Ruchira Shah's blogshttp://www.justmeans.com/editorials/ethicalconsumption/6.htmlFri, 25 May 2012 00:16:24 GMThttp://www.justmeans.com en hourly 1http://www.justmeans.com/One-Word--Plastics/3128.htmlTue, 20 Oct 2009 12:01:29 GMTRuchira Shah I have to admit, I think plastic is great. When used correctly this can be a life-saving product ... quite literally. (I'm pretty sure life preservers are plastic. Right?) So, while this ethical consumer is not anti-plastic, I am anti wasteful plastic consumption.You see, plastic may be responsible for saving some lives over the years, but it has also resulted in the deaths of countless marine animals. Read the article "Plastic Ocean" and you'll see what I mean. The giant plastic patch of the oc Read Full Article ]]> I have to admit, I think plastic is great. When used correctly this can be a life-saving product ... quite literally. (I'm pretty sure life preservers are plastic. Right?) So, while this ethical consumer is not anti-plastic, I am anti wasteful plastic consumption.You see, plastic may be responsible for saving some lives over the years, but it has also resulted in the deaths of countless marine animals. Read the article "Plastic Ocean" and you'll see what I mean. The giant plastic patch of the ocean is not filled with life preservers or life-saving plastic hospital tubing. Instead it's filled with the more mundane plastic junk we jettison on a daily basis: soda can rings, plastic shopping bags, plastic bottles, etc.As a result, I aim to reduce my plastic consumption as much as I can. If you'd like to reduce your plastic consumption as well, well, I'll tell you mysecrets, but you have to promise to pass them on!!In my tips for how to reduce plastic when you're out and about I suggest, among other things, keeping some wooden chopsticks in you purse for when you want to eat on the fly. I then covered how to reduce plastics while shopping. My secret there is fairly simple: farmers' markets, farmers' markets, farmers' markets. Oh yeah, and also, shop less! And then, for those of you who are super hardcore, I present my tips for going beyond the basics in reducing your plastic consumption. If you manage to follow all those tips, you'll be my new plastic-lite hero!Now, I've given you my tips, but what do you think about plastic? Should plastic bags be banned or at least not free? Should we stop producing them altogether as Sara suggests? What place should plastic hold in society? Beth from Fake Plastic Fish and Greg from Plastics.com want to hear from you.So join in the conversation and let everyone know how you feel about plastics. Are they an ingenious product or a huge problem for anyone attempting to engage in ethical consumption? Or is it something in between? You know what I think, but clearly, you'll have to decide on your ownwhat level of plastic consumption is right for you and your family.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/The-Power-of-People/3316.htmlFri, 02 Oct 2009 12:42:15 GMTRuchira Shah Today, some great news greeted me in the pages of the Guardian: the UK has halved its plastic bag consumption simply because consumers have said no.From 2007 to 2009, plastic bag use has been cut from 870 million to 450 million. Unlike in Ireland and other places, this reduction in bag use hasn't come about because the government implemented a fine on bags. Instead, it's come about simply because consumer awareness has been built. Supermarkets and individuals have changed their behavior a little Read Full Article ]]> Today, some great news greeted me in the pages of the Guardian: the UK has halved its plastic bag consumption simply because consumers have said no.From 2007 to 2009, plastic bag use has been cut from 870 million to 450 million. Unlike in Ireland and other places, this reduction in bag use hasn't come about because the government implemented a fine on bags. Instead, it's come about simply because consumer awareness has been built. Supermarkets and individuals have changed their behavior a little- supermarkets by not automatically assuming you want a bag, and individuals by gradually learning to bring their own bags. And, over time, those little changes have added up to a big, national change.Reading the article, I couldn't help but feel proud and hopeful. It's a small step, I know, but to me, it proves that people can and will change their behavior. And, I know all the economists love to talk about how fines and taxes can modify behavior, but I have to say, that it was really gratifying to see what people will do even when there is no fine, no stick, no carrot.So, anytime any of you ethical consumers get told that you can't make a difference, think about the number of plastic bags saved by British shoppers this year and remember, yes, you can.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/The-Alt-Consumer-Guide-to-Gift-Giving/3628.htmlFri, 11 Sep 2009 02:30:53 GMTRuchira Shah One of the questions I get asked a lot is, what do I, as an ethical consumer, do about presents?Well, here's the thing about presents. How many of you have a pile of crap that other people gave you that you never ever use?Yeah, me too. So instead of giving people stuff they'll never use, why not give them a different kind of gift?So without further, ado, here's my alt-consumerist gift giving guide:Gifts for babies (Good for baby showers or early birthdays):Okay, let's be honest here. These gifts Read Full Article ]]> One of the questions I get asked a lot is, what do I, as an ethical consumer, do about presents?Well, here's the thing about presents. How many of you have a pile of crap that other people gave you that you never ever use?Yeah, me too. So instead of giving people stuff they'll never use, why not give them a different kind of gift?So without further, ado, here's my alt-consumerist gift giving guide:Gifts for babies (Good for baby showers or early birthdays):Okay, let's be honest here. These gifts are not strictly speaking for baby. They're generally for Mommy and Daddy. So one of your options here is to cut to the chase. Instead of buying the parents yet another baby monitor, consider pooling in with some people for a gift certificate for a cleaning service. Other options in this vein could include food, a gift certificate for a massage, etc. Or hey, how about offering your baby sitting services a couple times a month so that Mom and Dad can have a date night without (too much) worry.If you want to get something for the baby, consider making part of the gift. If you're crafty you could knit a hat orcrochet a blanket. If you're like me, and the least crafty person ever, don't despair. Formy friend's baby's 1st birthday,I bought a used copy of my favorite childhood book. Then, I recorded myself reading the book on a CD, and I sent both the CD and book to her. I live too far away to read to Bean in person, but I figured the CD was the next best thing.Gifts for Children:Have a hard time keeping up with the many, many birthday parties your child attends? Make life simple on yourself. Go to your local movie theatre, and pick up a bunch of movie gift certificates. Then any time your kid gets invited to a birthday, stick a movie gift certificate in a card, and you're done. After all, what kid doesn't like going to the movies?Other good options