Here is a wonderful site that has great tips, and links and information for overcoming consumerism so you can loosen that Corporatist Stranglehold. Check it out! Add it to your bookmarks, and share with your friends!! I have no idea whose page it is, it looks like it's purely informational, no ads, no one really taking any credit for all the work that went into it either. Great site!
Advertisements are meant to influence you to buy stuff... We must learn to block out their messages, or respond negatively to them, by informing them of our distaste, or refusing to buy their products.
Manufacturing stuff' is polluting planet Earth. Don't contribute to this, instead, become part of the solution.Buy only things you can't be without, things you need, and buy things that can last. Avoid trends and fashion.
If you only buy from those manufacturers who are socially and environmentally responsible, without polluting planet Earth. The "market" will adjust to the demand for conscious practices, or go out of business.
(Unless the government subsidizes them, scientists are "bought out" and deny that the damage exists, or these companies begin convincing the Chinese to buy piles of "stuff" they don't need). Please take these concerns up with government any way you are able.
DIY - Do It Yourself!! Make stuff! Innovate!! Necessity is the mother of invention! There is a site with plenty of "DIY" instructions! Check it out!! There are tons more out there, and lots of "how to" books at your local library as well!!
Make your own soap, cosmetics and household cleaners... a nice "tilex" can be made from essential oils and white vinegar and water. Find recipes. They're available online, from friends, and in books at your local library for free.
Most people are getting information from the media to form opinions, but they're presaging someone else's opinions. Important things are going on in the world and so much of what we think of as left and right wing media isn't bringing everything you need to know to your attention.
The media is overwhelmingly controlled by big global corporations.
Don't get caught in the trap of thinking everything is either left or right. These are being emphasized in order to divide Americans into easily manipulated groups. Original, thoughtful thinking can unify "We The People" as we try to restructure the marketplace, develop responsible sources for information and media, and take back the control of our representative government we elect.
'Every' Politician is taking money from big business interests in order to influence elections. There is an inherent 'conflict of interest against the American people in that our representatives are paid not to legislate against those who pollute if they took money from them in order to influence elections. We can't wait for government to fix things. We all have to change the things we do, then everything else changes.
We could have politicians to serve the people when the people act with wisdom and take responsibility.
Once you start discovering the facts, you can act accordingly. We become engaged as an active member of society. This will make it difficult for politicians to fool us with false promises. We must all make the decision as free individuals to be a responsible consumer. We can work toward changing our electoral system but you can start changing the power structure today with every choice you make.
FOOD
Often this conversation begins with a discussion about Organic foods, but that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of this vitally important subject. This is the stuff we put into our bodies, it is where we spend most of our money, and it drives the chemical and agricultural industries that have a massive effect not only on our environment, but our economies and our politics. Chemicals, colors and preservatives in processed foods are also Genetically Modified Organisms. GMO'S are a serious environmental concern, and we don't fully understand the effects of these products are having in the environment. There is also a grave political concern as patent holders force local and third world farmers through conditions of IMF loans, to purchase their products or face massive law suits for patent infringements.
Consider your own health. Food now has less actual sustenance, nutrients, vitamins, protein and more and more sugars, chemicals both in the food and as a byproduct of manufacturing. This is alarming in terms of heath as well as the impact on the environment.
prices for food are artificially controlled, and subsidies to big Ag. firms are distorting the free market choices that support organic foods, which are often more expensive. Consider that any piece of organic fruit oz. for oz. has more actual nutrition in it than a Big Mac Meal and costs a fraction of the price.
We can pay close attention to what we eat, read labels and make healthy choices, Manufactures are monitoring purchases through those "club cards". They spend billions studying our behaviors. If we change buying habits they notice the trend in the market and follow demands. Stop buying products with chemicals and they will take them off the shelf. If we work at changing how we spend our money
at the grocery store, effects would be massive. There is a documentary called FOOD INC that may be the eye opener you need.
