This week, we move in two directions to begin understand disposability and globalization.  First, read the following essays, reflecting on what they say about vulnerability, marginalization, suffering, and disposability and in turn how this might be connected to a world system.

Giroux, The Politics of Disposability

Susan Cutter, The Geography of Social Vulnerability

Virginia Dominguez, Seeing and Not Seeing

Neil Smith, There’s no such thing as a Natural Disaster

Second, watch The Story of Stuff.  Then keep a journal for one week, recording all of the stuff you consume, while noting points of origin, pathways of distribution, what becomes of it and how visible these “facts” are to you.  Finally, post a blog reflecting on the experience and its significance.