include gift certificates to mini golf, bowling, ice skating, Chuck E Cheese, etc.For a child you're close to, like a niece, nephew or cousin, or your own progeny, consider buying them a token gift (like a used book) and then taking them out as their main gift. The child would much rather have quality one on one time with Aunt Sue than another toy. You can do anything you think you'd both enjoy whether that be a picnic at the park, a fancy tea at a hotel, a trip to the zoo, or a baseball game.Gifts for Teenagers:Teenagers are hard. But gift-giving is not. Hand them cash. Trust me.If you really don't want to give them cash, an iTunes gift card is a pretty safe bet.Gifts for Friends:Again, friends are pretty easy. I've done all kinds of things here. One of the most fail-safe is to take your friend out to dinner.But there are plenty of options here as well. Pool together with a few friends to buy a spa gift certificate. Or take your friend out to a concert, or to a play. Again, your friend would rather spend time with you, than get more stuff.And if your wallet is feeling a little light, a bottle of wine is always classy, and often inexpensive. (Try Trader Joe's or Cost Plus World Market for good, inexpensive wines.)Gifts for Weddings:I actually love buying non-traditional wedding gifts and have pretty much stopped purchasing stuff off of registries. Because frankly, I find cheese graters sort of boring, and doesn't everyone live together before marriage these days? It's not like we're all Victorians living with our parents until we say, "I do." So how did you grate your cheese before marriage? Yeah, I thought so. So instead of buying the bride and groom a cheese grater they already probably own, why not just buy them cheese? Yes, there really are Cheese of the Month Clubs.And they are awesome. Because nothing says, "I love you," like cheese.In that vein, what about aWine of the Month Club?A group of people pooled in to buy a year long membership for two of my friends, and they say it was their favorite wedding present.Oh, but there's more!Spice of the Month Clubs? Tea of the Month Clubs?You name it, it probably exists!Okay, I get it. You are tired of the month clubs. Do I have any other options? Why yes I do. What about a CSA share?No food? Okay, how about movie passes so that the husband and wife can enjoy Friday date nights? Or a gift certificate for a couples massage? Or a gift certificate for a nice restaurant? Or how about chipping in with a few people and paying for a couple nights in a hotel so that the couple can have a little weekend get-away?And if all else fails? You know what married couples like most? Cash!Gifts for Family:What does your mom want most of all? She wants to spend time with you! For Mother's Day, my sister and I flew out to spend the weekend with my mom. Now granted, that's a pretty carbon-heavy present, but on the other hand, we will all three have memories of that weekend for the rest of our lives.Here's a less carbon-intense option: make a nice scrapbook for your mom filled with family pictures.This one is for your brother's family next Christmas. Instead of buying five presents, one for your brother, one for his wife, and three for the kids, why not just buy them a present they can all enjoy? A year long membership to the zoo or aquarium? What about a museum subscription? In addition, a lot of theatre companies now offer a subscription specifically for families for the kid-friendly shows. These are usually less expensive than the regular theatre subscriptions, and the plays are aimed at younger audiences.Gifts for Teachers/Coaches/Etc:As a former SAT teacher, I can say hands down, the best gift you can give, is cash. Seriously. Even if you're not giving much, I would rather have $5 than a $5 doodad.If you can't stomach giving $5 and a nice card, what about a $5 iTunes or Starbucks gift card? Even $5 will get you a couple coffees or five songs.Still not convinced? Okay, I'll let you buy "stuff." How about a couple nice soaps from the farmers' market? At least those are useful! Or what about a nice beeswax candle?There is also food. But I gotta warn you, teachers tend to get food a lot as presents. Honestly, if you feel comfortable with it, a bottle of wine would be better because the wine will keep.Now listen. I'm not against giving "stuff" here and there. In fact, some of the best gifts I've given have been things. If you find the PERFECT gift for someone, and it happens to be a thing, go for it! But all too often, I think we buy stuff for people, stuff we're not sure they'll ever use. So on those occasions, why not think outside the gift box?]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Carrots-versus-Sticks/3769.htmlFri, 21 Aug 2009 08:51:38 GMTRuchira Shah What motivates people? Carrots or sticks?As an ethical consumer, I aim to use carrots, generally speaking. I try and persuade people that thrift shopping is awesome (which it totally is), that farmers' markets have delicious food (they really do), and that having less stuff can make you happier.My goal is to appeal to people's sense of morality. And, you know, after about two years of living more ethically, I think it's working. Witness, the drop in plastic bag consumption in the UK. All because Read Full Article ]]> What motivates people? Carrots or sticks?As an ethical consumer, I aim to use carrots, generally speaking. I try and persuade people that thrift shopping is awesome (which it totally is), that farmers' markets have delicious food (they really do), and that having less stuff can make you happier.My goal is to appeal to people's sense of morality. And, you know, after about two years of living more ethically, I think it's working. Witness, the drop in plastic bag consumption in the UK. All because people like you and me just said no.I've studied a number of sustainable cities, and I've become convinced that community involvement is integral to sustainability. On the other hand, when people are not involved, but change is imposed, they seem to reject it. For example, in Seattle, voters recently rejected a fee for plastic bags.This suggests that our current attempts to deal with climate change by"putting a price on carbon"are simply misguided. If the public rejects a 20 cent fee on plastic bags, why would they agree to a carbon tax? And given that most industrialized countries are democracies, politicians simply cannot pass legislation so unpopular.Instead of top down heavy-handed plans, we need more plans that appeal to people's better instincts. We need to motivate people to change their behavior instead of forcing them with a stick.I agree that we need to move fast. I agree that climate change is a critical issue. But I also understand that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing time after time after time and expecting different results.Climate activists have been largely pursuing the same goals since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. And we're still nowhere close to achieving those goals.Given this, isn't it time we try something new?]]