Get Ethical
When ten years ago it was about tea and bananas, these days you can 'be ethical' in your choice of transport, holiday, gifts, clothes, banks and investments. Sunday supplements have whole sections devoted to it. Ruth Dickinson highlights some of the ways you can give your life an ethical overhaul.
1) Play fair
Learn what Fairtrade really means. Be ready to answer the sceptics questions. www.fairtrade.org.uk
2) Give gifts which last
Think again about how you spoil your loved ones this Christmas. There are a lot of gift catalogues around, from Tearcraft which sells you products made by Tearfund partners, to Christian Aid's present aid, which makes a donation to a project of its choice on your behalf. It's worth looking on all the FAQ sections of the sites, to check what you are actually buying, how much of your gift will be spent on admin, and how much support is offered to the overseas partners.
3) Invest in the future
Think about credit cards, pensions and insurance policies you have. Do a bit of digging about the companies, and find out what their ethical policy is. www.eiris.org (website of the ethical investment research services) is useful and www.fairpensions.org has a lot of sound advice on choosing a pension fund which will invest your money ethically
4) Bank your assets
According to The Guardian, The Co-operative Bank, Triodos Bank and the Ecology Building Society are the three front-runners in ethical banking and offer standard banking products. Ask the tough questions of your own bank - what are they funding with your money?
5) Take a break
Going on an ethical holiday does not limit you to cycling in your back garden. Look at www.ethicalescape.com and www.responsible-travel.org for ideas, ethical packages and hints. If you just have to have that flight, consider carbon offsetting. www.carbonneutral.com or www.climatecare.co.uk explain what this means and how to do it.
6) Get vocal
Christian Aid is encouraging people to email Douglas Alexander and Portuguese prime minister José Sócrates, who has just taken over the presidency of the European Union, about fairer trade deals. www.christian-aid.org
7) Change your diet
Buy local and buy organic www.buy-local.co.uk and www.soilassociation.org provide useful information on suppliers
8) Buy nothing
International buy nothing day is November 24 this year. Encourage your community to get involved. Organise a discussion session which encourages people to re-evaluate what they buy. Log on to www.buynothingday.co.uk for more information.
(Extract from 'When it just doesn't add up' by Ruth Dickinson, in 'Christianity' Magazine. Used with permission www.christianitymagazine.co.uk).
Posted on 13th November.
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