Building a Just and Sustainable World (YES magazine)

January/February 2008

“The average U.S. person now consumes twice as much as they did 50 years ago. Ask your grandma.”—Annie Leonard

Dear Educators,
If you’re wondering how to get your students thinking creatively about sustainability, I have the answer: The Story of Stuff.

Since seeing this 20-minute film last month, I’m convinced it’s a one-of-a-kind resource for engaging students of all ages to think about the stuff we buy and throw away.

If you do nothing else this year on sustainability in your class, show this lively film, explore our YES! teaching resources, and get your students thinking about their own stuff and how they can help shape a more satisfying, just, and sustainable world that works for all.


Kay Hubbard
Education Outreach Manager, YES! Magazine

P.S. Forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues, and help expand the network of teachers saying YES!

Your Stories

Cultural Diversity Training for Teachers
Read about an innovative university teacher workshop on cultural diversity that integrated readings on immigration and human rights from the Is the U.S. Ready for Human Rights? issue of YES!


MORE OF YOUR STORIES: See students campaigning for a Department of Peace; listen to high-schoolers take the lead on climate change in the Cool School Campaign; hear sixth-grade girls talk about Immigration, and read about innovative teaching methods in action on Sustainability.
Please send us your stories of inspiring teaching to share with our growing network of YES! teachers.

YES! Highlights

The Story of Stuff shows how everything is interconnected—from the production and disposal of stuff to the disastrous impact that over-consumption has on our environment and developing countries. And it’s not just about consumption—the film raises questions and issues about the role of government, the purpose of an economy, and what makes us happy.

Everyone can make a difference, but the bigger your action the bigger the difference you’ll make. Here are 10 Little and Big Things You Can Do, to share with your students.

See The Story of Stuff, read our review of the film, and explore our selected YES! articles that address the complex issues that relate to our material economy and how we can choose to live differently.

YES! Classroom Tools

The Local Multiplier Effect Once your students have thought about reducing their consumption, help them think about the value of buying locally. A little goes a long way, as buying local products at local businesses creates a ripple effect… Available as a downloadable pdf poster.

The Page That Counts Number of Earth-sized planets needed if global resource consumption matched that of the US: 3. Get your students talking about the future of our economy: see our Page That Counts. Go Local discussion guide Thought-provoking questions for your students from our Go Local issue on the nature of trade, alternative economies, and what it takes to create a sustainable, viable local economy. Live Free—Do It Yourself Share how people are creating spaces for community, for learning, and for fulfilling their own dreams while supporting the aspirations of others. Brainstorm a new way of life…

Connect and Engage

More in-depth curriculum resources on sustainable choices for all of our… "stuff."

Facing the Future
Facing the Future offers innovative curriculum for teaching about global issues and sustainability. We've picked eight of their free lesson plans for grades 5-12 that you can use with The Story of Stuff including Shop Till you Drop, Watch Where you Step, Livin’ the Good Life, and Is it Sustainable?

The Center for Ecoliteracy
In addition to information about the systems-thinking values, skills, and competencies needed to teach education for sustainability, The Center for Ecoliteracy offers examples of schools they work with and support that embody processes and practices for effective education for sustainability.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO offers a broad range of multimedia and interactive lesson plans on interdisciplinary issues related to sustainability for grades 6-12. Their lesson plan on consumption has David Suzuki explaining the human dependence on natural resources and the impact of resource consumption on the world.

Redefining Progress
In partnership with Earth Day Network, Redefining Progress offers environmental education lesson plans for K-12 educators. Their Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) presents an alternative to the gross domestic product (GDP). Get your students talking about what would happen if policymakers measured what really matters to people.

Poems from YES! Magazine

Here is poetry for thought to share with your students: Ask whether they agree with what award-winning poet Martin Espada says about the role poets can play in creating a more just world:

“We must imagine the possibility of a more just world before the world may become more just. That’s something that poets do well. So I guess that’s where I come in.”

Imagine the Angels of Bread Martín Espada (Click on title to view full version) This is the year that squatters evict landlords, gazing like admirals from the rail of the roofdeck or levitating hands in praise of steam in the shower; this is the year that shawled refugees deport judges who stare at the floor and their swollen feet as files are stamped with their destination;

this is the year that police revolvers, stove-hot, blister the fingers of raging cops, and nightsticks splinter in their palms; this is the year that darkskinned men lynched a century ago return to sip coffee quietly with the apologizing descendants of their executioners. YES! Magazine #11—Fall 1999