APPLYING the most good least, harm principle to puppet making

Through my research, I’ve learned that puppet (muppet) making is not environmentally friendly. The best materials to make a durable, high-quality puppet are made of felt, foam, industrial adhesives, etc.  While I searched for more sustainable options, I could not find something that was equally durable and would work well for making my puppet.  This left me feeling very conflicted. 

Given The Solutionary School’s mission is to create a more just and humane world for people, animals, and the environment, I was unsure how to move forward with this project. The materials that I would have to use could do harm. The chemicals and plastics could pollute waterways and reduce air quality. I also knew that the products, especially the adhesives and glues, were most likely tested on animals. I wasn’t sure where the products were sourced and if they were created by people that had an employer that treated them with equity and dignity. There were many potential repercussions and harm I could do by buying these materials.  

I was lost. What should I do? Then I remembered Zoe Weil’s philosophy of “Most Good Least Harm.” Instead of either/or thinking, I asked myself, what is the most good and least harm I can do in this situation? 

That’s when I decided to move forward with creating the puppet. The most good I can do is to bring this puppet into the community and teach children about social justice issues, about empathy, and compassion, especially towards ourselves. 

Watch my video to hear more about how I applied the MOGO principle to puppet making. ​