Published on Sep 11, 2014
Soundtrack of the 1986 West End play 'Time - The Musical'.

Music: Jeff Daniels
Lyrics: Dave Clark and David Soames

Transcript:

Beauty...

Truth...

Love...

Freedom...

Peace...

These are your ideals.

There is not one person on the entire planet Earth who, in his right mind, doesn't want these in his life.

So where do you go wrong?

To find the solution, we must first identify the problem.

Perhaps you wonder how much free will you actually have when you see yourself, for example, saying and doing hurtful things that you don't really mean.

Why can't you seem to stop?

You want to, you try to, your intentions are good. Is it habit or is it lack of understanding that keeps you bound to the pull of destruction?

The mineral sources of energy upon your planet are almost depleted and yet the two greatest sources of energy remain almost untapped -- the sea and the sun.

Furthermore, you seem content to allow the aggression of the weak by the strong.

You seem content to allow a great part of your world to starve whilst for economics' sake food is left to rot or be destroyed.

You seem content to allow the obscenity of the maimed and crippled who have to cope with broken lives after each confrontation of force.

Your East and West have never even made the effort to conquer the basics necessary for people of different cultures to exist in harmony; that is, to respect your opposite's culture and -- what is more important -- their way of thinking.

Even in your own life your thinking is not in order.

These facts do not inspire confidence, do they?



Stand before me on the sign of infinity... all you of the Earth.

With the granting of the Law of Probenation comes the application of change.

I will give you the key.

And with this knowledge, please realise, comes the responsibility of sharing it.

I will show you the way.

It's very simple.

Throughout the Universe there is order.

In the movement of the planets, in nature and in the functioning of the human mind.

A mind that is in its natural state of order is in harmony with the Universe... and such a mind... is Time-less.

Your life is an expression of your mind.

You are the creator of your own Universe -- for as a human being, you are free to will whatever state of being you desire through the use of your thoughts and words.

There is great power there.

It can be a blessing or a curse -- it's entirely up to you.

For the quality of your life is brought about by the quality of your thinking
-- think about that.

Thoughts produce actions -- look at what you're thinking.

See the pettiness and the envy and the greed and the fear and all the other attitudes that cause you pain and discomfort.

Realize that the one thing you have absolute control over is your attitude.

See the effect that it has on those around you, for each life is linked to all life and your words carry with them chain reactions like a stone that is thrown into a pond.

If your thinking is in order, your words will flow directly from the heart, creating ripples of love.

If you truly want to change your world, my friends, you must change your thinking.

Reason is your greatest tool, it creates an atmosphere of understanding, which leads to caring, which is... love.

Choose your words with care.

Go forth...

with LOVE.

For the great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie - deliberate, contrived and dishonest - but the myth - persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the clichés of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The Story of Stuff, originally released in December 2007, 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.

Download the Fact Sheet
Story Of Stuff, Referenced and Annotated Script By Annie Leonard

Credits
The Story of Stuff was written by Annie Leonard, Louis Fox, and Jonah Sachs, directed by Louis Fox and produced by Free Range Studios. Executive Producers included Tides Foundation and the Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption.

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Souvik Ray : India Times

Saalumarada Thimmakka lives in the Hulikal village of Karnataka. At 103, she still lives on to tell the story of her life which was filled with hardship but bore fruit in a different kind of way.  As a young girl, she was married off to a farmer who made a meagre income and was looked down upon by his fellow villagers for not fathering a child with his new wife. Instead of following social protocol, they decided to plant tree saplings and tend to them as their own children.

Nurturing the 10 grafted saplings on a bare stretch of land four kilometres from their village (between the villages of Hulikal and Kudoor, about 80 km away of Bangalore) they endured the hardships of tending to the plants despite their limited economic resources. The following years, they planted more saplings, in the hope that they would grow and beautify the land. Today, the fully grown banyan trees are at an economic value of Rs. 15 Lakh and are managed by the Government of Karnataka.

Despite being felicitated and awarded by several state and national organisations, Thimmakka still lives below the poverty line. Her home cannot accommodate the certificates and medals while her bills still remain unpaid. Her only means of income is a government pension of Rs. 500.  She is still a staunch supporter of afforestation and does all she can to spread awareness. Her belief is that every person should leave behind an asset that benefits all humanity.

After adopting a son, whom she inspired to be passionate about the environment, Thimmakka still dreams of starting a hospital. She hasn't given up on her hopes and aspirations yet.

This story, with more photographs, can be found here.