Comments on: School Board bans use of Story of Stuff – please send an email! http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23 The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:08:28 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Oliva Cigars http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-13972 Oliva Cigars Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:48:09 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-13972 How outrageous! I hope this has since been overturned, because there are lot less reputable sites and information sources that are allowed and available! This seems harmless! -Sylvia How outrageous! I hope this has since been overturned, because there are lot less reputable sites and information sources that are allowed and available! This seems harmless!
-Sylvia

]]> By: jazz singing lessons http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-13713 jazz singing lessons Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:23:08 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-13713 Have you ever considered adding more videos to your blog posts to keep the readers more entertained? I mean I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good but since I'm more of a visual learner Have you ever considered adding more videos to your blog posts to keep the readers more entertained? I mean I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good but since I’m more of a visual learner

]]> By: Brian http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-12998 Brian Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:36:37 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-12998 I'm glad the school is listening to parents and not the Tides organization. I’m glad the school is listening to parents and not the Tides organization.

]]> By: joe jacovino http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-12980 joe jacovino Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:03:25 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-12980 Geez, how am I ever gonna get Goin' to Montana Soon and Become a Dental Floss Tycoon if they keep allowing the Story of Stuff to be shown to kids in Missoula ? Frank(Zappa)ly i don't see how it will happen lol Geez, how am I ever gonna get Goin’ to Montana Soon and Become a Dental Floss Tycoon if they keep allowing the Story of Stuff to be shown to kids in Missoula ? Frank(Zappa)ly i don’t see how it will happen lol

]]> By: Alejo Vada http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-12924 Alejo Vada Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:42:50 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-12924 This is a copy of a letter I sent to the Missoula School Board: I am for freedom of expression Please rescind your ban regarding the educational video "The Story of Stuff." Don't act like "big brother" censoring the educational material our children have access to. I have had the opportunity of watching the video and I believe that it has educational value and that it is thought provoking. Even thought the video may have some factual errors, it reminds us that the function of the economic system is to serve the needs of humans, not the opposite. It also forces us to reflect on the fact that human beings are an integral part of the environment and that we are totally dependent on Earth for our survival. As an American Indian proverb stated long ago, "Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children." The video question the spiritually empty materialistic values that many nations, including the United States, have embraced. There are those who claim the video is a socialist assault on capitalism. I must remind those critics that Communist nations are among the worse violators of the environment. Let's not forget that the Soviet Union's economic policies created the Aral Sea ecological disaster that continues to affect the livelihood, health, and well being of the population resident in the area. Who does not remember about the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in Ukraine? Also, there are the ecological disasters brought on by the present communist dictatorship in China and our dependency on cheap imported Chinese goods. There are Chinese citizens dying of throat cancer due to their drinking chemically laden contaminated water. There are many Chinese cities whose air is heavily contaminated with the pollution from factories and whose citizens suffer the ill effects of breathing the air. The situation is made more difficult for the citizens of those countries because in a Communist country there is no freedom of expression. There is no free press to question the policies of the government. No freedom of dissent. I hope the Missoula Board of Education does not imitate those policies that are prevalent on Communist regimes. Alejo V. Vada, Ph.D. This is a copy of a letter I sent to the Missoula School Board:

I am for freedom of expression

Please rescind your ban regarding the educational video “The Story of Stuff.” Don’t act like “big brother” censoring the educational material our children have access to.

I have had the opportunity of watching the video and I believe that it has educational value and that it is thought provoking. Even thought the video may have some factual errors, it reminds us that the function of the economic system is to serve the needs of humans, not the opposite. It also forces us to reflect on the fact that human beings are an integral part of the environment and that we are totally dependent on Earth for our survival. As an American Indian proverb stated long ago, “Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.”

The video question the spiritually empty materialistic values that many nations, including the United States, have embraced. There are those who claim the video is a socialist assault on capitalism. I must remind those critics that Communist nations are among the worse violators of the environment. Let’s not forget that the Soviet Union’s economic policies created the Aral Sea ecological disaster that continues to affect the livelihood, health, and well being of the population resident in the area. Who does not remember about the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in Ukraine? Also, there are the ecological disasters brought on by the present communist dictatorship in China and our dependency on cheap imported Chinese goods. There are Chinese citizens dying of throat cancer due to their drinking chemically laden contaminated water. There are many Chinese cities whose air is heavily contaminated with the pollution from factories and whose citizens suffer the ill effects of breathing the air.

The situation is made more difficult for the citizens of those countries because in a Communist country there is no freedom of expression. There is no free press to question the policies of the government. No freedom of dissent. I hope the Missoula Board of Education does not imitate those policies that are prevalent on Communist regimes.

Alejo V. Vada, Ph.D.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-12875 Jonathan Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:28:57 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-12875 I want to thank the Missoula School Board for having the common sense to ban this film that is so full of errors. I am very proud to have grown up in Missoula Montana!!!! I want to thank the Missoula School Board for having the common sense to ban this film that is so full of errors. I am very proud to have grown up in Missoula Montana!!!!

]]> By: Firecop http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-12792 Firecop Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:17:17 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-12792 Awaiting moderation. I like that. Just like Germany 1938. You're pathetic.... Awaiting moderation. I like that. Just like Germany 1938. You’re pathetic….

