6. How could you the way you shop help make positive changes in the world

Most of these issues are not black and white. A lot of people will tell you a lot of different things for a lot of different reasons. The key is to look further, read between the lines and keep asking questions.

As a consumer – someone who buys stuff – you actually have a lot of power to change things. The companies trying to sell you that stuff spend a lot of time and money funding out what you think and what you want. They then either sell more of what you want or make sure that their marketing speaks to YOU. (Watch out for the marketing messages - see no.4)

For example, more people want greener cars, so more cars are made that have less of a negative impact on the environment.

On the other hand we can reinforce negative impacts by buying things from companies that do not look after their employees, harm the environment, etc. There’s also the issue about buying things that have been shipped halfway across the planet - and then because some of it is so cheap we chuck things away without thinking twice.

Have a look at this to get a good understanding of the big picture. www.storyofstuff.com

A few things that might help make positive changes:

Know your stuff - www.ethicalconsumer.org www.cleanupfashion.co.uk

Boycott the bad ones – Just don’t buy things from companies you don’t believe in

Buy Fairtrade “Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world” (The Fairtrade Foundation) www.fairtrade.org.uk/

Buy local – support your local farmers and producers and cut down on the environmental impact of transporting

Use charity sites when shopping online charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/charity-shopping-portals.htm

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