Help Us Find the Secret Lives of Stuff
Eight years ago we released a little book called Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everyday Things. It reveals the hidden costs behind the objects in our daily lives, from the morning cup of coffee I'm drinking (the beans traveled 2,000+ miles from Costa Rica) to the computer I'm staring at (49 pounds of hazardous waste were generated during its manufacture).
Over the years, we've heard that Stuff has developed a powerful secret life of its own in curriculums, conferences, and communities across the continent. High-school students have used Stuff to explore consumption issues in teens' lives, such as the video Think Twice; teachers and community educators have created curriculums around the life cycle of a sneaker; and dozens of organizations--ranging from book publishers to bike clubs--have excerpted it. There's even a musical based on Stuff.
What have you done with Stuff? Help us create a library of ideas, links, and resources on Stuff by adding comments below about ways that you have used the book and concepts in your work or community.
In the meantime: Please watch your wake.
Cascadia Scorecard 2005, IV
In case you're interested, we're publishing a string of op-eds in regional newspapers on the Cascadia Scorecard 2005. Two have now run; three are pending publication (in Bend, Boise, and Eugene); and three more are still being considered (in Tacoma, Vancouver, and Victoria).
You can find the two already published pieces in the Oregonian (coauthored with David Yaden) and the Spokane Spokesman-Review (subscription required). The text of the Spokesman Review op-ed, which ran on Tuesday, follows.
