Ethical consumerism

This page contains my views on consumer activism. I am not telling you what to do, but explaining what I think WE should do.

1. What is ethical consumerism?

Ethical consumerism is a type of consumer activism based on the concept of dollar voting. People practice it by buying ethically made products that support small-scale manufacturers or local artisans and protect animals and the environment, while boycotting products that exploit children as workers, are tested on animals, or damage the environment.

Dollar voting is an analogy that refers to the theoretical impact of consumer choice on producers’ actions (…) Products that consumers buy will tend to be produced in the future. Products that do not sell as well as expected will receive fewer productive resources in the future. According to this analogy, consumers vote for “winners” and “losers” with their purchases.

2. Why does it matter?

Ethical consumerism matters because it works.

In an ideal world, all products and services are created in a fair way, causing no harm to other living beings nor the environment, and following good practices that are compatible with long-term sustainability of our lifestyle.

This is very far from being true. We don’t live in such a world and without a joint deliberate effort, there are other forces into play that drive the world in a direction where our collective rights are being ignored. And they are ignored so that a small minority can get rich.

In this situation, we need to take action to restore our rights. We live in a system that promotes “freedom to make business”. I am able to choose who I do business with, aka buy products from. Let’s use that freedom to our advantage, instead of letting the rich minority use it to their advantage.

3. Does it work?

Yes, it does.

There are many examples that demonstrate that it works. A recent one is with the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. It’s a US late-night talk show which is critical with Donald Trump. The show was taken down “following criticism from conservatives and public pressure from Trump administration officials”, and later brough back due to “widespread backlash from (…) and the public at large, with boycotts against Disney, ABC, and broadcast station owners Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group”.

Together, people managed to put some big profit at risk with the boycotts:

• Spike in Disney+ cancellations after Kimmel suspension
  • Monthly subscription cancellation rate “jumped from a 4% average to 8%, which equates to about three million cancellations, while Hulu’s rose to 10% or more than 4 million”
• Pressure mounts on Disney over Kimmel suspension as some boycott calls spread
  • “The company faced protests outside its studios, celebrities threatening to break ties and political pressure from Republicans and Democrats.”

These kind of actions will not work if only you or I take action. But they WILL work if we, consumers together, take a joint, organized, sustained action with clear goals.

We are thousands of millions - together, we can inflict wounds on the leviathan. And I believe we could kill it too.

4. How do we do it?

This is the way:

1. Making sensible choices when spending our money. More about this later.
2. Boycotting producers and companies that ignore our rights or harm others or the environment.
3. Spreading the word to other consumers.

Boycott is a nonviolent, voluntary abstention from a product, service, or company to try to compel the target to alter an objectionable behavior.

5. Choosing the right producers

Below is a list of resources and guidelines to help you choose the right providers. Remember, these are guidelines. Feel free to follow them but remember that some times it won’t be that easy to do it. Consider reaching out if you have suggestions.

Filter by company location

1. Look around you for local companies first. Look in your neighborhood, city, and country.
2. Look for European companies next.
   • European alternatives for digital products
3. Boycott companies from / that still do business with countries that threaten peace.
   • Russia:
     • Leave Russia
   • Israel:
     • Boycott Israel
     • C­o­m­p­a­n­i­e­s P­r­o­f­i­t­i­n­g f­r­o­m t­h­e G­a­z­a G­e­n­o­c­i­d­e

Filter by good practices in specific industries

TBD

Filter by specific producers

• 💚 Favor: choose this provider unless not available, as it’s the best option.
• 👍 Prefer: choose this provider if possible, as it’s a good option.
• ⬛ Neutral: no strong reasons for/against, or I don’t yet know - use your own judgement.
• 👎 Avoid: choose other providers if possible, as it’s not a good option.
• 🚫 Boycott: choose other providers or consider not buying at all.

Name	Category	Location	What to do?	Why?
Amazon	Technology	US	🚫 Boycott	Tax avoidance, denial of worker rights, no respect for its customers, and shady market practices.