ENDING THE WARS
I am going to give you a quick example. General Electric is an arms manufacturer, they make weapons for war. They make light bulbs too! They have their hands in so many things. They also own NBC news channel. But lets stay with weapons for a minute. If you are a weapons manufacturer you make billions, BILLIONS, of dollars when ever there is a war. So what we have here is a company that is in a position to
support a war, Iraq or Afghanistan for example, on it's news channel, and then make BILLIONS of dollars if the war happens. Lets not get in to a discussion about the morality of this for a moment, or even question whether any war can be justified, lets just keep our eye on the ball. Should any company who makes weapons be in a position to sway public opinion in a way that benefits their bottom line? There is an obvious conflict of interests here, and a dangerous one and this conflict exists through out most of our industries and media.
If you take a look at history you will find that most wars are fought because one country wants the resources that another country has. Of course the reasons given are always about spreading democracy or defeating a terrible cruel regime, but you will notice that kind of war seldom happens in places that have no valuable assets! Regardless, it is very important that YOU UNDERSTAND THE PART YOU PLAY IN
CAUSING WARS. When you buy stuff, oil for example, you are buying the stuff that was taken from another country so it could be sold to YOU. YOUR CONSUMER DEMAND DRIVES WAR! AND CAUSES POLLUTION! CAN YOU SEE THE RESPONSIBILITY YOU HAVE.
Yes, there are many systemic issues and mechanisms that work against us, and we can point the finger at arms dealers all we want, but if we don't recognize our part in them, nothing has to change.
On a brighter note, it's not likely you'll find companies doing business in a socially responsible way which are connected to weapons industry. If you decide to buy your light bulbs form a company that is socially responsible, instead of General Electric, for example, you are turning the tide. Find independent sources of information so you can better understand what you can do about this.
Your active engagement, learning the facts and then acting accordingly will end the wars. Once you understand that the information the news media gives you has to be vetted thoroughly, once you understand that there are conflicts of interest that you have to be aware of then you will be wiser. Once you understand why wars happen you will not, nor will you allow any one you know, to join the armed forces or work for an arms dealer.
A NOTE ON BOYCOTTS AND THE ECONOMY
Everyone can argue that corporations are "job creators" who generate income for many people. Find out the truth to matters so you know you're buying from companies who are socially and environmentally responsible. They are all on a campaign to present themselves as such, but you must do some investigating into the truth to matters.
With the consumers' support, the good companies can thrive. this is pretty difficult, so it's good to join groups online who are pooling such information, and helping each other make good decisions... It can be a challenge to change our habits, but even small steps will lead to a paradigm shift in consciousness, changing the dynamic of the current consumer/capitalist economy into something, well... just more sane! If you are opposed to the practices of a particular company, you can decide not to buy certain products, but you have to do some homework and find out what the company actually does. Many times, a product is manufactured by a corporation with many subsidiaries.
I find the challenge makes life interesting, and anyone can feel good about making these efforts, so try looking around for ways to consume less and outwit the greed based system.
The things you must have, such as gas for your car, shelter, and food, you can look into alternatives that reduce the impact consumption is having on the planet's ecosystem and the quality of life (for all life) on our one and only planet...
TRANSPORTATION:
Think "Outside the Car".
- Take more walks.
- Ride a bike.
- Use public transport.
- Drive a more fuel efficient vehicle.
- Find others with whom you can car pool.
- Find out if you can telecommute tasks from home part of the time.
- Plan to take care of errands all on one trip instead of making many trips.
ECONOMICS:
Look at what changes can be made to our monetary system and advocate for community cohesiveness, and local economies first.
Rent a huge apartment and live together with a group of conscientious friends.
Start a cottage industry.
Fiber arts? Gardening? Herbalism? Cooking and preserving foods? Printmaking? Writing? Drawing and Painting? Beekeeping? Candle making from beeswax? Dye making from natural materials? Soapmaking? Pottery? Glass blowing? Hunting, Gathering, Fishing, Trapping, Butchering, Rendering, Tanning, Leatherworking, Woodworking. Metalworking.
These skills and crafts are more than arts. These are things that sustained us before the industrial revolution. They are being reclaimed at an astounding rate across the globe as a sustainable craft that serves humanity well, and these efforts to revive the handmade and sustainable cottage industry show no sign of waning. These are real skills that have been around for thousands of years, but waned during the industrial revolution. When done with care and concern for future resources, they provide all the things we need for living and learning into future generations. So learn a craft or three.
We all need clothing to protect us from the elements, and we can also provide for beauty in our environment with wall hangings, curtains, rugs...
