Thursday 8 December 2011

The Story of Stuff - listening and discussion (Advanced)




1.Watch the following video, and don`t forget to take notes:



2.After watching the video, talk in pairs about what you have learnt, and complete your notes.


3. Annie used some big words in the movie, like “materials throughput” and “perceived obsolescence”. In pairs, using the Internet, come up with a definition of the words below:


  • Perceived obsolescence
  • Planned obsolescence
  • Materials throughput
  • Synergistic impacts
  • Externalized costs
  • Points of intervention


Then discuss in small groups: what does each term mean to you, and how have you experienced it in your own life? 


4. Annie says “recycling doesn’t get to the core of the problem.” Why not? Discuss in groups. 


5. Annie says that an important thing missing from the conventional textbook story of the materials economy is people. 


  • 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? 


6. Homework. Write a short essay on the following topic: What options do you have to change the system to support sustainability and justice?


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