Video: Affluenza

Publisher's description: Through revealing personal stories, expert commentary, hilarious old film clips, dramatized vignettes, and “anti-commercial” breaks, Affluenza examines the high cost of achieving the most extravagant lifestyle the world has ever seen. Last year, Americans, who make up only five percent of the world’s population, used nearly a third of its resources and produced almost half of its hazardous waste. Add overwork, personal stress, the erosion of family and community, skyrocketing debt, and the growing gap between rich and poor, and it’s easy to understand why some people say that the American Dream is no bargain. Many are opting out of the consumer chase, redefining the Dream, and making “voluntary simplicity” one of the top 10 trends of the ’90s. Affluenza is a one-hour television special that explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and overconsumption.

©1998 Bullfrog Films. 56 min.

http://www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza/show/show.html

Video: The Lightbulb Conspiracy

The Light Bulb Conspiracy from Pete Hinne on Vimeo.

Once upon a time..... products were made to last. Then, at the beginning of the 1920s, a group of businessmen were struck by the following insight: 'A product that refuses to wear out is a tragedy of business' (1928). Thus Planned Obsolescence was born. Shortly after, the first worldwide cartel was set up expressly to reduce the life span of the incandescent light bulb, a symbol for innovation and bright new ideas, and the first official victim of Planned Obsolescence. During the 1950s, with the birth of the consumer society, the concept took on a whole new meaning, as explained by flamboyant designer Brooks Stevens: 'Planned Obsolescence, the desire to own something a little newer, a little better, a little sooner than is necessary...'. The growth society flourished, everybody had everything, the waste was piling up (preferably far away in illegal dumps in the Third World) - until consumers started rebelling.

©2010 Arte France. 75 min.

http://documentaryheaven.com/the-lightbulb-conspiracy

http://www.facebook.com/TheLightBulbConspiracy?ref=sgm

Video: Waste Not

Publisher's description: What keeps a 21st century metropolis clean and sparkling? Even as we hover on the brink of eco-crisis, an army of truck drivers, scientists, environmentalists, gardeners and even a famous chef are working to transform the mountains of stuff we throw away into something valuable again.

©2011 Total Environment Centre. 26 min.

Available to UNSW community as streaming video from UNSW Library:
http://unsw.kanopystreaming.com.wwwproxy0.library.unsw.edu.au/node/59204

http://www.tec.org.au/wr-latest-news/928-waste-not-amazing-film-on-recycling