If you're not crafty, consider teaching others to cook,food preparation, and preservation, gardening in small spaces, identifying wild plants, providing child care, elder-care, errand running, cleaning, pet-sitting, milk-paint making, permaculture building, recycling scrap, consignment selling, writing, publishing
Buy sustainable fabrics such as flax linen, hemp, organic cotton, regular cotton, wool, bamboo, silk.
Make sure you like the style and color of clothing you buy in these fabrics, These fabrics don't wear out quickly. If a hem or seam come lose, stitch it back up! If it is "flexible" with drawstrings and "roll up" cuffs, you can wear it a long time, in several seasons, and through weight fluxuations.
Buy local, and handmade.
Also, consider the following practical suggestions
- Buy your produce from the farms surrounding your city or community.
- Eat less meat. Or better yet, none!!
- Buy organic and local meats. If you can only afford this once a week, then maybe you should only eat meat once a week.
- Drink less milk, and buy hormone free milk yogurt and cheeses.
- Get out in the sunshine as often as you can for free vitamin D!
- Learn how to make your own yogurt.
- If you're vegetarian, for protein, eat rice and beans together, peanut butter on whole grain bread. Invent a recipe for spicy Lentil / Rice burgers. Also, take a multivitamin with Iron, B vitamins and a Flax oil supplement.
- Cook from scratch.
- Eat whole grains, brown rice, Rye, Wheat and oat bran breads and cereals.
- Avoid packaged/prepared frozen "convenience"foods in the grocery store.
- Buy organic whenever you can afford it.
- Shop the perimeter of the grocery store.
- Take your own reusable bags with you when you go shopping.
- Grow vegetables in tubs or window-boxes, on a sunny balcony or stoop.
Hint: Start with 3 "beefsteak" type tomato plants and 3 hanging cherry tomato plants, 2 Ancho and 2 california pepper plants, A leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula, strawberries in a couple hanging baskets and a "barrel. These are very doable and will provide you with some healthy foods and great savings, even on a small balcony in the city!
Look for the community gardening efforts being made in your neighborhood and sign up for a plot! If you can't find one, then find an empty lot and petition the city to start a garden! Get a local school or charity involved for support!
Compost all your vegetable matter.
Make a "chicken-wire" bin from 6 metal fencing stakes and a roll or two of chicken wire. Put the stakes in the ground in a row 2 deep by 3 wide, 3' apart. Wrap the chicken wire around all sides. Throw in all your vegetable wastes Peels, egg shells, coffee grounds. ) Cover your waste with grass clippings or leaves. Turn it often, keeping one side your pile to add to, and the other your pile that's "cooking"... Once one side is "cooked, make compost "tea" or and use it to supplement the soil in your garden. Then make the empty bin your "add to" pile while "cooking" the other side! You could coordinate the constructioon of a larger bin by joining with everyone in an apartment complex, and everyone agrees to contribute what they're able, make sure it gets turned and covered often, and there should be enough compost for use by anyone who wants it...
Some items have entirely too much packaging. Buy products with no or minimal packaging, and carry your own bags!
Write to these companies and ask them to reduce the amount of packaging they're using for these products.
- Be sure you can recycle the packaging before you do buy.
- Support local downtown businesses selling products you approve of.
- Barter with friends and neighbors.
- Plan community yard sales and swap meets.
- Use Craigslist to buy and sell items
- Visit second-hand shops.
- Donate unneeded items to charities, homeless shelters, women's shelters, Goodwill.
- Buy and sell used items on ebay, package them in reuseable and recyclable materials, and biodegradable materials (packing peanuts made from starch!).
Hint: "When buying online, use the site's "local search" to locate items as locally as possible so your widget isn't needlessly being trucked 3000 miles, and you can save on costs too.Do not purchase precious metals or gemstone jewelry (someone has to mine this stuff). (I recently bought an adorable upcycled "silverware" pendant from etsy! If you buy from her, be sure to ask her to please fore-go her lovely, but unnecessary packaging.)
Question where things come from, what impact they have on the planet, what resources things are made of, where they will end up.
The path we are currently on is complete anathema to the public good, it destroys the earth's environment.Many changes are needed, and the longer we wait to make them, the more damage that is done. We have a lot of options for changing the ways of the world we live in.
The day might come when we can look back on the system of today and think of it as we do the dark ages.
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