“Researching her film The Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard discovered that of the materials flowing through the consumer economy, only 1% remain in use six months after sale. Even the goods we might have expected to hold onto are soon condemned to destruction through either planned obsolescence (breaking quickly) or perceived obsolescence (becoming unfashionable).” ~ George Manbiot
Then again, as Chris Offutt wrote (featured in this Sophia’s Children post), “But human beings are not trash. We are the civilizing force on the planet.”
Or that’s the possibility, anyway, if and when we choose it and rise to it. So much more enjoyable.
Check out the rest of George Manbiot’sinsightful post (and his inspired suggestions for more meaningful gift-giving) – click-click here.
Related Sophia’s Children musings on gratitude, mindful consumption, and making a good life from what you have — click-click here.
Spirit of the Night, 1879 by John Atkinson Grimshaw. PD via Wikimedia.
Plus … inspiration-season preview as a healing-counterpart to hyper-consumption and the resulting agida, stress, and burnout (why start a new year that way?):
Jamie is an inspiration partner and lantern-holder for her fellow transformation leaders, change catalysts, and creative nonconformists who are living, inspiring, and (intentionally or not) leading the way in these chaotic times.
When she's not tending and stirring the Sophia's Children cauldron, she's following research trails, and serving as the Director of a Repro-Justice-oriented women's health center in her community, emphasizing in-person compassionate care.
Jamie is a long-time servant of the Muse, a writer and author, an intrepid walker and feline-tender, and is passionate about the current power and relevance of reclaiming ancestral-wisdom and tending to genea-line-healing. She has great appreciation for dark chocolate and cooking other nourishing, delicious meals -- often plant-based -- to nourish her partner and her peeps.
Thanks for visiting! Wishing you well. Learn More: http://sophias-children.com
November 22, 2017 at 5:47 pm
We certainly do create a lot of useless stuff. Thanks for the post, Jamie, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
November 22, 2017 at 7:51 pm
Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Jeff!
November 23, 2017 at 8:57 pm
That’s a shocking statistic, so much waste.
November 24, 2017 at 1:19 am
I thought the same, Andrea!