Criticism in Missoula schools surprises director of ‘Story of Stuff’ video

Annie Leonard traveled the world for 10 years, following garbage tankers that ferried America’s excess trash away from her shores.

“I went to 40 countries, and I saw where the things we buy are made and I saw where they’re thrown away,” said Leonard, who made the film “The Story of Stuff,” http://www.storyofstuff.com/ which has created something of a furor here in Missoula. “I was able to see products and really think them through, how we use them and what we do with them.”

By becoming an expert on trash, Leonard became fluent in the throwaway culture spawned by American materialism.

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The film is “The Story of Stuff.” It’s probably safe to say that Missoula wouldn’t be nearly so familiar with Leonard’s work absent a complaint from the parent of a Big Sky High School student who saw the film in her wildlife biology class. And even that complaint wouldn’t have generated much talk had the Missoula County Public Schools board of trustees not found the teacher in violation of district policy for showing the 20-minute film.

By MICHAEL MOORE of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2009/02/17/news/local/news04.txt