?

Do you agree that this system of mass consumption is a problem? Why or why not?