People & Media...

Upon the birth of my daughter, I began contemplating just how many diapers were being carted to the landfill each week from our house alone. Then I began quickly running the numbers in my head … times two years, carry the one … I was shocked! If only I could get a visual of what that many diapers piled up would look like …

While I love books, sometimes a picture is worth way more than a thousand words when determining the enormity of the footprint average Americans are making on the planet. Enter National Geographic and its “Human Footprint” DVD hosted by newscaster Elizabeth Vargas.

Instead of letting your head swell with numbers that are difficult to put into visual comparison, National Geographic does the work for you. Want to know how much crude oil it takes for disposable diapers? Want to see what a giant omelet looks like comprised of all the eggs an American eats during his or her lifetime? Want to know how many gallons of milk the average American consumes? This video will show you.

As opposed to the preachy, condemning tone that many videos present these ideas, Vargas and National Geographic display the visuals in a fun way that are sobering unto themselves. It will definitely make you think.