Posted by Rachel on: 05.14.2007 /
Excerpted from Sojourners magazine May 2007
Ethical shopping alone is not a “magic bullet.” We still need to think about our level of consumption, period. The New Internationalist suggests asking these questions before making a new purchase.
1) Do I really need it? Or can I do without? If I really need it, then…
2) Can I avoid buying a new one? Can I borrow, share, swap, grow, make or find it secondhand? If I really need to buy a new one…
3) Can I find one that doesn’t damage people or the planet? Or can I at least try to minimize my impact? After I’ve bought a well-made product…
4) How can I look after it to make sure it lasts as long as possible? What maintenance should I do, and how can I mend it if it breaks?
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