>http://www.justmeans.com/The-Whole-World-Seems-to-Be-Going-Bananas/3008.htmlThu, 13 Aug 2009 05:47:22 GMTRuchira Shah Bananas. A once innocuous, tasty and healthy fruit has increasingly been caught in a storm of controversy both here at Justmeans.com and throughout the eco-blogosphere. Are bananas a healthy snack and an obvious sign of ethical consumption? Or should we avoid them as a non-local food which are often grown in poor labor conditions? You decide.I have to admit I've been contemplating bananas for a while now. Bananas are a wonderful fruit for many reasons, but they are not local to the temperate reg Read Full Article ]]> Bananas. A once innocuous, tasty and healthy fruit has increasingly been caught in a storm of controversy both here at Justmeans.com and throughout the eco-blogosphere. Are bananas a healthy snack and an obvious sign of ethical consumption? Or should we avoid them as a non-local food which are often grown in poor labor conditions? You decide.I have to admit I've been contemplating bananas for a while now. Bananas are a wonderful fruit for many reasons, but they are not local to the temperate regions where I've spent most of my life. For that reason, some Northern environmentalists have given up or limited their banana consumption.About a year ago, I decided to take a month long local food challenge which involved giving up bananas for a month. While I had some issues with this (I'm a self-described cranky environmentalist), on the whole I found that while I still enjoy bananas, I just adore the taste of local seasonal fruit. Ethical consumption be damned, it's about the taste!But that was before I had really started to study international development issues. As I read about how small-scale producers are left impoverished by large scale corporations, I started viewing the 'banana issue' as more of a social justice issue. Bananas not only involve considerable food-miles, non fair-trade banana producers often operate with poor labor conditions.So when Jeff wrote a post commending Disney's Hannah Montana branded bananas as a type of socially responsible behavior, I simply had to disagree. In my opinion, a Hananah Montana sticker on a banana does not pass the muster for corporate social responsibility. However you feel about bananas, I simply don't feel like branded fruit passes the litmuss test for CSR.A spirited discussion ensued, as Jeff pointed out that bananas are healthier than other foods that Disney has been endorsing, and that we should be encouraging Disney for promoting fruit instead of candy or fast food. Recently, Megan weighed in with her personal experience of visiting the banana plantations in Costa Rica. Although these plantations are considered to be some of the best in the world in terms of labor practices, Megan still noted several human rights violations at the plantations she toured. Not good news for ethical consumers.Essentially, I think the debate about bananas comes down to the debate Jeff and I had. On the one hand, bananas are a beloved fruit. They're tasty, they're healthy, and before a morning jog, I enjoy nothing better than a banana. But they're also non-local for most of us in North America and Europe and there are clear social justice issues with the way bananas are produced.In the end, you have to decide for yourself whether bananas constitute ethical consumption or not, but the answer for this ethical consumer has been to limit myself to only purchasing fair trade bananas. I find that fair trade bananas, while easy to find in London, are fairly difficult to find in the United States. If you can find fair-trade bananas at your local supermarket, I'd strongly encourage you to support the fair-trade banana market if you want to buy bananas. If you can't find fair-trade bananas, why not write a letter to your grocery store of choice and ask them to start carrying them? And if you want more information about bananas, I recommend reading this New York Times article written by Dan Koeppel.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/A-Dirty-Hippie-s-Guide-to-Fashion/3651.htmlWed, 12 Aug 2009 23:16:36 GMTRuchira Shah It is hard sometimes to be a fashionista who cares about the world. And I get it, I get it. No one wants to be the worst dressed at the next Greenpeace meeting. I mean, I do, because I'm a dirty hippie, but clearly you don't. And that's okay. Because the truth is, you CAN be both eco-conscious and fabulous.My tips will not only keep you beautifully clad, but they are good for the earth and your pocketbook all at once. So here we go. Without further ado, I give you, the top 10 clothing items to b Read Full Article ]]> It is hard sometimes to be a fashionista who cares about the world. And I get it, I get it. No one wants to be the worst dressed at the next Greenpeace meeting. I mean, I do, because I'm a dirty hippie, but clearly you don't. And that's okay. Because the truth is, you CAN be both eco-conscious and fabulous.My tips will not only keep you beautifully clad, but they are good for the earth and your pocketbook all at once. So here we go. Without further ado, I give you, the top 10 clothing items to buy used:Wait, what? Used clothes are gross!! You really are a dirty hippie!No, they're really not gross. Just stick them in the washing machine.But....Listen, do you want an eco-conscious and cost-effective wardrobe?Yes.Then get over it. Okay, once again, the top 10 clothing items to buy used:10) Accessories. Ever stared at a belt, and thought, that belt is great, but $30 for a belt is way too much. Or, maybe it was a scarf that you had your eye on. Well luckily, you don't have to spend $30 on a belt. Instead, head to the thrift store and pick up a cool belt or scarf for under $10! If you are looking to dip your toe into the used-clothing water, this is a good one because there's really no "ick" factor with used belts!9) Jackets and coats. Again, there's not much of an ick factor with coats. Plus they're really, really expensive in the store.8) Vintage Tees. Here's a crazy thought. Instead of buying a tee-shirt that "looks vintage" at American Eagle, why not head to the thrift store and buy the real thing. Plus, vintage tees give you way more street cred.7) Dresses for special occasions. You know how you buy a dress for a wedding, and you think, "Oh, I'll wear it to these five events!" But then, after the wedding, you kind of don't feel like wearing it to something else, because everyone's already SEEN you in that dress. I get it. I mean we don't expect Nicole Kidman to buy one gown for the Golden Globes and then wear it to the Oscars, so why should you wear the same dress to two weddings? So instead of wearing the same dress everywhere, buy a dress used. Chances are it's only been worn once or twice. Then wear it to your special occasion, and turn around and sell the dress to someone else. Then go buy another used dress for your next special occasion. Voila! Now you too, can never be seen twice in the same fancy dress.6) Designer dresses for non-special occasions. Did I mention that I used to have a huge weakness for pretty dresses? I did. Especially, Betsy Johnson. I had an enormous weakness for Betsy Johnson. I would rarely buy, but I always HAD to go into the store and try on the dresses. On occasion, I would find something I LOVED, and end up throwing down $250 on a sundress. I wouldn't do it that often, but still, that's a lot of money. So I got smart. I skipped the Betsy Johnson store, and instead, just hit the thrift stores. One