Be an ethical consumer?

[purpletigron]

Even when the chain of reasoning and evidence is complicated, the conclusions or consequences can be clear and simple...

(OK, so Oxfam are having a Make Trade Fair campaign, so it isn't completely surprising that I'm thinking about these things :-)

Do you feel outraged yet powerless about the crises of the world - the 1 billion people who are illiterate, the 125 million children who aren't getting even primary education and so are set to join them, the 82 million of those children who are girls; about the quarter of all people killed in wars and armed conflicts who are children; about the billion people who live on less that USA$1 per day?

Did you know... "that every time you buy something made or grown in a developing country, youmay be taking part in a billion pound scam? As it works today, the global trading system rips off people who are already poor. You don't want it. They certainly don't want it. Together,we can change it."

There is one power that you definitely have, even in these days of political apathy:spending power. Every time you get out your wallet, you are effectively making a statement to the world around you about your ethical beliefs, your priorities and your concerns. More than that, by changing your spending patterns in concert with other concerned consumers, you can influence the people with the power to free people from the slavery of poverty, war and ignorance. A simple example: Choosing to buy commoditie ssuch as coffee and chocolate which have the Fairtrade logo can make a real difference: whether or not the farmers can afford medicines and education for their children. Sometimes, the connection really is that direct.

Think before you buy: Do I really need this thing at all? Has it been produced in ways that I would consider ethical? Am I being duped by misinformation into taking part in acts which I would normally completely abhor?

(I don't agree with all their conclusions, but a very useful source of information in the UK is the Ethical Consumer Magazine.)

[Note for geeks: LJ spell-checker offers for Fairtrade, FORTRAN; for Oxfam, Orgasm...]

Comments

[eck.livejournal.com]

I feel discouraged by my observation that while plenty of people can sympathize with these issues, most of them/us can't be bothered to keep track of 'it all'. There really is a hell of a lot, of course. We ought to live sustainably (in ecologically sound ways). There's one huge set of issues. We want to oppose human rights abuses (ranging from Fair Trade to the issues Amnesty International fights for, and more). There's another huge set. We want social justice (jail violent offenders longer than addicts who harm only themselves, please; provide preventative and good treatment care to everyone, please). Plenty more I'm too tired to enumerate.

So I keep looking for ways to help simplify participation in progressive efforts like these for the people (most of us, including full-time activists) who can't find the time to keep track of it all. But it's a hard problem: Such efforts need to be inherently difficult to corrupt, in my view. Webs of trust (supported by free strong cryptography)? Well-known alternative media?

But hell, I can't even seem to help local nonprofits benefit from Free Software.

Oops, was gonna close on an up note. Sorry.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

The important thing is, to take it one step at a time. Take nothing for granted... Keep educating yourself. Keep acting on what you learn. Don't despair. Keep asking probing questions of your suppliers. Find ways to integrate ethical behaviour into your normal routine. Starting with organic fruit and veg (in season!) from the local farmer's market can be a very beneficial route - tastes better, does you good, keeps money away from the transnats who peddle processed junk.... Change things for the better one thing at a time.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(smile) When we made chocolate truffles to give away last month, we made a point of finding and using fair-trade chocolate. It required a bit more searching here, but cost about the same (granted, this was for high-end, 70%+ cocoa solids)...

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

It doesn't take very much self-education to start feeling queasy when eating anything but Fairtrade chocolate... I bet them truffles was awesome; did you emphasise their moral origins?