Eight years ago, my friend mentioned a movie I “just had to watch.” Although I am not much of a movie fan, AND the name of the movie was a huge turn-off, I promised to look into it. A few days later, I remembered my promise while surfing the internet. I googled “STINK.” I was surprised and delighted (nerd alert) that her suggestion was not a movie but a documentary. This fact alone changed my perspective. I love documentaries (I warned you).
WHAT IS ALL THE STINK ABOUT?
“Stink!” opens with a foul smell, a pair
of kids’ pajamas, and a single father trying to find out what that smell could possibly be. But instead of getting a straight answer, director Jon Whelan stumbles on an even bigger issue in America: the number of products lining our store shelves that are unsafe — by design. Entertaining, enlightening, and at times almost absurd, “Stink!” takes you on a madcap journey from the retailer to the laboratory; through corporate boardrooms and down back alleys: and finally, into the halls of Congress. Follow Whelan as he clashes with political and corporate operatives all trying to protect the darkest secrets of the chemical industry. You won’t like what you smell. – IMDB
A SUCCESSFUL “SNEAK ATTACK”
Upon reading the description, I knew immediately this was too good not to share. I excitedly booked a date night with my hubby. I couldn’t tell him what we were watching, though! As much as I LOVE documentaries, the only kind he will even consider must be historical (snooze). So, I did what any loving (brilliant) wife would do. I buttered him up and pulled the old “sneak attack.”
First, I made a nice dinner. Then, I put the kids to bed while he relaxed. I made popcorn, snuggled up next to him, and hit play. I was surprised he didn’t suspect something was up with me. He knows I am not a movie fan, so for me to suggest one, he should have suspected something. Five minutes into this documentary, I got that look; you know, the one. The eyes alone ask, “What is this?” Needless to say, my begging was minimal as he quickly relented. And guess what? Not only was he as shocked as I was about what we learned together that night, he also told every person in his circle of influence. He still quotes things he learned back then to this very day.
So, what is so unique about this documentary? It opens with many of us asking about the products we purchase. We get home, unwrap the packaging and find ourselves overwhelmed with a foul stink…What is that smell? Jon Whelan digs deep into what chemicals his daughter’s brand-new pajamas are laced with. The digging opens door after door that reveals the dangers lurking in our everyday products. Dangers that legally exist without warning labels for us to purchase and consume daily.
INSPIRED FOR CHANGE
My husband and I began reading labels. Not just the next day but that very night. We went through every single item in our master bathroom together. We read ingredient names we had never heard of before but assumed they were safe. Why would someone sell something that could harm us, right? If you think this, you’ve got to watch this documentary yourself.
Another key takeaway from STINK! was our introduction to the Environmental Working Group, or EWG. They are a non-profit organization that brings
awareness to and challenges any component of our world that compromises the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the products we put on our skin.
While their organization has many unique facets, the first one we fell in love with is their Skin Deep Database. In this database, they share test results from a wide variety of products on the market. They also rate them on a safety scale of one to ten, taking each ingredient of each product into consideration. Not all products made are on this database, however.
You should also be mindful that although the movie is six years old (released in 2015), sadly, not much has changed. We still meet new friends who are unaware of the dangers of fragrances or have even heard of phthalates and their dangers of them, to mention a couple of critical harmful ingredients.
There are more chemicals on the market that are untested than tested. And for the ones that have been tested, many have been proven harmful to human health and the environment but are still legally permitted in the ingredients of the products we buy in America.
ARE YOU INSPIRED?
Change can happen. It takes time, and it takes money – your money. But it doesn’t mean you need to spend more money. It just means you need to be more mindful of the money you are already spending. You can vote with your dollar. I plead with you to invest your time and money into your health; over time, these positive changes will also positively impact our world.
Coming soon to our website, you will find a list of ingredients that ECO CRATES of America strive to avoid in products we support and promote. We call this our “No Thank You” List. That list can be used as a guide to improving your journey to improve your health and the world around us.
If you have not started, start today and read your labels, friends! It could improve your life or even save it.
So, will you check out STINK!? I would love to hear your comments about the documentary once you have had a chance to see it.
The Selective Sage
Resources:
STINK! 2015; International Movie Database (IMDB); Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Blog Post Written by: Jaime Snell
Blog Post Edited by: Sharmarra Rose
