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The Story of Stuff

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:13 pm
by }TCP{Coco
Hi!

On this webpage, you'll find a video running 20 minutes and 40 seconds of which I honestly believe that everybody should watch it completely - from the beginning till the end. You may probably know some of the things said there, especially in the beginning, but it's mindchanging to see how all of these work together. You should really take the time!

Coco.

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:55 pm
by SLAPHEAD
It stopped running after 4mins!
Anyway,tell me something that I do not already know.
Remember that long after the human race has gone,
this lump of rock will still be around!

Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:01 pm
by Hyper
Nice explanation there. Especially the illustration of the processor thingie is very nice, although it does not tell the full truth.

And the system is not limited to the US, Western Europe is going the same way, on a slightly lower scale.

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:58 am
by the_kay
I didn't watch the whole video (but most of it). In my opinion it's mostly sensationalism. There are very vague facts (like that x% of all natural resources are already consumed. Question: What does count as natural resource? Stone? Or only Oil?) or simply wrong parts (like that computers only differ in a small part with the year on it. This is not true, there is a real difference between a new computer and one that is already some years old).

Although I agree more or less with the message, I don't like the video's unscientific way.

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:02 pm
by }TCP{Ramses
The root of nearly all of earths problems is overpopulation, but politicians almost always shy away from this unpalitable but inevitable fact (population doubled in the last 30 years or so :shock: ). Until this is addressed all that the downsizing, recycling, green agendas and scientific advances can achieve is to postpone the catastophic consequences.

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:14 pm
by }TCP{Snowbird
I have to say BINGO, mr. Ramses. It is an easy calculation. Every 2 yr old can do it. The more people there are, the more that they need, (oil, food, garbage, ect.). I hear all the time, and since I was a kid that there are kids in Africa and in the middle east and well all over, that are starveing. I only have one question. I am now over 40, and those kids that were my age back then, had support and food and all, from outsiders, like my father. It was not enough, naturally. But did those kids learn since then? I believe that none of us have learned from our past mistakes, and so they would have not either. They are still making babies, and those kids are now on tv and trying to get fed. OMG!!! Just stop the baby boom that has been going on since thousands of years, and then we have a solution for our problems with the earth.

Oh, BTW, I have not seen the film yet, and was going to ask if it "one of those films, where you have to watch it to the end, and when you do, you only have "7 Days" to live"? :D

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:44 pm
by }TCP{Ghost
Idd, tell me something I don't know..
We are all talking about changing the world but nobody is actually doing it.
So why care discussing about it, you're all gonna fire up ur care, smoke ur sigs outside, throw away your garbage on street etc.

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:15 pm
by }TCP{Wolf
*nevermind*

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:16 am
by }TCP{Snowbird
Well, I only had one kid!!! :P

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:22 pm
by }TCP{Coco
Hi!

Well, we can't change it all at once. Overpopulation is a serious problem, indeed, but we can't do much about it, can we? These people are there right now and even if they stop reproducing, they're to many already. And besides this, I guess none of us has the power to tell other people not to have children (or just one child or whatever).

But didn't you get the message of the video? It's at the end (which, regarding to your posts, most of you didn't watch): Don't consume that much without thinking about it. Advertisements tell us to buy this and that, although we don't really need it. They just make us think "black earplugs aren't cool anymore - cool people use white ones like those from the ipod" and people are going to get themselves new earplugs. The same counts for clothes, computers, mobiles, etc. And Ghost, this is something each of us can take care about very personally. Please don't say nobody's doing anything, because this thinking is what took us here. It won't solve all the problems, of course, but it is a first step...

Coco.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:23 pm
by }TCP{Ramses
I agree Coco every little helps :) .

But Governments can do something to curb the population increase ... educate people on family planning, point to the economic and other advantages that children in small families have and provide incentives that limit rather than encourage big families. India definitely took a step too far a long time ago with a forced sterilisation policy but other things can be done. China has long had a policy of reducing state benefits and introducing sanctions after the first child for example.

If nothing is done on population increase then both mother and human nature will do the job for us with famine, wars for resources etc. Check out the barbarian incursions of the Dark Ages, the downfall of the Maya or the fate of the Easter Islanders for examples of what may happen.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:47 pm
by }TCP{Snowbird
No man, I have not had time to watch the Vid yet. Am concentrating on getting the machine back up running. I will look at it in the near future.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:52 pm
by }TCP{Coco
Hi!

You're right, Ramses, exactly my opinion. But in fact, each of us can really do very little to make the government act like this. It would require great personal efforts and political engagement to achieve this. And even if you succeed, it is a completely different task to make all all governments around the globe act appropriately. Just watch the USA who still refuse to sign the treaty (or protocol? Sorry, don't know what it's called in English) of Kyoto for climate protection. Just because of the disadvantages for their economy. They rather choose to die from natural catastrohpes than to make some less money... How dull can they be? The costs for health services and restoration of infrastructure are far higher than those to avoid the worst consequences. The only thing the US government fears is that their asses are not being voted into the white house again if they take action. And the worst thing of all (which really makes me angry) is that not just they have to suffer from their own ignorance, but all of us!

Coco.

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:04 pm
by }TCP{Ramses
Party politics are the generally same everywhere :lol: .

I think the USA Govt is coming around to the world view though, slowly but surely, they don't have an option not to. I think Mr Bush just signed a law to make their cars more efficient, and didn't they just sign the latest green protocol in Indonesia or somewhere (not sure) ? even if it was a watered down version it is a start :) .

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:29 pm
by Pitbull
}TCP{Ramses wrote:Party politics are the generally same everywhere :lol: .

I think the USA Govt is coming around to the world view though, slowly but surely, they don't have an option not to. I think Mr Bush just signed a law to make their cars more efficient, and didn't they just sign the latest green protocol in Indonesia or somewhere (not sure) ? even if it was a watered down version it is a start :) .
Well being an American myself I would argue about our govt. If the govt is doing anything it is because somewhere someone is making some money. The people though for the most part are starting to see the light. We still have a long way to go.