Ethical Consumerism

would you spend slightly more money on your goods, say %15 more (not a statistic, just a random number I pulled out of my head) if you knew that they were being produced in a way that was ecologically sustainable as well as fair for the workers creating and selling the products? Or would you rather save the money and be glad your not the one in the factory?

Do you believe that having world wide fair trade is a realistic idea?


from my personal experience from shopping at Mountain Equipment Co-op they have been pressing all the factories where their goods are made to install more equitable practices with their workers. They push for things like fair and legal wages, elimination of child labour and safe working conditions. And while they're doing this they also supply products for very cheap. So these fairly made products end up being inexpensive, probably because it is a co-op but it still works.

I think that with a lot of time and effort from consumers we could see a lot of global practices changed. I don't believe that anyone would actually support the brutal conditions in which a lot of things are made. If we put pressure on suppliers in a large scale way I think that some pretty good changes could be made. Do I believe that world wide is attainable? Probably not. But that's not going to stop me from supporting companies that are working towards that. I would gladly pay and extra %15 to make sure all my goods were fairly made.

 

I certainly would, but I expect most people will just say the same they've been saying about the earthquakes.

'It doesn't affect me, why should I give a shit?'

 

It's not fair trade, it's overpaying for something that you could otherwise get cheaper.

If somebody is willing to work in a factory for menial wages, that's their choice. I'm certainly not going to pay any more money for a product so that a worker can be paid more then he would normally be.

 

You're ignoring the fact that in the third world millions of people are forced into labour, for which they receive no pay or their pay is confiscated.

 

No, I would not pay more for 'ethical' products. I think it is wrong to try and force our western morals onto developing countries. If children want to work, let them.

On a side note, I've been a member of this forum for about 5 days and I can already predict Angelmax's response to any given topic.

 

Economics has no conscience.
Those who exploit the third world are only filling a void that would be filled readily by others given the opportunity. It's a competitive market.

Plus i'm a sucker for Nike

 

What child wants to be forced into labour for no pay?

I don't really care if you buy Nike or whatever, but personally I prefer ethical consumerism.

 

I want fair child labor. Even unfair child labor is a good thing. Anyone who points their finger at Africa and says child labor is wrong, should think for a second about the children starving or giving sexual favors because they don't have parents to take care of them.

 

Companies who use slave labor should not be allowed to market their products and have their chain of command prosecuted, so that point is irrelevant.