I just got back from my weekly shopping trip and for some reason I always come up with a pontification while wandering round the shelves....so here goes *in best "thought for the day" voice*
Every week I drive to Tesco off-load all my recycling ....bottles cans plastics cardboard...and armed with my reusable "bags for life" head into the store. There I pick up my weekly food....enlivened by the 2for1 offers (ignoring the fact that the producer usually has to meet the cost of the supermarket's generosity) and the reasonable priced clothing (made in a sweatshop somewhere in India?) I'll maybe appease my conscience with fair trade bananas or coffee...and be kind to a few chickens by buying the free-range eggs. Perhaps I'll do my bit for global warming a buy some low energy light bulbs or even the eco-friendly washing powder (if it's on offer).Then I load up the car...pick up some lead-free petrol and head home feeling smug that I did my bit for the environment and fair trade.
Maybe I should do more...perhaps walk into town (about 20 minutes) and buy locally produced products from local traders....but it's very inconvenient not to mention more expensive....and it's a long walk home carrying all those bags....
Or I could buy fairly traded clothing....but have you seen the price?
I know I play games in these things and kid myself that the little I do counts. But to really make a difference means to make big changes to my life style and if I'm honest I'm not ready to do that .So I tell myself that at least I do more than "some people".
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