In order to have ethical consumerism we would have to have an ethical supply chain. First there would have to be ethical resource extraction. Mining companies would no longer be able to hire thugs to murder indigenous activists blocking the mining sites that are destroying their livelihoods.
Fomenting violent coups in order to mine resources such as lithium would definitely be out.
Then there would need to be ethical manufacturing. If made ethical, companies would have to put people and the planet before shareholder interests, and the selfish motives of CEOs.
Retail interests would also have to act ethically. No more cooking the books, or fleecing workers to pad the bottom line.
At every stage corporations would have to do the ethical thing and take responsibility for any damage done while conducting their business. A study done showed that most, if not all, corporations would go bankrupt if they had to pay for the damage they do.
And what about marketing? Can you imagine ethical advertising? Neither can I.
Advertisers wouldn't be able to lie anymore. Or manipulate us with things like "nudging" and neuromarketing manipulation. The entire industry would crumble when they could no longer manufacture desire through the use of nefarious methods of mind control.
The very greenwashing that brings us something as outlandish as ethical consumerism would become illegal. Greenwashing, and ethical consumerism would disappear into a void of lying blackness, never to be seen again.
Let us not forget the ethical banking system that would be needed to support all the other ethical endeavours. What would that even look like? No interest to be paid, or charged, because getting something without working for it is unethical.
Also, no more money laundering, or other dirty tricks.
Wouldn't we also need an ethical tax regime? Large corporations and the uber wealthy would actually have to pay their fair share in such a system.
And to guide it all, we would need ethical governance at the local, state, and federal levels. How is that going these days? Is propaganda ethical? Is jailing whistleblowers ethical? Is interfering in the business of other countries ethical?
At best, ethical consumerism would lead to the end of consumerism. And along the way it might take down capitalism and the state, too. There is nothing ethical or logical about the greed, waste, corruption, and selfishness of our current system.
Let them fail in a creative destruction the likes of which the world has never seen. That would be a welcome outcome.
Anything less is a fantastical dream, because current ways can not go on for much longer.
So, what colour would you like your dragon?
Fomenting violent coups in order to mine resources such as lithium would definitely be out.
Then there would need to be ethical manufacturing. If made ethical, companies would have to put people and the planet before shareholder interests, and the selfish motives of CEOs.
Retail interests would also have to act ethically. No more cooking the books, or fleecing workers to pad the bottom line.
At every stage corporations would have to do the ethical thing and take responsibility for any damage done while conducting their business. A study done showed that most, if not all, corporations would go bankrupt if they had to pay for the damage they do.
And what about marketing? Can you imagine ethical advertising? Neither can I.
Advertisers wouldn't be able to lie anymore. Or manipulate us with things like "nudging" and neuromarketing manipulation. The entire industry would crumble when they could no longer manufacture desire through the use of nefarious methods of mind control.
The very greenwashing that brings us something as outlandish as ethical consumerism would become illegal. Greenwashing, and ethical consumerism would disappear into a void of lying blackness, never to be seen again.
Let us not forget the ethical banking system that would be needed to support all the other ethical endeavours. What would that even look like? No interest to be paid, or charged, because getting something without working for it is unethical.
Also, no more money laundering, or other dirty tricks.
Wouldn't we also need an ethical tax regime? Large corporations and the uber wealthy would actually have to pay their fair share in such a system.
And to guide it all, we would need ethical governance at the local, state, and federal levels. How is that going these days? Is propaganda ethical? Is jailing whistleblowers ethical? Is interfering in the business of other countries ethical?
At best, ethical consumerism would lead to the end of consumerism. And along the way it might take down capitalism and the state, too. There is nothing ethical or logical about the greed, waste, corruption, and selfishness of our current system.
Let them fail in a creative destruction the likes of which the world has never seen. That would be a welcome outcome.
Anything less is a fantastical dream, because current ways can not go on for much longer.
So, what colour would you like your dragon?
Top ten least ethical companies (as voted for by "Ethical Consumer" readers):
- Nestle
- Monsanto
- Amazon
- Shell
- Tesco
- Barclays
- Exxon
- Wal Mart
- Coca Cola
- Primark
The other day I watched a documentary on meat on the BBC. The presenter who I believe is a scientist cried when she saw the amazon being destroyed, saw the death of rivers and seas, witnessed starving penguins in South Africa after the fish were stolen from the seas. At the end she said she was going to give up red meat. Ummmm..... after witnessing all that she is going to carry on eating animal foods, so so sad.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Alex
Proof that change is hard. Necessary, but hard. That is why things won't change as quickly as needed until there is a crash that forces change.
Deletehmmmm... I guess the only solution is....not buying anything!
ReplyDeleteMadeleine
Yes! The most ethical way to go.
DeleteWhy you have bought your computer, phone and a camera? You alreadyhave one in your phone and someone have to collect this resources in mines. Oh maybe you are selfish too.
ReplyDelete