Convocation: Annie Leonard

A proponent of sustainability and critic of excessive consumerism, Annie Leonard is most known for her animated film “The Story of Stuff” about the life-cycle of material goods. This hit 20-minute webfilm takes viewers on a provocative and eye-opening tour of the often hidden costs of our consumer driven culture. “The Story of Stuff” has generated over 10 million views in more than 200 countries and territories since its launch, making it one of the most successful environmental-themed viral films of all time. The film has also won numerous awards, and in 2008 Leonard was named one of Time Magazine’s Heroes of the Environment. Leonard has spent nearly two decades investigating and organizing on environmental health and justice issues, traveling to over 40 countries to visit the factories where our stuff is made and the dumps where it ends up. As she explores how our obsession with stuff is trashing the planet, our communities, and our health, she offers a vision for change and a sense of hope that we can find a more sustainable way to meet our material needs. The title of her presentation was "The Story of Stuff: The Impact of Overconsumption on the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health—And How We Can Make It Better."