From: Tampa DAve
April 10, 2011
Just finished a wall-shaker of a book. Liked it so much I have to share part of it with you. So much I decided to sit down and type all this in.
Here is a to-do list for beginning the swing of power away from the corporatocracy.
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TO DO:
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When tempted to engage in “retail therapy” instead jog, meditate, read, or find some other solution.
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Shop consciously if there is something you must have; purchase items whose packaging, ingredients, and methods of production are sustainable and support life.
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Make everything you own last as long as possible.
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Purchase at consignment and thrift stores where everything is recycled.
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Protest against “free” trade agreements and sweatshops
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Write letters telling Monsanto, De Beers, ExxonMobil, Adidas, Ford, GE, Coca-cola, Wal-Mart and other labor exploiters and environmental destroyers why you refuse to purchase from them.
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Write letters praising Home Depot, Kinko’s, Citicorp, Starbucks, Whole Foods, and other companies that cooperate with RAN, Amnesty International, and other NGOs.
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Cut back on oil and gas consumption.
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Downsize your car, home, wardrobe, everything in your life.
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Send money to nonprofits, radio stations, and other organizations that promote just causes.
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Volunteer your time and energy to such organizations.
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Support local merchants.
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Encourage stores to buy from local growers, producers, and suppliers.
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Shop at your local farmer’s market
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Drink tap water (get the water company to do a better job if necessary, but avoid buying bottled water).
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Vote for enlightened school boards, commissions, ordinances, and politicians.
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Run for office.
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Insist that those who use your money, banks, pensions, mutual funds, companies – make socially and environmentally responsible investments.
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Speak out at whenever forums present themselves.
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Volunteer to talk at your local school about your favorite subject (beekeeping, weaving, tennis, anything) and use it to challenge students, to wake them up.
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Discuss externalities, the costs of pollution, poor working conditions, public subsidies, corporate exemptions, and other environmental, social, and political factors that should be included in the price we pay for goods and services but are not (discussed in chapter 54); let people know what when we do not pay for these very real expenses we rob future generations.
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Encourage “taxes” on externalities – higher prices for gas, clothes, electricity, etc., as long as the difference pays to right social and environmental wrongs.
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Offer study groups at local libraries, bookstores, churches, and clubs.
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Expand this list and share it with everyone you know.
The Secret History of the American Empire: The Truth about Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and How to Change The World by John Perkins.
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Thanks to everyone who cares enough about the planet to have taken the time to read this. It took me a good bit longer to type it.
I am ambivalent about a couple of the points in there, but if everyone started doing some of these things, we’d be moving in the right direction.
Please let me hear from you if you have any comments:
Love to all
Tampa Dave
(TampaDave @ verizon.net)