Ethical Consumerism Is A Capitalist Fantasy

The term Ethical Consumerism is an oxymoron. It is a dream, a fantasy that business as usual types hope will extend current harmful ways of doing things. Don't be fooled by this industrial strength green washing.

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?

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 Consumerism Divestment Movement

“Divestment is a proven strategy that has repeatedly helped bring about positive social change.”
 - Michael Solomon

Growth is a natural part of life. But when growth becomes abnormal it dysregulates the balance of any system, and leads to disease or death.

When unchecked growths happen in the human body we call it cancer. When it happens in the economy we call it a good thing, and ignore the obvious symptoms of disease. What is the prognosis for patient Earth, and what is the recommended course of treatment?

The prognosis looks bad, but there is still hope. Increasing numbers of people are waking up to the reality of our current condition. I see such people as white blood cells doing battle with the unchecked growth of consumerism's tumours spreading over the land.

One recommended form of intervention is seen in the fossil fuel divestment movement.

"Divestment is just as much a pathway to economic and environmental justice as it as a measure to protect endowments’ value from plummeting when the carbon bubble bursts and redirect funds to build the clean energy future we need to survive on earth." - Powershift.org

Not only are institutions divesting from the cancerous fossil fuel system, individuals are divesting from the whole system that promotes endless growth at the expense of people and the environment.

We could call it the "consumerism divestment movement". Proponents of this movement are pulling back from the flagrant use of fossil fuels and many other trappings of high carbon consumer lifestyles.

For Linda and I this does not only include disinvestment from investments in the fossil fuel industry, but also pharmaceuticals, tobacco, weapons manufacturers and anything else that causes the cancer to grow on our planet.

Divesting from the stuff of consumerism is effective. One only needs to look at other divestment movements, such as what occurred in South Africa, to see the power behind removing our support from the things that are causing harm.

We decide where our money and support go, and with our help we can cure the Earth of the consumer cancer currently crashing systems all over its beautiful body.

It is time to divest from harmful lifestyles.

Perhaps with a more serious name like "The Consumerism Divestment Movement", simple living will catch on in the general public as much as the fossil fuel divestment movement is catching on among conscientious investors.

Then we will see some real change.

Ethical Alternatives: Inflation Fighters

Are your investments helping build a better world?

Prior to 2008, global financial events caused me to look closely at what was happening with my retirement savings. I did a complete investigation into what exactly was being done with my money. What I found out was troubling - damage was being done on my behalf so I could make money without doing any actual work or producing anything.

I learned that I had mutual funds invested in unsavory things like the Alberta Tar Sands. Further research unveiled weapons manufacturing, tobacco, and pharmaceutical companies (the same ones that are now targeting the under 5 crowd with their dodgy, profitable drugs). Most portfolios contain some or all of these unethical investments.


As a result of my inquiries, I liquidated everything. Since then I no longer watch the stock market in cycles of panic and elation, but rather, as a curiosity to see how the world I am extricating myself from is doing. But what about inflation?

We are told that unless we invest our money, it will slowly erode in purchasing power, and slip through our fingertips. Therefore, I have been brainstorming alternative strategies for overcoming inflation that are less harmful than traditional investments.

Ultimately, we need to work toward changing our monetary system and ending the manipulations by the financial industry and the governments that represent them. It is critical that we replace it with a system that benefits us all.

In the meantime, here are a few ideas that come to mind:

• Green/ethical investing allows you to invest and make a positive difference at the same time. This form of investing has tripled (in the UK) in the last decade as people seek to reduce the damage done on their behalf. However, there are differing opinions of what, exactly, constitutes 'ethical', so results may vary. Note: This week is National Ethical Investment Week in the UK.
• Deposit savings in a local credit union. Deposits are usually invested locally, so your investments are contributing toward improving conditions for you and your neighbours, not some CEO in a board room thousands of kilometers away. You still win even if you aren't making 10% annually.
• Reduce your budget by the amount of inflation.
• Grow a garden. Some of your best investments for the future may be things like seeds and gardening tools (and a good tent and camping gear).
• Keep a stocked pantry including foods that continue to go up in price. Some that I keep on hand are : peanut butter, flour, rice, beans, powdered milk, nuts, and the like.
• Cook your own food, bake your own bread.
• Reduce your expectations.
• Enjoy your money today without worrying what might happen in the future. For all we know, the entire financial system may collapse soon anyway.