I have read or watched many materials covering environmental protection and imminent danger of resource exhaustion, but this one, a video clip named "the Story of Stuff", is obviously the most provoking one I have ever encountered. In fact, the speaker in the video was so firmly into her belief that it seemed as if it was pretty plausible, and at some points I was persuaded to the claim of this video too. However, there are obviously some dubious points about the claim of the speaker in this video, and I slowly recognized how biased the video is in various sides.
There is no doubt that the speaker is speaking the truth at least in some points. For example, we all know how many trees are cut down and how many innocent animals to die in order to provide us food, clothing or other necessities. However, is that really all? What I'd like to say is that the video addressed only one part of the issue and greatly exaggerates it sometimes that it becomes a biased propaganda rather than a source of correct information. Let's take an example of the speaker explaining the corrupt relationship between corporations and government. She claims that such a connection exhausts natural resources more quickly and makes other weaker countries to suffer as a result. What she does not mention is that there are many efforts of companies to protect the environment, such as that eco-friendly products made by technologies with less pollution. Else, take an example of her mentioning the 'resolution' to such a problem. She suggests that current method such as recycling is ineffective, and instead asserts that a whole production system to be changed from linear to circulatory. While at first this might sound fancy, in fact she is not providing any tangible alternatives; all she do is to blame the larger companies for the crises on Earth with logics so prejudiced and radical, as if the problem will be resolved if we get rid of the companies anyhow.
I was pretty surprised to figure out the fact that "the Story of Stuff" is in fact used in many schools as an appropriate material to educate the consequences of environmental crises. As I mentioned above, this video is biased in many ways, and therefore other materials must be integrated in order to make students judge environmental problems on their own upon an unbiased, logical ground. Thoughtful educators should not rely solely on this video to teach students, but should provide an information that this is not the whole story.
3 Motions I derived from this video:
1. THB teachers have their own rights to choose materials being used in class.
2. THB politically sensitive issues should not be allowed to be taught in class.
3. THS the shift of current manufacturing system.
