When you shop, shop ethically.

The problem is, is that shopping ethically is a pain in the arse because it's more expensive. A year or so ago an email was pushed around Sheffield University's student population urging everyone to suspend voting for a recent measure to introduce an ethical principle to the way in which the Union sells it's goods. The reason given was that ethically provided goods are just too expensive. The implication was that in a few years time ethically traded goods will become less expensive. Burlllllllll….shit. Ethically traded goods will always be more expensive than unethical goods. If they weren't then unethically traded goods wouldn't exist because they wouldn't be profitable and hence neither would the distinction between unethical and ethical goods exist.

But when you shop just think about it. Even the smallest differences on your part make a difference. Go for less packaging. Go for the organic carrots over the inorganic ones. Try and avoid GM foods if possible. It might cost you 20p more and hardly seem worth the effort in the long run, but you can afford it and in the end it is worth the effort. Try to shop locally if you have the time. That doesn't mean boycotting Tescos. It means if it's not too much hassle, get your bread from the local bakers instead. Just try it. And remember that no gesture is too small. Don't belittle your attempts to shop ethically. Every action that you take is a positive one and will have a positive impact. There's no reason to belittle it and every reason to feel good about it.