Our consumer culture requires us to consume responsibly
Apple Valley rests comfortably in the middle of modern suburban America. Chain restaurants, big box stores, and just down the road is America’s largest shopping mall. Truth be told, it’s one of the reasons my wife and I have really come to love Apple Valley since moving here from North Dakota. There’s convenience around every corner, comfort and cleanliness in every coffee shop, and plenty of shopping to keep that revolving door on our checking account spinning.
But, having spent some time outside of the United States has exposed me to the impoverished third world and with it, the visible and invisible relationships between globalization, consumerism, culture, and community. Long story short, I’ve come to realize the goods we consume here in such vast quantity are supplied by many poor people around the world who never see even a hint of the comfort and affluence I enjoy on a daily basis.
After much deliberation I’ve concluded I can’t just sell all my stuff and retreat to a cave to live out the rest of my life. No, having possessions isnít inherently evil or selfish. Not if we’ve acquired them responsibly, and, as long as we own them with a sense of humility, gratefulness, and charity. Non-possession shouldn’t be a matter of fact, but a state of mind.
With that in mind, I would urge us all to keep in mind the fact that our responsibility as consumers and owners extends well beyond the checkout counter of our favorite store. We should demand that the businesses and companies we purchase our goods from makes, contracts, procures and ships those goods in an ethical manner. And, we can do that by leveraging our collective purchasing power.
I urge you to at least consider looking around the businesses you frequent for signs of corporate social responsibility. Some businesses have informational pamphlets on their socially responsible efforts. You can also check up on a variety of companies online.
Lastly, we must require our local governments to procure goods and services responsibly. Minneapolis City Council and Minneapolis School Board have both already passed sweat free resolutions meaning they will only contract with companies that “provide a safe, non-discriminatory work environment, and who compensate their employees with non-poverty wages.” Perhaps a letter or call to more some of our own city councils might persuade them to take up a similar ordinance.
We don’t necessarily have to write out checks or join the Peace Corps to make life better for someone on the other side of the globe. Iíve learned that being a better global citizen, yes even here in the suburbs, starts with more conscientious choices.
Is the soap you use or the pair of pants you’re wearing made by a company that frequently violates worker rights, harms the environment, or condoneís sweatshops? Check out http://www.business-ethics.com/BE100_all.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in Thisweek Apple Valley newspaper in March 2006.