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 * __WEEK FOUR__**
 * Tutorial # 4 Wiki Question**
 * Write six paragraphs, one on each stage of the “materials economy”, and define its interactions. (6 paragraphs/one stage each paragraph)**

A simple way to define this would be the way humans will gather the earths resources such as metal, water, and trees and completely take them for granted. By using all these resources for unnecessary reasons we run into the issue of running out since they are limited. Leonard points out that in the past three decades 1/3 of the planets natural resources have been consumed. Basically humans are extracting more resources than are needed and what ever is left over is being wasted.
 * Extraction**

These materials that are being extracted are then being moved to “production”. With these resources being moved to the production stage we run into the issue of how will these materials be made into something that we need. The simple answer is that we will require energy to do so. This energy that we use will take some toxic chemicals and combine them with our natural unaltered resources and ultimately contaminate the products. The scary part about these toxins is that we aren’t fully aware of all the health affects with them, yet we still use them on a regular bases. These toxins can continue to build up in our bodies, an example would be breast milk, although its suppose to be safe mothers will ingest toxins and pass it along to their children.
 * Production**

After all these natural resources are turned into products it is then moved to distribution. Distribution is basically the selling of all these toxic contaminated products, as quickly as possible. With the idea of distribution, people want to make money, and lots of it. In order to do that suppliers need to pay workers a lower salary and cut out “unnecessary” cost ie benefits. Therefore my doing this the suppliers will be able to pay them selves and what ever annoying advertisements they have the will along with their product.
 * Distribution**

After distribution, comes the consumption stage. This is way the product has been produce, simple to be consumed by the targeted customer. Every decade the economy changes and just like Leonard states, we continue to consume more and more. This most likely is why the economy is at a down fall. People are starting to consume more product then they can afford. These actions tend to place individuals in economic crisis. Especially Americans if they are consuming products that are toxic to them, which is forcing them to pay for health since these toxins are making them sick.
 * Consumption**

After we have consumed all that we can from the products we are forced to dispose of them. All these products go straight to the garbage, this garbage will then be dumped in a landfill or burned in an incinerator and the dumped in a landfill. These two ways of disposal will still be harmful to the planet by polluting the air, water and the climate according to Leonard. One of the most harmful would be the idea of burning the garbage, all the toxins that are placed in the resources at the production stage are now being exposed to the air by burning them, this can cause major climate change and air pollution. Which is the end is extremely important for us to live. There are ways to help maintain waste. Some things include recycling or reusing materials. The hard part about this is, if not everyone does it then it is not as noticeable in change.
 * Disposal**

Therefore “materials economy” houses this process of creating products. By simply creating these products we are placing the earth in a more stressful environment than it already is. A lot of the resources that we use could be minimized and/or reused to its fullest. Hopefully more individuals will jump on the bandwagon and continue to be more cautious in what they are either producing or consuming, as well as hopefully in the near future find/create more safer ways to use the earths natural resources.

Sourced from the reading: Story Of Stuff, Referenced and Annotated Script BY Annie Leonard