]]> By: Firecop http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-12791 Firecop Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:15:19 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-12791 This attempt to indoctrinate children is just a bunch of ignorance. Next it will be kids singing Obama songs and waving Aks over their heads as part of the recruitment for 'civilian security' forces. The creaters of this propoganda studied at Gerbils Institute. Annie are you that deluded or are you trying to secure a $$ place in the socialist Administration of change movement? This attempt to indoctrinate children is just a bunch of ignorance. Next it will be kids singing Obama songs and waving Aks over their heads as part of the recruitment for ‘civilian security’ forces. The creaters of this propoganda studied at Gerbils Institute. Annie are you that deluded or are you trying to secure a $$ place in the socialist Administration of change movement?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-12767 Anonymous Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:52:59 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-12767 Annie, Many of your arguments are fundamentally flawed. Flawed facts have no place being taught as truth in the classroom and that is the reason why this video does not belong in the classroom. As a chemist, I believe that it is things like this that make people very paranoid about the modern developments being made in chemistry and science that can actually help people by improving health, safety, and quality of life. It is difficult to approach people about the good that chemistry can do for them when their worldview is shaped by such flawed thinking and facts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5uJgG05xUY&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZzHU3ZfTtY&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgLrZc7cws8&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XeW5ilk-9Y&feature=player_embedded That being said, I don't entirely think that this video is 100% false. I actually agree that things are being produced in ways today that make them fall apart sooner leading us to buy more. If I had a dollar for every time my grandparents said "They don't make these like they used to." I would be rich! But in a free society (which thank God we are), we have the choice to buy things for quality. This is something I do regularly because it makes financial sense. I save money that way. I agree that we are blitzed by adds urging us to buy new stuff all the time but we have a choice. I regularly chose not to buy the newest/hottest/top of the line widget to replace the same functioning widget I already have. I would be broke if I did that. Some of this video makes you (and you assume) everyone out be brainless slaves to advertising. This video also makes it seem like you are pretty insecure about your computer and belongings when working next to your friend with the flat-screen monitor. Annie, is the problem with the "system" that it is "destroying the planet" or that you are jealous of the others out there who may have nicer stuff than you? You might also want to consider what this "system" has provided to you in this society; the cloths you are wearing, the video camera and audio equipment used to film this, the immunizations and medicines that keep you healthy and even the cash donations to the TIDES foundation that helped produce this. Annie,
Many of your arguments are fundamentally flawed. Flawed facts have no place being taught as truth in the classroom and that is the reason why this video does not belong in the classroom.

As a chemist, I believe that it is things like this that make people very paranoid about the modern developments being made in chemistry and science that can actually help people by improving health, safety, and quality of life. It is difficult to approach people about the good that chemistry can do for them when their worldview is shaped by such flawed thinking and facts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5uJgG05xUY&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZzHU3ZfTtY&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgLrZc7cws8&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XeW5ilk-9Y&feature=player_embedded

That being said, I don’t entirely think that this video is 100% false. I actually agree that things are being produced in ways today that make them fall apart sooner leading us to buy more. If I had a dollar for every time my grandparents said “They don’t make these like they used to.” I would be rich! But in a free society (which thank God we are), we have the choice to buy things for quality. This is something I do regularly because it makes financial sense. I save money that way.

I agree that we are blitzed by adds urging us to buy new stuff all the time but we have a choice. I regularly chose not to buy the newest/hottest/top of the line widget to replace the same functioning widget I already have. I would be broke if I did that. Some of this video makes you (and you assume) everyone out be brainless slaves to advertising.

This video also makes it seem like you are pretty insecure about your computer and belongings when working next to your friend with the flat-screen monitor. Annie, is the problem with the “system” that it is “destroying the planet” or that you are jealous of the others out there who may have nicer stuff than you?

You might also want to consider what this “system” has provided to you in this society; the cloths you are wearing, the video camera and audio equipment used to film this, the immunizations and medicines that keep you healthy and even the cash donations to the TIDES foundation that helped produce this.

]]> By: Justme http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23&cpage=2#comment-12727 Justme Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:57:13 +0000 http://www.storyofstuff.com/blog/?p=23#comment-12727 I'm sure I get blasted or my post will get deleted here but I have to say it, in theory the video would be good but they told way to many lies in it. First one, the military doesn't get 50% of the federal budget, it's more like 20%. Second, the fire retardent is a fedral mandate not a company mandate. The 4% forest thing is a lie, as we have more forest than we did 50yrs ago not to mention the loggers have to replant what they cut. I could go on, but the fact is this video was far from actual truth. That's why alot of people are upset. We don't like lies, and frankly people are fed up with it. Adminstration after adminstration. This isn't about democrates or replublicans, one being better than the other, it's about both trying to dumb down the education system. If you can't see that god help you I’m sure I get blasted or my post will get deleted here but I have to say it, in theory the video would be good but they told way to many lies in it. First one, the military doesn’t get 50% of the federal budget, it’s more like 20%. Second, the fire retardent is a fedral mandate not a company mandate. The 4% forest thing is a lie, as we have more forest than we did 50yrs ago not to mention the loggers have to replant what they cut. I could go on, but the fact is this video was far from actual truth. That’s why alot of people are upset. We don’t like lies, and frankly people are fed up with it. Adminstration after adminstration. This isn’t about democrates or replublicans, one being better than the other, it’s about both trying to dumb down the education system. If you can’t see that god help you

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