this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2023
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While I agree that we have a duty to avoid unethical brands whenever possible, there's just no way to escape them all. I live in a poor country and I there's a lot of "bad stuff" I have to buy just because it's what I can affford at the moment.
There is no ethical consumption under capitalism.
Fully agreed. While it is morally positive to avoid especially unethical companies, ultimately it's not possible in all cases. As long as you try to be moral in your day to day actions and you on some level push for things to be better, you're not morally culpable for the failings of the current system.
This is true... but with some corporations it's just a case of "fuck you in particular."
Avoiding every company that does something unethical is impossible. Imo, avoiding giving money directly to those unethical practices is what we should strive for.
Ie, Nestle is notorious for the way it acquires and sells bottled water, using legal loopholes to leave communities without drinkable water, and adding sodium to their water to keep you thirsty and drink more. So don't buy their water. Assuming enough people do so, the company will, inevitably, stop selling water and focus on products that are selling. Does Nestle as a whole deserve to fuck off? I mean, sure, but, at the very least, we can pressure companies to only engage with the practices that we consider passable.
I avoid Nestle, because fuck their water shit, I don't trust them to source cocoa reasonably either, and they are nowhere near having a monopoly on good chocolate, so they're perhaps a bad example. But we can at least push companies around, because ultimately, the only thing they give a shot about is our money.
Sure for sure. And I'm tired of people treating it like it's all or nothing, OR that it is stupid to boycott! I have my reasons why I refuse to purchase from this brand specifically and not others. We all only have so much energy (and money, mental resources etc) to be able to do so much. Let's not shit on others for trying, or others who don't want to. Maybe their energy is spent on other injustices and boycotts. Or just trying to survive. I dont like that they steal water from drought stricken communities here in America, and what they did in Africa. I have the mental resources and the luxury to boycott them so I do. You don't so you don't.
The only jerks are the ones who literally don't care because it has nothing to do with them.
I avoid Nestlé as much as I can, I mostly... I just buy a coffee crisp once or twice a year. It's one of my favorites and I have not found an alternative I like as much/better.
Nestle isn't exactly making bank off me, that's enough.
Yup and as far as I'm really concerned enough to speak up to anyone, it's if they buy their bottled water. Since like, that's supporting them stealing water from drought stricken fellow Americans. Most people will be willing to try a different bottled water brand. And I think that's a really good bare minimum boycott that is accessible, easy, and could spread.
I have had my own insulated steel water bottle for a few years now. I have bought a couple water bottles since, but it only happens when I forget it and it's a hot day. I still try to avoid Nestlé when that happens.
Nestlé chocolates are bad too, though. They use palm oil in all of it. However, most chocolate companies do. And it isn't limited to chocolates. Oreos, which are vegan, use palm oil as well, which is why some vegans and vegetarians boycott oreos. Unfortunately there aren't many alternatives to go to for this issue. The only viable solution for this one is to "stop eating chocolates/etc" rather than finding alternate brands and companies. Unfortunately this one is rather difficult because palm oil is one of those ingredients that has like 50 different names because companies KNOW that palm oil is one of those issues people feel strongly about and try to avoid. So every company will call it something else, or something very, very vague. Avoiding palm oil is like trying to avoid corn or soy.
Soy is quite allergenic, are not there notices about that on your packaging?
There are, but it might not be called so and at the bottom they might write "(may) contain: soy"
I'm talking about pre-made whatever. Salad dressings, sauces, etc. They all have corn or soy in them, sometimes both. It's hard to avoid it entirely. People with a soy allergy probably have to get specialty brands and/or go to specialty shops since food in North America is so corporate. Many of the food safety laws are a joke. And Canada is stricter than USA. In USA food safety is the whole clown show when compared with the EU.
That's when you have to ask yourself if you're ready for war. I've been stalked by drug dealers that want me to keep my mouth shut. It's all the same business minded bs mainstream or street. A heartless man is a heartless man no matter what.
What
Street life brahh. 😭. You don't want it and no one needs it.
Hopefully you can get out of it someday.
Thanks, It's getting better... Slowly... but I think I have PTSD now.
Yo man, I think I have PTSD as well, from all the shit me and my wife have been through. You're not alone in this shit, our society is a people grinding machine. We need to be strong and enjoy the little good things everyday. Wish you the best.
Thanks, I appreciate this!
I feel you... I'm from Brazil and it is very hard to escape from unethical brands here!
So you're Japanese? 261% government gross debt compared to GDP...
There can be. Just not under Milton Friedman/Chicago School capitalism, or the neoliberal globalist shoggoth it spawned.
Whether aforementioned eldritch economics are an inevitable stage or not, the million dollar question (whatta bargain!) is whether that stage constitutes the current system's death-throes. I'd love to know, myself!
I keep waiting for the final shudder but it keeps going on and on?
If you consider that it is a self sustaining organism in its own right, it won't die until a number of its organs have failed. Until then it'll scape on, consuming itself (and us) to satisfy it's immediate need to survive.