These posts cover global social and environmental issues that are relevant to ethical consumerism. These are the corporate ethics and sustainability issues that conscious consumers will want to be informed on.
Diet Books! How many do we need, really? I have to admit though, when I see a shiny new hardback in the local bookstore with an eye-catching image (a big stack of sinister-looking bagels, or a piece of broccoli in the shape of a brain) and an author with credentials – Dr. Mitch Somebody, M.D. – it’s hard not to get sucked in. Especially when … Continue reading Proteinaholic / Integrity in Science
When it comes to reducing our global footprint and avoiding corporations that we disapprove of, one of the most encouraging trends is that of DIY, or the culture of makers, to use a more hip parlance. This can involve anything from converting your car to run on biodiesel to knitting a scarf. For projects that require specialized tools and equipment, there are hundreds of spaces … Continue reading Cooking is Activism: Do It Yourself, part one.
Nestlé continues to bottle water in California during the worst drought on record. Many of you are well aware of this, so I won’t go into too much detail – you can catch up on it here. Rather than a session of hand-wringing and frustration I want to understand the company’s perspective on the situation in order to address it. So, briefly, here are a … Continue reading Water
It turns out that certain companies have been putting little plastic beads into products such as toothpastes and exfoliating scrubs. These “microbeads” are made from polyethylene, the same kind of plastic that’s used to make most beverage bottles. Why on earth would they do this, you might ask? In the case of scrubs they are used as a cheaper alternative to natural exfoliants. In toothpaste, … Continue reading Attack of the Microbeads!!
In part one, I took a look at Martha Stout’s The Sociopath Next Door which examines the prevalence of sociopaths who, unhampered by consciences, may rise to positions of power at the expense of others. Milgram’s experiments on obedience together with studies on the psychology of killing during warfare show that most of us will obey authority, even when this goes against our better judgement, … Continue reading Sociopathy and Kindness (part two)
Happy Earth Day! I’ve read two books recently that provide some interesting insights into human behavior so I thought I’d attempt to interpret their relevance to modern commerce and consumerism. Specifically, I think it’s important to understand the psychological interplay between the decision-makers in companies that harm the planet and society, and the consumers who financially support their existence despite the harm inflicted. The Sociopath … Continue reading Sociopathy and Kindness (part one)
Welcome! To begin with, here’s a quick introduction to the site, which is all about a new idea called the Green Stars Project. The project is the result of years of pondering the following question: How can we best address the issue of corporate power? Specifically, how can we effectively mitigate the social injustices and environmental destruction that take place around the world every day … Continue reading Introduction to the Green Stars Project
