Ethical consumer

This is the first of a series of topics I have constructed dedicated to discussing your views on ethics in the consumer market.

Let me first ask you all a simple question. Are you an ethical consumer?

By that I mean do you care about the effects your consumerism has on the lives of others?

I ask this question, because many of us I feel aren't really thinking about how when you go to Star Bucks and order yourself a nice little cappuccino latte or a frothy sensual espresso your assisting large profit accumulating corporations to figuratively (screwed) over poor Ethiopian coffee farmers. Did you know that for every cup of coffee that is sold in Star Bucks Ethiopian farmers receive a measly 2 pence? Where the hell is the other 98 pence going? Well it certainly isnt going to the coffee farmers thats for sure

Now I don't know about you, but I don't feel right drinking coffee from such a highly unethical greedy, corporate, money-making, machine which undercuts the poor "trying to make ends meet" Ethiopian farmer. Nor do I feel good about the effects I as a consumer is having on the poor Nigerian farmer and his family who are being forced by some money obsessed fat cat to sell his good Qaulity natural products at an unfathomable low price.

I have personally boycotted Starbucks and no longer buy any of their produce. Now I can rest easy at night knowing my thirst of coffee isn't causing another's hardship. But the action of one person is not enough that is why I feel its so important for us as individuals to see the plight that people miles away are in. A plight which we have a responsibility as ethical consumers to help alleviate....and That's where your help comes in.

By purchasing FAIR TRADE Products, What is it I hear you say? Well, the FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on UK, US and other Europian countries products as a guarantee that they have given their producers a better deal.

So by purchasing FAIR TRADE products your not only getting the products you desire at a decent price but your helping to save the lives of poor farmers and their families in less economically developed countries. Imagine that every time you go to buy a good quality fair-trade product your helping to place food in the belly of an otherwise would-be starving infant living in some far corner of the globe. I say we stop making the fat cats rich and start caring about our fellow man.

Are you with me people? RAISE YOUR HANDS WHO PROMISES TO START BEING A MORE CONSCIOUS CONSUMER?

Now remember, I am not saying you should buy Fair trade products alone for I am sure we as people have bills to pay and are limited by tight budgets as well. All I am asking is the next time you are in your local supermarket instead of grabbing for a Cadbury or a Nestle chocolate bar opt for the Fare Trade chocolate bar instead. Or the next time you reach for a jar of Maxwell coffee house beans (Which are major money contributors to the Republicans by the way ...meaning Bush's Clan) go for the Fair Trade coffee maker instead and help support that poor Cocoa bean farmer and as a result help support the economy of a developing country. So they maybe able to afford the building of schools for their children and hospitals for the sick and elderly. A penny really does go a long way to helping those who are less fortunate then yourselves.

So please my fellow people let us become ethically conscious of the products we buy and thus let us become ETHICAL CONSUMERS!

Now its over to you, Who is willing to become a more ethical consumer?

And seeing as I made a persuasive argumentitive piece, I would like to also reiterate the first question: Are you an ethical consumer?

Well Bob,

It may be true, but there are organizations that actually trade fairly with the people in third world countries...

I know the rules of equivelance and exchange, but we can sit there and say...Hey we should'nt freeze our asses, let's just accept it rather than fight it..

I find it quite funny Bob that you of all people would say this. Were you not the same person that wanted all evils to be vanquished...But I guess some evils are more important than others..

Am I right?

Well Bob or is it Sluvious:

I do think that people deserves a chance, I can understand you saying....We live in the real world and we have to survive in it.

Well that is a load of (Excuse my language) Crock...

Those farmers and those people that actually grow those food that fill your belly are the ones that deserves the chance to make a profit, and not be ripped off....

Fair Trade Overview

Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade principles include:

Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products.

Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.

Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.

Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.

Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest Fair Trade revenues.

Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.

Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.

As for what I will be eating tonight...

I will enjoy fair trade rice with chicken cut by muslim butchers...

I understand where you are coming from, although I do not understand why you bring up the subject of farmers using chemicals to grow their fields. But this topic today was to highlight the power we as comsumers have over the manufactorers.

How we as individuals can help in as little a way as possible. Though I can imagine my own fustrations as to the gobal capitalism that surrounds us today... I for one feel as though I have a partial responsibility to play in the grand scheme of things.

For without the customers us, this profit making machine wouldnt even be weaving as much dosh (money) as it is.

I was merely asking what YOU as a consumer can do to help your fellow man, we cant realistically take on the whole world and as much of an idealist as I am I too dont think I myself alone can make the changes neccessary to abolish mutibillion dollar monopolising giants from unethically accumulating billions of dollars of money.

But hey when there are more people behind an idea whats to stop us from succeeding? I say we should all learn to be responsible for our own actions before we go and play in the big kids playground

Now answer my question, would you or would you not buy a fair trade product over another product created by a highly unethical profit obsessed organisation?. Its a simple question and all it requires is a simple yes or no.

Well I guess idealism is lost on me.....

Lol...

Nonono! Don't stop beign an idealist - we need more of them in the world : ) Thanks for posting this topic.

I was actually thinking about stuff like this today. I was packing up all my things for the end of the schoolyear, and I thought.... who really needs this many shoes? Honestly. There are millions of people without any shoes, and I'm worried about matching them with my pants. Mm, but anyway. Things like this do get people to think, I believe. As Bob said, The might not be any real way to live without your actions affecting -anyone- negatively, but I don't think that means we can just say "eh, screw it all, then."

I really should learn more about where my things come from.

Like Bob we all lead busy lives and Its hard to be aware of all of these things but on the other hand I have no desire to contribute to anyones being treated so unfairly so I`ll skip Starbucks from now on and try to be more aware, We do like coffee though don`t we Bob!