I have really wanted to write a diary about The Story of Stuff Project because it is one of the coolest things this planet has to offer at this particularly very uncool, getting less-cool-by-the-minute, time. Now, most of the diaries I really want to write by far and away never get close to being written. So it did not look good for this one, because it was pretty high on my list. So what happened? Well, this one did get written--is being written?--because in addition to wanting to write it something came up that compelled me to write it. I was over on the site, checking something out, thinking for maybe the third time this week about when I might write it, when I noticed that The Story of Stuff Project has a job opening!
That's right.
I mean, The Story of Stuff Project is a company devoted to being the change WE want to see in the world, specifically with regard to sustainability, where their particular gig is focusing upstream from RECYCLE, upstream from REUSE, to, you know, the friggin' wellspring: REDUCE! As in: less STUFF in the first place, please...!
That should be good enough reason to write a diary. But I didn't. But now there's a job, a good job, and in a lousy economy, that's important, for a lot of people, including maybe you or someone you know?
Okay, if it turns out that this job is a fit for you or someone you know, you or they really should apply because:
1) They do wonderful short online videos on things like STUFF (15 million views!) and CHANGE,
2) They are led by this amazing person,
Annie Leonard, who's even been on the Colbert Report (so you know this is legit). If you think maybe she's
not brilliant, WATCH RIGHT NOW! She handles him as well as anyone, I think, and, being Colbert, he doesn't pull any punches...
3) they are clearly out to help save the world and--guess what?--it needs saving. Right NOW! Talk about a shortcut to Right Livelihood?! I think so!
[see more proof of their good intentions below]
4) And, um, oh yeah - they have a job opening! So if you apply, it won't be a silly waste of time!
AWESOME!
The Story of Stuff Project has an immediate opening for a Community Engagement Manager in their Berkeley location, which, as of last June, I can tell you, is still kinda a cool place to be, IMHO, all things considered.
The Community Engagement Manager is the front-line in the Story of Stuff Project’s interaction with our 400,000-member online Community, focusing on day-to-day communication and engagement cycles. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience writing content for the web (blogs, email marketing, online publications), utilizing social networks for personal or professional uses, and working in a team.
This position lives at the intersection of communications, education, and advocacy. The Community Engagement Manager will be responsible for generally supporting and responding to our diverse, international Community’s needs; generating outgoing communication to members on a daily bas is, on a series of platforms; implementing meaningful engagement cycles for our Community members; and identifying and recruiting volunteers and campaigners from within our Community.
More about that and other stuff about the position is on the site,
HERE, but here's what they're looking for to qualify an applicant:
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years professional or internship experience in online organizing/social media, online communications, and/or nonprofit web strategy;
Ability to organize and prioritize assignments and tasks, as well as adapt and react quickly as projects evolve;
Experience writing for a variety of media – blogs (personal or professional), print/online journalism, public relations, social media, etc.;
Ability to work well in a collaborative, team environment.
Bonuses: experience shooting/editing video, training, and public speaking.
Is that you?
If this is the sort of work you can do and you are not otherwise engaged in a better way of saving the world and would like to try this one, I strongly urge you to consider and then fucking apply. I mean, what qualified person would not want to be an evangelista for this fun, cool, crucial thing that's going on oh, btw, in Berkeley? Second best, if you are otherwise engaged but you know the perfect candidate, slam this in front of their face pronto. I mean, that's what I'm doing.
THE KICKER: Deadline: May 24!!! (Next Friday.) (ONE WEEK!)
The Story of Stuff
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
The Story of Change
Can shopping save the world? The Story of Change urges viewers to put down their credit cards and start exercising their citizen muscles to build a more sustainable, just and fulfilling world.
The Story of Broke
The United States isn’t broke; we’re the richest country on the planet and a country in which the richest among us are doing exceptionally well. But the truth is, our economy is broken, producing more pollution, greenhouse gasses and garbage than any other country. In these and so many other ways, it just isn’t working. But rather than invest in something better, we continue to keep this ‘dinosaur economy’ on life support with hundreds of billions of dollars of our tax money. The Story of Broke calls for a shift in government spending toward investments in clean, green solutions—renewable energy, safer chemicals and materials, zero waste and more—that can deliver jobs AND a healthier environment. It’s time to rebuild the American Dream; but this time, let’s build it better.
The Story of Citizens United v. FEC
The Story of Citizens United v. FEC, an exploration of the inordinate power that corporations exercise in our democracy.
The Story of Electronics
The Story of Electronics employs the Story of Stuff style to explore the high-tech revolution's collateral damage—25 million tons of e-waste and counting, poisoned workers and a public left holding the bill. Host Annie Leonard takes viewers from the mines and factories where our gadgets begin to the horrific backyard recycling shops in China where many end up. The film concludes with a call for a green 'race to the top' where designers compete to make long-lasting, toxic-free products that are fully and easily recyclable.
The Story of Cosmetics
The Story of Cosmetics, released on July 21st, 2010, examines the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo. Produced with Free Range Studios and hosted by Annie Leonard, the seven-minute film by The Story of Stuff Project reveals the implications for consumer and worker health and the environment, and outlines ways we can move the industry away from hazardous chemicals and towards safer alternatives.
The film concludes with a call for viewers to support legislation aimed at ensuring the safety of cosmetics and personal care products.
The Story of Bottled Water
The Story of Bottled Water, released on March 22, 2010 (World Water Day) employs the Story of Stuff style to tell the story of manufactured demand—how you get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows from the tap. Over five minutes, the film explores the bottled water industrys attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces.
The film concludes with a call to take back the tap, not only by making a personal commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all.
Our production partners on the film include five leading sustainability groups: Corporate Accountability International, Environmental Working Group, Food & Water Watch, Pacific Institute, and Polaris Institute.
The Story of Cap and Trade
The Story of Cap & Trade is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the leading climate solution being discussed at Copenhagen and on Capitol Hill. Host Annie Leonard introduces the energy traders and Wall Street financiers at the heart of this scheme and reveals the "devils in the details" in current cap and trade proposals: free permits to big polluters, fake offsets and distraction from whats really required to tackle the climate crisis. If you've heard about Cap & Trade, but arent sure how it works (or who benefits), this is the the movie is for you.
If you're still interested and you haven't popped over to
their website, you can find their
FAQs here (yes, they have curricula and study guides for teachers and you can do community screenings, etc.),
Podcasts here,
Resources here and
ways to support the project here (how about doing a translation?) You can even just go and "Like" them on FB...
You can also check out their channel on Youtube.