To consume or not to consume

One of the first things President Bush told his people in his speech right after the 911 attacks was to go out and buy stuff. Hardly anyone was surprised.

A strong nation is a nation of consumers. A good citizen is a consuming citizen - all our life we have been told this.

We are constantly told that the last years model is no good. The whole concept of fashion comes down to this. To show everybody that you are a successful person you have to buy and own the latest model of everything - the latest cellphone, car, perfume, bag, tv, and so on. You have to have seen the latest movie and know what the latest burger variant tastes like.

Every commercial is pointing out this in different ways; you are no good if you're not able to consume. You are hardly not even existing if you don't consume enough.

In the short but intense information packed film - the story of stuff - Annie Leonard tells us her engaging story about the linear system draining our finite planet.

The bottom line of it all is that she wants us to change our ways. We should for once use our toxicated brains and question our destructive lifestyle.

Or else it means the end of civilization as we know it.

I have the feeling we all know this. Deep down we all have known this for a long time, but we don't even try to do anything about it. Isn't it depressing?

I guess I'll have to go out shopping to cheer up...

NOT!