My wife and kids are traveling and I am left with a few Honey Do's. One is to clean out and organize the kid's rooms. I go in motivated, throw out enough plastic crap that if put end to end would reach around the globe three times and then ponder who bought all this junk? Next day, a buddy forwards me this wonderful consumerism video by Annie Leonard. You can find it here, www.storyofstuff.com/ Now I know I am the problem. I am teaching my kids to consume like complete retail freaks. I gotta get off the train.<br>Who's with me?

I can't really say anything on the subject since I'm still a Due Dad<br><br>But thanks a ton for sharing that video! It's amazing.

DB,<br>I think we are all guilty of this in one way or another. If it's not toys, its individual juices for snacks. There is always room for improvement. The problem I find is, if you are on a budget, being green can be tricky because organically, hand-make, locally-owned stuff is always twice as much. I think you have to find what you are happy with and realize that there is not cut and dry solution since we are a consumerist society...it sucks, but it's true.

I'm with you on that one Daddy Brad....<br>One thing I am trying, is putting 2 of my kids in charge of separating out our recycling... as motivation, I will take them periodically to the recycling center and let them keep the cash... Just started it, we'll see how it goes.<br>I've told my wife that we should stop buying toys, books and clothes for the kids.... that didn't go over too well.

Ohhhh.....what a wonderful video that masterfully uses unsubstantiated statistics and guilt and fear to prey upon people who can not think critically for themselves.

Working in the waste industry has taught me a thing or two about the efficacy of recycling programs out there. Key point one, they don't work. Key point two, they don't work. Seeing the shear amount of tonnage that goes into a landfill everyday convinces me more and more that it is easier to bury it than it is to recycle it. I'm not against recycling at all, more the opposite. Most of the plastics out there can't be recycled yet, just because the technology doesn't exist. Now really whose to blame? The plastics industry or us? I personally would rather go out to the shed and build a wagon than buy one. (Gets me some outdoors time anyway.) I guess the key is to negotiate just how much crap we really need in our lives, I mean really need. The medical industry all together would be nothing without plastic, but where does it all go? Some of you know my position on BPA from other posts and it will eventually be banned all together. Big plastic crap is cool alright but does the kid reeeeeealy need the little tykes kitchen set or the power wheels? I guarantee you they would have more fun in a fridge box or a tire swing. Sandboxes aint too bad either. It's all up to us as the consumer to make smart choices for us now and our little ones in the future. My view? Save money, live better. BUILD IT YOURSELF!!....<br><br>Bri-

On topic is this:<br>www.commercialexploitation.org/<br>Campaign for a commercial free childhood<br><br>Lots of interesting articles to be found here regarding advertisers who target children unethically and how to combat them.