of my favorite Betsy Johnson dresses was a thrift store score. It still had its $350 price tag on it, but I got it for $35.5) Designer jeans. This is a tip I learned from my fabulous friend Annie. Go to Nordstrom. Try out every single pair of nice jeans- True Religion, Sevens, etc. Write down all the info of the jeans you like: size, brand, line, etc. Then stalk Ebay. Within a couple months, one of the jeans you like will eventually show up and instead of costing $180, they'll probably cost about $50. Or you can just cruise the thrift store every so often. Because frankly? I've been to thrift stores everywhere from San Francisco to Milwaukee, and every single one had a decent selection of jeans, many of them designer label.4) Hats. You know how you're always saying, "Maybe I'm a hat person?" and then you buy a hat, and then you realize that you have no opportunity to wear a hat? Yeah. I mean you should really stop trying with the hats, but if you can't, at least buy a used hat. Then when you realize you don't have a reason to wear the hat, at least you can sell it back for about what you paid.3) Suits. ESPECIALLY if you're just buying a suit for an interview, and you don't plan to wear the suit every day to work. Don't waste a ton of money on something that will last an hour.2) Maternity wear. I know, I know, all the stars are wearing Prada Maternity. But seriously? In a few months, these clothes won't fit you anymore. Buy 'em used, and then you can sell 'em back!1) Wedding dress. She only wore it once. You're only wearing it once. NO ONE WILL KNOW.And that is it! Now you can save the earth without looking like a fashion victim. Notice that used underwear is not on the list. That is because I may be a dirty hippie, but even I know that used La Perla is a fashion faux pas.Oh, one last piece of advice. Alter, alter, alter. You think all those Hollywood stars just naturally look good in off-the-rack clothing? No, they don't. So if you love a piece of clothing, but it doesn't fit you quite right, take it to a tailor, and have them alter it to fit your body. Trust me. You will thank the dirty hippie later. (If you are planning to re-sell the item, you want to be a little more careful about this.)And that's it. Good luck, fashion mavens! Good luck, and good (used) shopping!]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Shopping-Until-I-Drop/3660.htmlMon, 10 Aug 2009 09:08:09 GMTRuchira Shah Recently, Jeff Trexler and I have been discussing the merits of used clothing quite a bit. So I guess it's not that surprising, with shopping on the brain, that I wandered into an Oxfam shop today and wound up with a pair of trousers, two blouses, a pair of jeans, and a book. All for 40 pounds. Not bad, eh?As I paid for my purchases, I reflected how shopping from Oxfam ticks all the boxes for ethical consumers. You're buying sustainably, plus there is the added bonus of knowing that your purchas Read Full Article ]]> Recently, Jeff Trexler and I have been discussing the merits of used clothing quite a bit. So I guess it's not that surprising, with shopping on the brain, that I wandered into an Oxfam shop today and wound up with a pair of trousers, two blouses, a pair of jeans, and a book. All for 40 pounds. Not bad, eh?As I paid for my purchases, I reflected how shopping from Oxfam ticks all the boxes for ethical consumers. You're buying sustainably, plus there is the added bonus of knowing that your purchases help Oxfam fight poverty in the South. Plus, you get some new-to-you things at a fairly inexpensive price. (The jeans I bought were DKNY, in good condition, and 8 pounds.) What could be better?The other thing I noticed is that charity shops have become much better at selling their wares. Once upon a time, you'd go to a charity shop and clothes would be hung higgelty-piggelty. Often they would be wrinkled and look a little dirty. The shop itself would be sort of dark and musty and the books would look like they were all decades old.But times have changed. Oh, there are still charity shops like that, but many Oxfams are really nice, well lit, and clean. The shops have learnt a lot about presentation, and the clothes I bought today were all hung nicely on wooden hangers. I have to say, as a consumer, these things make a difference. Shopping sustainably is so much nicer when you don't have to pick your way through a table filled with old grungy clothing.So if you haven't been to a charity shop recently, or have been holding back because you think charity shops are dark, disorganized places, why not check one out? You may be pleasantly surprised with what you find.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Diamonds--A-Girl-s-Best-Friend/3545.htmlThu, 06 Aug 2009 06:04:32 GMTRuchira Shah No, I'm not engaged or anywhere NEAR engaged, but I'm a girl, and occasionally I think about these kinds of things. And since I also believe in ethical consumption, things like engagement rings are complicated.Once upon a time, I had decided that if I ever were to get engaged, I wanted a princess cut diamond from Tiffany's with a platinum band.Looking back, I can't really believe that that was actually what I wanted. I mean, clearly it's what I wanted because it's what *everyone* wanted. But the Read Full Article ]]> No, I'm not engaged or anywhere NEAR engaged, but I'm a girl, and occasionally I think about these kinds of things. And since I also believe in ethical consumption, things like engagement rings are complicated.Once upon a time, I had decided that if I ever were to get engaged, I wanted a princess cut diamond from Tiffany's with a platinum band.Looking back, I can't really believe that that was actually what I wanted. I mean, clearly it's what I wanted because it's what *everyone* wanted. But the truth is, that's not really me. Even if I didn't care about the cost, or the environmental factors, I think that I'm probably not a Tiffany's kind of girl.Now, the non-consumer in me has a preference towards second-hand, err, I mean antique, rings. I'd guess an antique diamond would be insanely expensive, but there are other cool stones out there. If I ever wind up getting married, that would probably be what I would lean towards. I'm not particularly set on a diamond anyway.But if you like the diamond look, what do you do? My friends were having this discussion, and I think people generally agreed that antique diamonds were great if they were affordable. A lot of my friends have diamonds that have been passed on from generation to generation so that's an EXTREMELY affordable option! And it's more meaningful to be wearing your grandmother's ring, I think. (Unless your grandmother had a horrible marriage, in which case I'm not sure if it is better, you know, symbolically.)The other options are, of course, conflict-free diamonds and synthetic diamonds. Conflict-free diamonds, are again, somewhat expensive. Synthetic diamonds have the advantage of being cheaper, and as one of my incredibly wise friends pointed out, it reduces the general demand for natural diamonds which is probably a good thing. It's funny to think that natural is bad, and artificial is good, but diamonds are probably one of the few things where artificial really is the more environmental option by far.Of course, there is a bit of me that is sternly chastising the rest of me (what can I say, it's hard being me.) Because, the truth is, engagement rings can hardly be classified as a need. Presumably, you're going to be getting a wedding ring soon enough, so the real non-consumer answer is probably to just forgo the engagement ring entirely. BUT, the tiny mushy romantic in me is hard pressed to give up entirely on engagement rings. I know it's unnecessary, but I freaking LOVE seeing my newly engaged friends' rings, and I love seeing them beam as they proudly extend their hands. I'm eco, but I'm not a grinch.So for you married peeps, what kind of engagement ring did you get? Would you get a different one if you were making the decision today? Did any of you get your husbands engagement rings? And for you single folks, if you ever decide to tie the knot, do you have any thoughts as to what kind of ring you'll get?]