Another book I've been reading is The Rough Guide to Shopping with a Conscience. It's just what the title implies. It contains all sorts of advice about "ethical shopping," and identifies and explains the pros and cons of types of ways to make a difference through your shopping habits. It's about protecting humans, animals, and the earth through awareness of what you're buying and careful consideration. It's really really interesting. I've learned a ton of things.
There's a long chapter on fair trade and working concerns and arguments about outsourcing to developing countries. It is cheaper to have manufacturing done elsewhere, but working conditions can be very bad. Companies also try to cover up the work being done for them in sweatshops or establishments with tiny wages and child labor. Some companies have gotten better after much public outcry.
In making deals with rich countries, farmers get the bad end of a deal, making very little profit off of their wares. Fair Trade has a series of regulations to ensure that both parties have a satisfactory profit, and requires certain working conditions and minimum wages for farm workers. When a company wants its product to be certified as Fair Trade, it has to have yearly inspections to make sure the requirements are being held up. Fair Trade mostly deals with agriculture, but it's expanding to other products.
To encourage this good system, you can buy Fair Trade items. These have stickers so you can tell they're genuine. It's really a good thing!
Another scary issue the book deals with is Genetic Engineering of food. Scientists have modified crops like soybeans and corn to be herbicide and pest resistant.There are a lot of arguments about it. Some people believe it's dangerous and crazy, and others think it's an amazing breakthrough and will make the future. But it seems that most people in the U.S. want to at least know if what they're buying is genetically engineered. In a poll, 93% of the people in the US said they wanted GE food to have a label. In the European Union it's already a requirement, but here, the legislation has been repeatedly knocked away.
A huge amount of the GE food grown here is used to feed animals for the meat industry, but it also can cross-pollinate with normal crops and contaminate the fields. It's really hard for any food to remain uncontaminated.
If you want to avoid GM food, you can buy organic. One of the requirements for organic food is that it isn't genetically altered, so at least for now it's "clean."
There's a long chapter on fair trade and working concerns and arguments about outsourcing to developing countries. It is cheaper to have manufacturing done elsewhere, but working conditions can be very bad. Companies also try to cover up the work being done for them in sweatshops or establishments with tiny wages and child labor. Some companies have gotten better after much public outcry.
In making deals with rich countries, farmers get the bad end of a deal, making very little profit off of their wares. Fair Trade has a series of regulations to ensure that both parties have a satisfactory profit, and requires certain working conditions and minimum wages for farm workers. When a company wants its product to be certified as Fair Trade, it has to have yearly inspections to make sure the requirements are being held up. Fair Trade mostly deals with agriculture, but it's expanding to other products.
To encourage this good system, you can buy Fair Trade items. These have stickers so you can tell they're genuine. It's really a good thing!
Another scary issue the book deals with is Genetic Engineering of food. Scientists have modified crops like soybeans and corn to be herbicide and pest resistant.There are a lot of arguments about it. Some people believe it's dangerous and crazy, and others think it's an amazing breakthrough and will make the future. But it seems that most people in the U.S. want to at least know if what they're buying is genetically engineered. In a poll, 93% of the people in the US said they wanted GE food to have a label. In the European Union it's already a requirement, but here, the legislation has been repeatedly knocked away.
A huge amount of the GE food grown here is used to feed animals for the meat industry, but it also can cross-pollinate with normal crops and contaminate the fields. It's really hard for any food to remain uncontaminated.
If you want to avoid GM food, you can buy organic. One of the requirements for organic food is that it isn't genetically altered, so at least for now it's "clean."
Mara,
ReplyDeleteHaving been a consumer for so many years has been a challenge. Thanks to the media, young folks like you are knowing the right way to consume, compared to so many of us who have been turning green after years of conspicuous consumption with all it's unfortunate consequences. I am glad that our family has finally gotten to a stage where we can consume with much more sensibility than we did when the kids were younger...anyway, it is so invigorating that you will provide leadership in order for your and future generations to survive with integrity and arete!
MrN
Unfortunately, even "organic" foods nowadays have SOMETHING done to them. Even if they are, technically and by law "organic", they still could have a number of faults. If every piece of it is organic, they could still be assembled having come from every corner of the world. And still, on some "organic" foods, they DO have pesticides and chemicals, just ones derived from natural ingredients. Just as bad, although lawfully "natural". Great, no? Woo government.
ReplyDeleteNoah: I know. And there have been studies that show contamination in a lot of organic crops. But at least people are trying. It's really interesting. The European Union and UK have so many laws that help the environment. Here we have essentially none.The book keeps talking about issues and says "The EU has passed a law requiring such-and-such. Here in the US people are fighting hard to get it passed but the legislation is struggled against in Congress." But the government will sooner or later be in the hands of someone who really cares. We can just hope it won't be too late.
ReplyDeleteMrN: Thank you! I hope our generation can overcome this challenge... we're trying!