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SusanofO -> RE: Would you pay more for a product if you knew in doing so you would support a fair trade approach tha (4/4/2007 7:10:19 AM)
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Capitalism is in operation here in the U.S. Some of the people in China, for example (where ironically the U.S. buys a lot of goods sold here), would probably give their right arm to live in a capitalisitc economy. People can't have it both ways, and yes, parts of living in a capitalistic society suck.
But - I am certainly not moving to China - because I'd rather watch Wal-Mart at work here, and buy some of their products, than be crushed by directly living under a governmental regime that tells people they can have only one child, and routinely kills people for even suspecting they are talking trash about their government, much less writing what we think about it, like we are doing here, for example. I know that may sound uncaring, but it's my reality.
I donate to international charitable causes in an active way, just through another route than the grocery or dpeartment store. Whether that route is ameliorative, or has a direct effect on humane governmental actions in the third world country those donations affect is anybody's guess, including those in that government, probably.
I do agree with you that the Bush admin. are not at all very competent, and I cannot wait until the next election.
On a positive note, I read in TIME magazine this week that Hewlett-Packard is switching to lighter packaging in February for its printer cartridges - which will reduce carbon emissions by an amount equivalent to removing 3,500 cars from the road for a year.
Wal-Mart has trimmed everything from its rotisserie-chicken boxes to its water bottles, each now made with 5 grams less plastic. They plan to cut packaging 5% starting in 2008 - enough to prevent 667,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. I'd say that is a "humanitarian" goal that can benefit everyone - as it is a global company. It might not be perfect, but it's certainly a start.
- Susan
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