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Cash-for-Clunkers-Really/3588.htmlSun, 02 Aug 2009 05:59:43 GMTRuchira Shah A few people have asked me what I, as an ethical consumer, think about the Cash for Clunkers program. This extremely popular program allows individuals to receive a federal subsidy when they trade in an older gas-guzzling car for a new fuel-efficient vehicle. Consequently, the program is being dubbed by Nancy Pelosi and others as a win-win-win situation because it stimulates the economy, the auto industry, and helps the environment all at once.But does Cash for Clunkers really help the environme Read Full Article ]]> A few people have asked me what I, as an ethical consumer, think about the Cash for Clunkers program. This extremely popular program allows individuals to receive a federal subsidy when they trade in an older gas-guzzling car for a new fuel-efficient vehicle. Consequently, the program is being dubbed by Nancy Pelosi and others as a win-win-win situation because it stimulates the economy, the auto industry, and helps the environment all at once.But does Cash for Clunkers really help the environment? Cars.com suggests there could be a positive effect on the environment, though they ignore the environmental cost of manufacturing a new car in their assessment.On the other hand,The Atlantic provides a concise summary of the program, and clearly demonstrates that Cash for Clunkers favors SUV and truck drivers more than other kind of vehicle owners. First of all, you're only allowed to participate in the program if your current vehicle gets under or equal to 18 miles per gallon.Secondly, if you trade in an SUV or truck for a new SUV or truck, a 2-4 mile per gallon improvement in fuel economy will earn you a whopping $3500 federal subsidy. On the other hand, car owners are required to improve their fuel economy by 4-9 miles per gallon in order to receive the $3500 federal subsidy. Due to the less than rigorous fuel-efficiency requirements, NPR notes that trading in your old Hummer for a Hummer H3T pickup could qualify you for the subsidy.On top of all this, this federal program is costing tax-payers beaucoup bucks that could, I think, be spent elsewhere. Plus, there's the waste issue: where are we putting all these old clunkers?Sadly, I have to conclude that Cash for Clunkers is a wasteful, potentially damaging program that doesn't live up to its hype.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Why-Not-To-Drink-Bottled-Water/3216.htmlWed, 29 Jul 2009 09:40:08 GMTRuchira Shah A couple months ago, Sara wrote a great post about water privatization, and it got me thinking more about bottled water.You see, a few weeks ago, my friends and I took a trip to Istanbul for a few days. While we were there, we were advised not to drink the tap water, and instead to stick to the bottled water.As much as buying bottle after bottle of water hurt, the ethical consumer gritted her teeth and stuck to the bottle. After all, I was only in Istanbul for a weekend, I told myself. It wasn't Read Full Article ]]> A couple months ago, Sara wrote a great post about water privatization, and it got me thinking more about bottled water.You see, a few weeks ago, my friends and I took a trip to Istanbul for a few days. While we were there, we were advised not to drink the tap water, and instead to stick to the bottled water.As much as buying bottle after bottle of water hurt, the ethical consumer gritted her teeth and stuck to the bottle. After all, I was only in Istanbul for a weekend, I told myself. It wasn't worth getting sick.Now if you've ever been to Istanbul, you would see that it's an incredibly modern and clean city. In fact, the streets seem cleaner than many other European cities I've been to. So why doesn't Istanbul have drinkable tap water?Well, I don't know the answer for sure, but I can tell you this. In Istanbul, many of the Turkish people we met told us that they always drank bottled water. It seems that in Turkey, those who can afford to, simply don't drink tap. Which means that the government has less incentive to clean up the drinking supply. Which means that the only people left drinking the unclean water are the poor who can't afford bottled water, and have very little power to demand change from the government.This is a sad story that has been oft-repeated in country after country after country. And, it could be our destiny in Western Europe and the United States. If we drink bottled water instead of tap water, if we buy into these myths that tap water is unclean, we could find ourselves stuck with highly expensive privatized tap water.That's why, when I'm at home, I drink water straight from the tap. It's not just about the plastic water bottles, and the waste issue, though those issues are important. It's about protecting our right to water.Protect your right to water. Drink tap.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Ethical-Suits-/3503.htmlWed, 29 Jul 2009 08:30:32 GMTRuchira Shah Hello, JustMeans community. The ethical consumer needs your help. I need to buy a business suit. And given that I might need to wear said suit quite a bit in the near future, I'm thinking of investing in a high quality new suit, instead of just finding any old second-hand suit at a charity shop.Now, in my eco-nutty past, I have researched many things: ethical jeans, shoes, bags, make-up. I've figured out how to make a scrubby out of an old orange bag, and I found out where my cell phone goes whe Read Full Article ]]> Hello, JustMeans community. The ethical consumer needs your help. I need to buy a business suit. And given that I might need to wear said suit quite a bit in the near future, I'm thinking of investing in a high quality new suit, instead of just finding any old second-hand suit at a charity shop.Now, in my eco-nutty past, I have researched many things: ethical jeans, shoes, bags, make-up. I've figured out how to make a scrubby out of an old orange bag, and I found out where my cell phone goes when I take it to an e-waste site. But never have I had to research ethical suits.A quick Google search reveals that there are a couple of companies that make eco-friendly tuxes for weddings, but there's very little that I found business attire-wise. While there are a couple eco-friendly suits out there, they are mostly men's suits. I only found one woman's pantsuit made out of hemp, and it's not particularly attractive.So, does anyone have any suggestions? Any suits made from organic materials and/or using ethical labor practices? If not, I have to say, I think ethical suits might be a good business opportunity. After all, there's a strong market out there for eco-friendly jeans, undergarments, and casual wear. It's only a matter of time before "green" suits take the business world by storm.