Ethical Consumerism

When shopping ethically there are 3 questions you need to answer AFTER you've asked the fundamental question: Do I really need to buy this?

1. Does this cause harm to humans? (Eg. sourced from politically repressive regimes, corporations with a poor labour record, use of child labour, sweat shops etc.)
2. Does this cause harm to other sentient creatures? (Eg. Cosmetics without 'no animal experimentation' certification)
3. Does this cause harm to the earth and its ecosystems? (Eg. Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, growth promoters, genetically modified. Transported great distances. Highly processed products. Appliances with high energy use. Corporations with poor environmental records.)

Think Point

It probably is impossible to be absolutely ethical. However, since the majority of consumers tend to ignore ALL of the above, making a move in the right direction is a big step forward.

Case Study 1:  McDonalds 

McDonald's only interest is money, making profits from whoever and whatever they can … McDonald's promote their food as 'nutritious', but the reality is that it is junk food - high in fat, sugar and salt, and low in fibre and vitamins … their food also contains many chemical additives … workers in the fast food industry are paid low wages… the majority of employees are people who have few job options and so are forced to accept this exploitation, and they're compelled to 'smile' too … vast areas of land in poor countries are used for cash crops or for cattle ranching, or to grow grain to feed animals to be eaten in the West … this is at the expense of local food needs … forests throughout the world - vital for all life - are being destroyyed at an appalling rate by multinational companies… every year McDonald's use thousands of tons of unnecessary packaging, most of which ends up littering our streets or polluting the land buried in landfill sites … (taken from “What's Wrong with McDonald's " leaflet). 

Case Study 2:  Nestle 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1.5 million infants die around the world every year because they are not breastfed. Where water is unsafe a bottle-fed child is up to 25 times more likely to die as a result of diarrhoea than a breastfed child. That is why a marketing code was introduced in 1981 to regulate the marketing of breastmilk substitutes. Companies continue to violate its provisions … the International Nestlé Boycott is in effect in 20 countries … the boycott will continue until Nestlé ends its irresponsible marketing of breastmilk substitutes world-wide and abides by the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent Resolutions in policy and practice (taken from http://www.babymilkaction.org/).

Case Study 3:  Nike

Despite its progressive image in the United States, Nike is a very different company in Vietnam and in other Asian manufacturing operations. Reports of physical abuse, sexual abuse, salary below minimum wage and a debilitating quota systems are confirmed by CBS News, the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, AP, Reuters as well as other non-profit and non-governmental organizations (taken from http://www.saigon.com/~nike/).

Case Study 1:  Genista Foundation

Genista Foundation has been recently set up with the aim of coordinating a pioneering project on sustainable farming to demonstrate practical systems in various sectors of farming and other sustainable practices where one is expected to take greater care of our environment and the health of the consumer.  The running of the project has been in operation for the past 3 years in part of the Kalkara valley currently under the threat of development.  ORGANIC produce is available every Sunday morning between 09.00 hrs. and 12.00 noon. Genista may be contacted at [email protected] (taken from http://www.genistafoundation.org/marketplace.html).

Case Study 2:  CafeDirect

In 1991 Cafédirect was formed to provide a fairer deal for coffee growers. Now, with coffee prices at their lowest level for 35 years, Cafédirect's work is more important than ever. Cafédirect works with smallholder farmer co-operatives and other producer organisations across 11 countries. Their work with these organisations ensures a better deal for over 1.2 million growers and their families (taken from http://www.cafedirect.co.uk/).

Case Study 3:  Rugmark

At the age of six, Laxmi Shresta helped her mother and two sisters to roll woollen thread in a carpet factory in Nepal. Now Laxmi lives at a RUGMARK rehabilitation center and attends school nearby. RUGMARK pays for her tuition, books, uniforms, food and lodging. Laxmi plans to continue her studies through high school (taken from http://www.rugmark.org/).