Category: Social and environmental issues

These posts cover social and environmental issues most relevant to ethical consumerism – from corporate ethics to climate, population, agriculture and us.

I spent a good amount of time researching the plight of the bees and you’ll find four posts on that subject here (start with part 1). It says a lot about the lengths (and depths) that certain industries will go to in order to keep selling their products.

There are also a couple of posts on the important issue of human population growth, and how it’s tied to ethical consumerism.

Controversial ingredients, from palm oil to microbeads, as well as packaging travesties, from bottled water to disposable coffee cups, are also covered here.

Social and environmental issues related to our food chain are also covered here, including slavery, organic agriculture, and deforestation. And an homage to cooking – the most fundamental form of activism.

There are also a few posts about how to hold it all together and keep your cool with all of the above going on – from Eckhart Tolle to mindfulness.

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How to help the Uyghurs

~ jkaybay ~ 10 Comments

Canada and the US have recognized China’s treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang as genocide. Up to 1.8 million Uyghurs have been detained in camps for “re-education” under brutal conditions. At least two investigations have found that Uyghurs are subjected to forced labor in companies that supply and manufacture electronics and textiles for major multinational companies. Three of them, Apple, Nike, and Coca-Cola, have been lobbying to water down the proposed Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

Ethical Investing – Carbios recycles polyester clothing

~ jkaybay ~ 3 Comments

Carbios, a small French company that specializes in green chemistry, announced yesterday the recycling of waste polyester clothing into clear water bottles. This is exciting news because options for recycling of polyester or mixed-fiber clothing are very limited – usually limited to down-cycling rather than true recycling. I’ll get to the technology in a moment, … Continue reading Ethical Investing – Carbios recycles polyester clothing

The top reason to vote against Trump

The top reason to vote against Trump - his character. The image shows Donald Trump defiantly taking off his mask after he returns from hospital after treatment for Covid-19. The words American Cringe are superimposed on the image, in the style of a TV show ad.
~ jkaybay ~ 6 Comments

The top reason to vote against Donald Trump is his character. There, I've said it. And I mean character in the broad sense to include both his personality/temperament and character traits (here are two Psychology Today blog posts explaining the difference between personality and character and where temperament fits in). Voters: Consider this possibility, that … Continue reading The top reason to vote against Trump

Pershing Square Tontine Holdings – An Ethical Investment?

A close-up of Bill Ackman, Founder of the SPAC, Pershing Square Tontine Holdings
~ jkaybay ~ 2 Comments

Bill Ackman, activist investor and founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management has today launched a new enterprise. Pershing Square Tontine Holdings (PSTH) had its IPO today but doesn’t yet have a business – it’s a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) that first raises money through an IPO and then later invests that cash … Continue reading Pershing Square Tontine Holdings – An Ethical Investment?