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/The-Meaning-of-Things/3444.htmlFri, 24 Jul 2009 05:59:05 GMTRuchira Shah As I've been sitting here contemplating my stuff, and wondering what I need, what I don't, and how much we all need stuff to keep us settled and rooted, I've been reading some other people's thoughts about things.Pico Iyer has written a beautiful article on living with less in the New York Times. Though I'm feeling conflicted right now about the lack of things in my life, I agree with Iyer. Less is definitely more. The less you need, the more you are free to do whatever job you want, to take tim Read Full Article ]]> As I've been sitting here contemplating my stuff, and wondering what I need, what I don't, and how much we all need stuff to keep us settled and rooted, I've been reading some other people's thoughts about things.Pico Iyer has written a beautiful article on living with less in the New York Times. Though I'm feeling conflicted right now about the lack of things in my life, I agree with Iyer. Less is definitely more. The less you need, the more you are free to do whatever job you want, to take time off if need be. Buying less allows you to live life on your terms.On the other hand, I know I couldn't live like Daniel Suelo, who lives in a canyon in Utah without any money or things. Although I try to buy as little as possible, I've also recognized the importance my things have in my life.I still think there is a happy medium that most of us have not found, that I am striving to find, between having clutter, and having too little. Maybe, one day soon, I will figure out that that happy medium is.Have you found the happy medium between too many things and too little? What is it for you?]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Does-Stuff-Anchor-Us-Down/3395.htmlThu, 23 Jul 2009 00:58:00 GMTRuchira Shah Once upon a time, I thought it was really cool to be the kind of person whose every possession could fit in the back of a car. That's the kind of person I wanted to be. Someone who traveled light. Who could flit from place to place without care. A vagabond. I moved every year.Then I moved to Los Angeles and stayed their for seven years. I bought stuff. Lots of it. A TV, a couple hundred books, clothes, furniture. I even owned my fridge. I was no longer the kind of person whose possessions fit in Read Full Article ]]> Once upon a time, I thought it was really cool to be the kind of person whose every possession could fit in the back of a car. That's the kind of person I wanted to be. Someone who traveled light. Who could flit from place to place without care. A vagabond. I moved every year.Then I moved to Los Angeles and stayed their for seven years. I bought stuff. Lots of it. A TV, a couple hundred books, clothes, furniture. I even owned my fridge. I was no longer the kind of person whose possessions fit in the back of a car. And I liked it that way. After four years of being a vagabond, I had a home again. And all that stuff helped me to view Los Angeles as home. In the seven years I lived in LA, I only moved once. Too much stuff. Who wants to move all that stuff? My things were holding me down.Then I left Los Angeles, and got rid of most of the stuff. I no longer own a fridge. Or much furniture at all. My possessions once again could fit in the back of a car. Well, at least, they could fit in the back of a mini-van. I feel freer to roam about the world without all that stuff weighing me down.On the other hand, I no longer feel like I have a real home.It's strange, but I do believe that in a way our possessions are an important means of anchoring us down, and making us feel we're home. Without our own stuff, we're merely visitors. As an ethical consumer, I try to buy very little. And there is very little I actually use. But, I realize, sometimes, it's not about actually using all your things. It is, sometimes, just about having them there to make you feel settled.Maybe the answer is balance. Maybe it's okay if my stuff does not fit in the back of a car, as long as I don't let my stuff keep me from taking on the world.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Does-Ethical-Consumerism-Mean-Always-Supporting-The-Local-Mom-and-Pop-Store/3268.htmlWed, 15 Jul 2009 08:46:10 GMTRuchira Shah For me, the answer is ... sometimes.Megan MacDonald recently wrote an interesting piece on Starbucks and their attempts at corporate social responsibility. She used to put companies in good or bad quadrants.But recently, Megan says that she's become more aware of the good works Starbucks is doing, and attempting. She writes:Starbucks is far from alone in this category - many of today's most successful businesses left the same RIP trail of mom-and-pop shops in their wake. Like me, I know many peo Read Full Article ]]> For me, the answer is ... sometimes.Megan MacDonald recently wrote an interesting piece on Starbucks and their attempts at corporate social responsibility. She used to put companies in good or bad quadrants.But recently, Megan says that she's become more aware of the good works Starbucks is doing, and attempting. She writes:Starbucks is far from alone in this category - many of today's most successful businesses left the same RIP trail of mom-and-pop shops in their wake. Like me, I know many people who aren't quite ready to forgive them for it. The truth is, these are the businesses of today - the major employers, the movers of the most products and those who serve the greatest amounts of people. It is thus important to both encourage, support and embrace their efforts at responsibility.Now, personally, I've always had a weird soft spot for Starbucks. For one, many Starbucks pay their employees better than independent coffee houses and offer health benefits to employees who work a certain number of hours per week. Besides, I'm not convinced that Starbucks really does kill mom and pop coffee shops. In fact, many articles suggest that Starbucks actually HELPS independent coffee shops for a variety of reasons. Bryant Simon, a professor at Temple University argues that Starbucks helped to create a coffee culture which benefited independent coffee houses. Thus, while Starbucks increased the supply of coffee houses, they also increased demand. Now, I'm not an expert on coffee culture, but I do notice independent coffee houses everywhere I turn. So I'm hard-pressed to believe that Starbucks has really done much damage to the local mom and pop coffee house (especially compared to say, the independent bookstore which I believe really has suffered.)Moreover, as a major company, Starbucks has the ability to make a real impact with its environmental practices. For example, Starbucks was the first company to develop a cup made of recycled content, and then it navigated the whole FDA approval process. Because of Starbucks' commitment to recycled content cups, other companies can now take advantage of this technology.The truth is, Starbucks was once a small coffee shop itself. Knee jerk opposition to major companies isn't necessarily helpful. We shouldn't be against companies becoming successful. And while many companies lose their ethics as the grow more successful, Starbucks has largely stayed the ethical course.So, this ethical consumer is happy to patronize Starbucks. She's also happy to patronize independent coffee shops. As it turns out, with coffee, you can have both your local mom and pop, and your big green corporation.