This week on Earth Beat: stuff. From a woman who has piled stuff up to her ceiling, to a man who has rejected all but one set of clothes, we take a personal look at our selves and our stuff. Also on the show, greening the World Cup and the Tour de France.

Listen to the whole show

STUFF

Hoarding stuff
Buying things often gives us a feeling of control over our lives. But, at a certain point, the balance can shift. Too many belongings and, almost imperceptibly, they start to control you. Marnie spoke to Randy Frost, the author of “Stuff – compulsive hoarding and the meaning of things”, and to Marijke Wijers, a Dutch hoarder.
Listen to Randy and Marijke talk about hoarding

Envirominute: stuff
Between all of us on Earth Beat we have about 17 mobile phone chargers. It’s a problem, but luckily someone has come up with a sensible solution. Earth beat’s Fiona Cambell has the story in 60 seconds…
Listen to the envirominute

Recycling stuff
The average computer lifespan these days is 3-5 years, typically ending in a vast landfill, leaking toxic chemicals. But recycling computers isn’t always easy – in Canada, only 3% of all electronic waste is recycled. But Vancouver-based Free Geek is trying to change this. It’s an ethical computer recycling depot – and a place where anyone can learn how to make and maintain a computer. Reporter Jennifer Chen went to find out more.
Listen to the report

Rejecting stuff
In the battle against Stuff, sometimes it’s best just to avoid getting it in the first place. For example, some people won’t buy a new piece of clothing unless they get rid of something else, and others do a giant purge each year. But imagine consciously deciding to wear a single set of clothes – a uniform, if you like – possibly for the rest of your life. We spoke to RC, a man who’s done just that.
Listen to RC talk about his uniform
Check out RC's band website Mongoose

Accessorizing stuff
Sheena Matheiken wore the same dress every day for one year. Not to reject fashion, but rather to revel in it – accessorizing the dress into 365 different outfits. With each day, she set aside one dollar for a charity sending kids in India to school. Sounds elegant and simple. But, like the dress itself, the Uniform Project grew into something bigger. Marnie spoke to Sheena from a studio in NY and started out by asking her to describe the dress.
Listen to Sheena talk about her Uniform Project

GREENING SPORTS

The footprint of football
In honor of the World Cup, Marnie’s done a little research about the carbon footprint of this year’s event.
Listen to the footprint of football

From plastic bottles to football jerseys
In honor of the World Cup, we did a little research… and discovered that the carbon footprint this year is six times higher than 4 years ago. But there are some highlights, like the jerseys made from 100% recycled plastic. Marnie went to the Nike headquarters to find out more from Press Officer Stephan Lub, where he gave her two very orange t-shirts…
Hear how bottles turn to football jerseys

Tour de France rant
And as the football frenzy draws to a close, another sport takes over. It’s the cycling season. The Tour de France started in the Dutch city of Rotterdam a few days ago, which seemed the perfect excuse to let Anik See, one of our producers rant – or rather, express her own environmental concerns – about a bike race.
Listen to the rant

NEXT WEEK ON EARTH BEAT

Making babies – or not making babies – has some surprising side effects…
"Probably the most important effects that are occurring downstream are the contraceptive types of effects, so that it's reducing the reproductive potential of fish populations."
The possible cons of procreation... in the next edition of Earth Beat from Radio Netherlands Worldwide.