Really Changing My Life... Part !!

I read a book called Confessions of an Economic Hitman and it really affected me. If you have an hour you can watch a free Democracy Now episode that is an interview with Mr. Perkins. http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/2375443/7418940 Basically, the book is about the way that he worked as an international consultant that manipulated lower income countries into taking so much debt that they can't pay back. They have 'professionals' like him intentionally 'forecast' economic possibilities that are overestimates so that people will agree to take the money... thus the inability to repay. The debt then allows the loaning country to have political clout and manipulate the country by pulling back on the debt. The thing that struck me most was when Mr. Perkins said basically, that it's not a conspiracy its a way of life. It is run by corporations who heavily influence government who want access to fuel and markets and resources etc. For example, whenever the government does something in a new country private companies get the money. Halliburton is a prime example in that it profits off of a politically established situation. When people say Iraq is about oil they are right but it is not just about oil its about money in general: see documentary Iraq for Sale. The worst part is that there are other situations that have happened and are happening just like this on a smaller scale where companies are capitalizing from development contracts, smaller wars and insurrections, privatization of things like water and other utilities, and in many cases the countries gain little in comparison to what the 'donating county' gains. So if corporations are behind it all, then we as consumers are behind it all. If governments are behind it all, then we as active or inactive members of our society are behind it. Every dollar we donate to organizations is almost like retribution, blood money to replace our unfair extractions.

But we are the non malicious piece. The system around us may also be non-malicious as everyone just tried to do their job. We want to be able to live our lives as we know it, but the problem is the life as we know it. If the recession and the issues with banks has taught us anything it's that we consume too much, we spend too much money we don't have. We are fueling the corporatocary paying those folks salaries all for lower prices for things that we mostly don't need! We fuel the malicious piece so if we know we should try to take a step back and be conscious shoppers. I don't think that people should completely ditch buying things, I think people should try to think about what they buy. Where does that outfit come from? What are the practices of that company? How much oil was used to bring that thing here. The point is understanding whats behind what we're doing so we can not blidly contribute to companies that are heavily polluting our enviroment , expoiting impoveristed nations, etc.

And if all of this is just too much to think about consider this (thanks Christine): If Chiquita Banana used poor children down the street from you to pick their banana's, would you support/patronize Chiquita? If oil was mined by your house that caused massive destruction of the surrounding environment such that you have changes in your farm lands because of it, AND you lived in poverty due to that destruction of the land you live off of, would you support that oil company? These scenarios play out everyday somewhere in the world. Please try to see the impact of some of these companies and realize that you will be fine without as much stuff and that you can afford to pay 5 dollars (instead of paying 2 dollars at ****mart) for fair trade or locally produced something if you don't buy as much stuff. People have a right to make a living, but I don't believe making a living is simply to be accepted no matter what the cost to people or environment.

I still do a lot of shopping and wasting, but I'm trying to do better. I know that all any person can do when bombarded by very convincing adverts and a culture of buying of disposables, is try his or her best to resist. And Lord willing one day I will be in a place where I feel good about all the money i earn and spend.