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Is-Grass-Fed-Beef-Better-And-How-do-You-Define--Better-/1161.htmlTue, 14 Jul 2009 20:10:43 GMTRuchira Shah Today I was reminded of why one should refrain from broad statements like, "Grass fed beef is better for the environment."For one, it's a fairly meaningless statement. Better than what? Well, corn-fed, presumably, but in what way? What environmental parameters are we using?Because, here's the thing. I don't eat much meat, but I fully support eating grass-fed. But when you frame an argument that way, you open yourself up to criticism. And then you get guys like Josh Ozersky claiming that corn-fed Read Full Article ]]> Today I was reminded of why one should refrain from broad statements like, "Grass fed beef is better for the environment."For one, it's a fairly meaningless statement. Better than what? Well, corn-fed, presumably, but in what way? What environmental parameters are we using?Because, here's the thing. I don't eat much meat, but I fully support eating grass-fed. But when you frame an argument that way, you open yourself up to criticism. And then you get guys like Josh Ozersky claiming that corn-fed beef tastes better and that locally grown corn-fed beef is better for the environment than grass-fed beef that required acres of South American rainforest to be cut down.And that's the problem with sound-bytes. Because anyone can create a scenario wherein something considered 'good' for the environment (like say walking) can be rendered 'bad' for the environment (because all that walking made you so hungry you ate a cheeseburger made with South American beef!!)Still, Ozersky's point is well taken. So as the ethical consumer, I say this to you: Don't eat grass-fed beef from cows grown on former rainforests in South America.Instead, buy some locally grown grass-fed beef from your local farmers' market. Ozersky claims that corn-fed beef tastes better than grass-fed. I think he's wrong. Grass fed beef, in my opinion, tastes inordinately better.Moreover, grass fed beef tends to be lower fat, and higher in omega-3.Furthermore, there's the moral dimension. The digestive system of a cow is designed to eat primarily grass, not primarily grain. Is it really fair for us to be forcing a cow to eat something that they haven't evolved to eat?Finally, in terms of carbon costs, locally produced grass-fed beef cuts down on transportation emissions for meat.But the truth is, that any way you slice it, beef is a fairly carbon-intensive meat. So it is best to eat as little of it as possible.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/How-Not-Buying-Can-Be-A-Confidence-Booster/3082.htmlMon, 06 Jul 2009 17:22:03 GMTRuchira Shah The other day, I went out shopping with a few of my girlfriends. Yes, the Ethical Consumer went shopping. I had to buy a pair of sunglasses, my friends had to buy some trousers.We went to one store, where I found cheap sunglasses in about five minutes. I purchased them, and then spent the rest of the time, just hanging back, chatting with my friends and waiting for them to finish shopping."You're not looking at any clothes?" one of them asked."Nah," I responded. "I don't need clothes."And I didn Read Full Article ]]> The other day, I went out shopping with a few of my girlfriends. Yes, the Ethical Consumer went shopping. I had to buy a pair of sunglasses, my friends had to buy some trousers.We went to one store, where I found cheap sunglasses in about five minutes. I purchased them, and then spent the rest of the time, just hanging back, chatting with my friends and waiting for them to finish shopping."You're not looking at any clothes?" one of them asked."Nah," I responded. "I don't need clothes."And I didn't. But that's never stopped me before.Once upon a time, I used to go out shopping with my friends and buy. Because I could. Because I wanted to. Because I thought that if I bought this shirt, or this dress it would turn me into another more awesome person. Because I thought I could reinvent myself, one cute shirt at a time.Somehow, my year of not shopping broke the cycle and permanently changed who I am and how I view myself. Instead of thinking I need a shirt to reinvent myself, I've become more comfortable with who I already am.We are sold products with the idea that if we own a product, we will become cooler, wittier, funnier, better looking. It's an age-old marketing device, and advertisers use it to sell everything from iPhones to beer to vests. But if we ever stopped for a second to think about this, we would realize, we don't need these things to be cool or funny or have good friends and family. We don't need a new dress to be pretty.As I learnt in my year of not shopping, clothes do not make the person. I can't change myself just by changing my clothes. And really that's okay. Because the truth is? As I sit here, wearing an eight year old tee-shirt and jeans purchased in the nineties, I realize I'm pretty happy with who I am.Sorry advertisers. I'm finally on to you.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/The-Story-of-Stuff/2939.htmlSat, 04 Jul 2009 06:49:00 GMTRuchira Shah Many of you have likely seen "The Story of Stuff," but if you haven't, I highly recommend it. Here's a taste:Visit the website for the full story of stuff.I was reminded of this video when talking to a classmate of mine who is studying the export of trash. Apparently, the UK is the leading exporter of trash to China.As I reflected on this, I realized that it's because we don't pay the true cost of our items. So, when the TV or the fridge or the dishwasher goes bust, our response is not to repair Read Full Article ]]> Many of you have likely seen "The Story of Stuff," but if you haven't, I highly recommend it. Here's a taste:Visit the website for the full story of stuff.I was reminded of this video when talking to a classmate of mine who is studying the export of trash. Apparently, the UK is the leading exporter of trash to China.As I reflected on this, I realized that it's because we don't pay the true cost of our items. So, when the TV or the fridge or the dishwasher goes bust, our response is not to repair, but to simply buy new. Much of the time, buying new just makes financial sense. In a world where we don't pay the real cost of new stuff, repairing old stuff is often more expensive.So we buy new, and send our busted TVs, dishwashers, and mobile phones halfway around the world. Those of us in Europe and North America get a new TV, and those in China get to deal with our mess.I encourage you all to watch Annie Leonard's movie, "The Story of Stuff." And, the next time you are in a store and you see a cheap CD player, I hope you remember her message. Just because something is priced inexpensively doesn't mean it didn't exact its toll on other people and the planet.