RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION
Consumerism

For years, the consumption we are being submitted to is an authentic psychological war, with its origin from the powerful industry advertising designed to make us buy.

This psychological war is a part of a consumer model, which causes serious problems to the planet and to all the beings it includes. It even generates, in some persons, psychological alterations that impel to buy.

Responsible consumption

At present, it is necessary to organize the economy according to justice and respect for the human being. For the resources and to the nature it is not a question of moral or political opinion, it is a vital imperative which demands for all to place on our part. The institutions have to fulfill its assignment and this way we must demand it, but let's not forget that we have at our disposal a few means of intervention that can have a direct influence to the centers of economic power.
Responsible Consumption A Critical Consumption is when one questions the social and ecological conditions in which a product has been prepared or produced in. It is a daily attitude that consists of a thorough way choosing what we buy on the base of two criteria: the history of the product and the conduct of the producing company. Further, indicating productive methods and systems that we approve and those that we condemn.
An Ethical Consumption would be the one that is used when just, solidarity, and ecological options are valued more and consumed in accordance with these values and not only according to the personal benefit. From the ethical consumption we do special emphasis on the seriousness as value, as a form conscious of living, giving more importance to other activities than to the fact of consuming and having the ability to distinguish between real and imposed needs; organizing them, also, at collective level, guaranteeing this way to all the persons satisfaction of the dire with the minor extravagant needs. Responsible Consumption
From our responsibility and our power as consumers it arises a few obligations that might be summed up in:
  • To be critical with our consumption and form of life, by applying ethical values.
  • To demand information and to find out about the social and environmental conditions in which a product or a service has been prepared, like how it has been distributed to us and what the products consequences are.
  • To reduce our consumption, see ethical and ecological option, choosing for a model of well-being and happiness not based on the possession of material goods, which reverberates so much environmental and socially.
  • To practice a respectful natural consumption, reducing, re-using and, finally, recycling and consuming ecological and handmade products.
  • To practice a fair, solidarity, respectful consumption with the people and the cultures, where neither discrimination nor exploiting exists.

How is a consumer responsible?

  • One regulates ones consumption as a part of human values.
  • One realizes ones buyings in a conscious way (questioning from where the products comes from before buying).
  • It is a balance: one takes pleasure but at the same time knows to limit one self.
  • One searches, to satisfy ones proper needs, to have solidarity with the producers.
  • One tries to consume in that way that it will preserve the natural resources for enjoyment to following generations.
  • One realizes that buying is a political act with human sense.

The responsible consumer as we describe it here is a dream that always is in construction. It is certain that in the current world it is extremely difficult to be a responsible consumer. But it is not impossible.

Millions of people in the world are trying it, to be reflected on ones consumption and taking actions. From ones hearth, ones centers of work, these persons are contributing to making this planet a better place. They do not appear in the mass media, but they are the anonymous heroes of our time. With their small and daily participation they have already achieved the most important victories.

You can also take actions: it begins little by little, do what you can, try small changes in your habits and you will see how, slowly, everything starts changing.

If you do not achieve it at first, do not lose faith. It will go forward. Any contribution is important.