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Conscientious Consumption: Take Action Pack

Published on December 16, 2008

Twelve Months, Twelve Films, Twelve Issues.

Image by andreasnilsson1976 via Flickr

Here at MediaRights.org and Media That Matters, we decided to team up and give you a fresh, focused, all-in-one package of brand new short films, background information, resources, tips and activities on each of the topics covered in the eighth annual Media That Matters Film Festival.

The mission of the festival is to take the concept of "audience" a step further and use short-form, big issue media as a tool to educate and inspire activism.

The theme for December is conscientious consumption, in honor of the season of gift giving despite the tough economy, and how we can minimize our impact on the environment and our wallets! Just as last month's pack focused on our global community, by using our film E-Waste as a jumping off point, this guide will help provide information about the issues surrounding over-consumption and provide helpful tools that you can use to take action in your own community.

The Issue

Shopping is arguably one of the most popular American pastimes - as Americans spend more time shopping than other cultures around the world. Americans are inveterate consumers and this consumption is directly linked to the engine that drives our economy. We fill our lives with all sorts of products - large and small, useful and frivolous - in an endless cycle of purchase, consumption and disposal. What happens to all the things we discard? According to The Story of Stuff, about 99% of it ends up in the trash.

Image by kid entropy via Flickr

The fastest growing part of the waste stream is electronic waste, or e-waste. [www.svtc.org] As computers, cell phones and other electronic gadgets are updated and upgraded, and new ones come on the market, communities are faced with the challenge of what to do with an ever-increasing volume of e-waste. As the world's biggest consumer, the U.S. generates more e-waste than any other nation. In 2000, more than 4.6 million tons of e-waste entered U.S. landfills.

Image by art_es_anna via Flickr

Between 1997 and 2007, an estimated 500 million computers became obsolete. Annually, about 130 million cell phones are disposed of and 20 - 24 million TVs and computers are stored in homes and offices, most awaiting disposal. Electronics that are thrown out can leak toxic chemicals such as lead mercury and cadmium into the water and air. One computer monitor alone contains four to eight pounds of lead.

Only 10% of unwanted and obsolete computers are recycled. So, of all those computers, TVs, and cell phones that are brought to the local recycling center, an estimated 50- 80% percent is shipped to countries like China, India or Pakistan, where is the electronics are disassembled by low-wage workers who strip out the lead, gold, copper and other reusable metals. E-waste is cause for serious environmental concern, calling for responsible action by governments, businesses and everyday people. The season of buying and consuming is a good time to review our consumer habits and find ways to reduce or eliminate e-waste and all other types of waste.

The Film

E-Waste

In a little over a minute and a half, E-Waste paints a picture of the magnitude of the environmental problem caused by electronic waste. The film offers several ways to cut down on e-waste and its toxic effects. Because of its short length and presentation of compelling facts about discarded electronics, E-Waste is an excellent springboard for a discussion or a learning opportunity about this rapidly growing environmental problem. Our festival DVD also includes special features from animator Ian Lynam, including additional footage from the making of the film.

Check out other films in our Media That Matters database on environmental issues. Check out films in our MediaRights database such as: Trash Thy Neighbor or Escape from Affluenza.

The Action!

Educators

Use one of the above mentioned films as the jumping-off point for a lesson or unit on environmental science or the economics of recycling, as well as the business, political and environmental policy implications surrounding this issue. Download our free Discussion Guide that includes activities and discussion questions that can be adapted for any film.
Is your school buying new computers? Encourage school leaders to purchase from a manufacturer that has a 'take back' program so that the computers may be recycled responsibly in the future. Find a list of manufacturers with take back programs for your neighborhood.

For Families

Don't know where to start with E-Waste? Follow earth911's 8-step method to green your technology.
Just got a new cell phone and don't know what to do with the old one? Download this mailing label that includes free shipping and handling in order to properly dispose of your old mobile phones.
In the market for a new "green" computer? Need to find where you can dispose the old one?
Trying to produce less trash and gain control of your family's spending? Both the Sierra Club and the Center for a New American Dream can help you find ways to change personal consumption and eliminate waste.
Pressure of gift buying / giving driving you mad? Check out a recent article with the L Magazine that gives a few fun alternative options to excessive consumption.

For Youth Leaders

Start a campaign in your community to remind people of the digital TV transition coming in February 2009 and to help those planning to buy new TVs to dispose of their old analog television sets responsibly. Find information on electronics recyclers in your area, along with a guide to company take back programs.
Students are major consumers of electronic equipment. Find out how young people can use their purchasing power to encourage electronics companies to adopt green design, manufacturing, and recycling processes.
Be creative about gift giving! You know that macaroni picture you made for your grandma is her most treasured possession. What about a personalized video made on your digital camera or cell phone to give to each of your friends and family? Check out Robert Rodriguez's 'Everything you need to know about film in 10 minutes' for a quick start.

In Conclusion

We invite you to search around both the Media That Matters and the MediaRights sites to find others films, organizations and articles relating to conscientious consumption.

Good luck, and let us know what you are doing to encourage awareness or change on these issues! Publish an announcement on MediaRights to encourage others to join you, or send us an email with any news or feedback!

Happy Holidays!

This article is available for noncommercial use under a Creative Commons license. It was originally published on MediaRights.org, a project of Arts Engine, Inc. This notice must accompany the article at all times.