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/Is-There-Such-A-Thing-As-Ethical-Flying/3067.htmlFri, 03 Jul 2009 16:41:50 GMTRuchira Shah The ethical consumer has a confession to make. She has the travel bug. Bad.Yes, I know flying is not environmentally friendly, and yet, it is still something I continue to do. I love to travel, and have traveled since I was a small baby. As much as I am willing to give up other things (I've gone with no heat or a/c for a year when I lived in LA, I've gone a year buying no clothes whatsoever, I've severely cut down on meat), traveling is something I am not willing to give up.So, over the years I' Read Full Article ]]> The ethical consumer has a confession to make. She has the travel bug. Bad.Yes, I know flying is not environmentally friendly, and yet, it is still something I continue to do. I love to travel, and have traveled since I was a small baby. As much as I am willing to give up other things (I've gone with no heat or a/c for a year when I lived in LA, I've gone a year buying no clothes whatsoever, I've severely cut down on meat), traveling is something I am not willing to give up.So, over the years I've come up with a few strategies to make flying ... if not eco, at least a little less environmentally damaging.1. I order vegetarian meals on the airline instead of meat.2. I fill up my water bottle at the fountain at the airport, instead of drinking bottled water.3. I try to fly non-stop since its more fuel efficient.4. I minimize my baggage and thus the weight on the plane.5. I use the toilet before I get on the plane. The energy used to flush an airplane toilet is equivalent to the amount of energy used for a car to run for 10 kilometers!6. I offset my flight. Yes offsets are controversial, but I figure that it's better than doing nothing. (For those that are curious, my offset company of choice is Native Energy.)7. I try using alternate means of travel where possible. When I went to Amsterdam earlier this year, I took the ferry. Although it took considerably longer, I slept overnight on the boat, saved myself on a room for the night, and docked in the Netherlands remarkably rested. Plus, it was inexpensive! When I traveled from Paris to Nice, I took a 12 hour train ride overnight, but I met some really amazing people on the train.8. When I land in a new place, I try to use public transit or my own two feet as much as possible. It's amazing how many cool things you will get to know about a city when taking their public transit or walking.So, those are my tips for making your next travel experience, if not green, at least a little greener. What are your tips?]]>http://www.justmeans.com/On-Golden-Handcuffs-and-Other-Gilded-Cages/2936.htmlFri, 26 Jun 2009 11:24:42 GMTRuchira Shah The other day I was having a conversation with a friend of mine, who in a previous life had been an incredibly well paid employee of a financial institution. She recalled how even though she had made good money, the money was never enough. When you're making a lot of money, and all your friends are making a lot of money, you start to lead a lifestyle that then requires a lot of money. As a result, even though my friend was earning well, she was also in debt, and lived with the constant stress of Read Full Article ]]> The other day I was having a conversation with a friend of mine, who in a previous life had been an incredibly well paid employee of a financial institution. She recalled how even though she had made good money, the money was never enough. When you're making a lot of money, and all your friends are making a lot of money, you start to lead a lifestyle that then requires a lot of money. As a result, even though my friend was earning well, she was also in debt, and lived with the constant stress of needing to make more money.I sympathized with my friend. Although I never worked in finance, I understood exactly what she had gone through. When I moved to LA, I lived in an apartment in an inexpensive part of town with a roommate, but I made no money and so I spent a lot of time worrying about money. Six years later, I was earning a decent salary, but I also lived in a nice one bedroom apartment, had a car payment, and had gotten used to going out to nice restaurants and taking decent vacations. I spent money on kitchen utensils I never used simply because I wanted all the things in my kitchen to match. So though I had a decent job, I lived paycheck to paycheck.And then, about two years ago, I suddenly became aware of the environmental costs of my consumption. I realized how my buying new kitchen utensils just because could have an adverse impact on people living across the planet from me. And so, I decided to forgo buying new things for a year.And though it had been incredibly hard to say no to buying things when I was simply trying to be frugal, now it was incredibly easy. Because now, this wasn't about me and my petty finances anymore. It was about the planet, our consumeristic society, and about social justice. Whereas before, I would be able to justify my kitchen purchases (I work so hard. I deserve this. I worked overtime last week. I have a credit card.) now no justifications were available.And so, I started to live in a way that seemed ethical, and at the same time, the money started to pile up in my savings account. My monthly credit card bills were halved. I started to contribute more money to my 401(k). I paid off my credit cards.With the money saved, I realized, I had more freedom. I was no longer tied to my job for survival ... instead I started to contemplate returning to university. Although it would be expensive, I realized that by living simply, I could afford to go back and get my masters, something I had always dreamed of doing.The same month that my not-buying experiment ended, I packed up my LA life and moved to another continent to return to graduate school. I now live in a tiny student dorm room with kitchen utensils that don't match at all. And yet, I am blissfully happy.Because I learnt that having stuff does not buy my happiness. But being able to live within my means, and do what I'm passionate about?There's simply nothing better.]]>http://www.justmeans.com/On-The-Joys-Of-Living-With-Less/2757.htmlSun, 21 Jun 2009 07:59:11 GMTRuchira Shah Pico Iyer has written a beautiful article on living with less in the New York Times. Personally, I agree with Iyer. Less is definitely more. The less you need, the more you are free to do whatever job you want, to take time off if need be. Buying less allows you to live life on your terms.Can money buy you happiness? I don't know. But what I do know is that your stuff can tie you down and keep you from doing what you really want to do with your life. Read Full Article ]]> Pico Iyer has written a beautiful article on living with less in the New York Times. Personally, I agree with Iyer. Less is definitely more. The less you need, the more you are free to do whatever job you want, to take time off if need be. Buying less allows you to live life on your terms.Can money buy you happiness? I don't know. But what I do know is that your stuff can tie you down and keep you from doing what you really want to do with your life.]]>