Why are we so obsessed with stuff?

Modern society’s obsession with stuff is the subject of a series of short films to be screened as part of this Saturday’s Earth Hour Expo at City Hall.

The Story of Stuff series exposes the connections between environmental and social issues all around us. The films are a “fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns from its extraction to sale, use and disposal” that aim to help us create a more sustainable world.

The films begin with The Story of Stuff at 5pm at City Hall which has attracted some 15 million views online since it was released in December 2007.

Following that are The Story of Bottled Water at 6pm; The Story of Electronics at 6:30pm; The Story of Cosmetics at 7pm and The Story of Change at 7:30pm.

To give an example, The Story of Bottled Water exposes how you can convince Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it flows freely from the tap. The Story of Electronics explores the high-tech revolution’s 25 million tons of e-waste and counting, poisoned workers and a public that has been left to foot the bill.

Lights off

The Earth Hour Expo run by Greenrock and the Corporation of Hamilton sees electricity and lights turned off in households across the island to raise awareness of energy conservation. Similar events occur the world over on the same day.

As well as the films there will be a host of activities and entertainment including fire dancers and throwers and musical entertainment powered by solar panels and Belco’s power generating bikes. There will also be a kids’ area and vendors from City Market. The festivities run from 5pm to 10pm. There i will be a children’s competition that sees competitors express themselves creatively to convey an earth-friendly message.

For the first year the Earth Hour Expo will be accompanied by Glow In The Dark Fun Walk/Run through the streets of Hamilton from 8:30pm.

Ashley Gillis who came up with the idea for a glow event told the Bermuda Sun: “The street lights will all be out and we have gone along the business route to get the businesses on the route to turn out their lights too. We are encouraging as much glow in the dark attire as possible such as glow sticks and paint. There will be a vendor selling glow in the dark shoelaces and we will a have a charge station where you can charge your glow in the dark clothes with light.”

The first 250 participants will be given glow in the dark T-shirts and flashlights. Registration forms are available from www.greenrock.org and Spoertseller. Registration closes tomorrow online at 6pm but there is late registration from 5pm to 8pm that day. Sign up can be done on racedayworld.com or Sportseller or the Athletic Club.

For more information visit: www.greenrock.org/earthhour