Speak Out Against Corporate Irresponsibility – As a consumer, an investor and a voter

This is a call to action… 

Over and over again around the world, corporations have had free reign to do what they want socially and environmentally.  In their quest to increase their profits for shareholders, at all costs, corporations have known no limits, no bounds and all too often escape justice with nominal fines or so called slaps on the wrist.  The world is their oyster, supplying the raw materials to exploit, the cheap labor overseas to use, and the high paying consumers in western countries who are driven by advertisers into a never ending circle of consumptionism and consumerism.  What does all this  add up to?  It’s a recipe for disaster… environmental ruin, human rights abuses and a general public that is never satisfied or happy because they have been trained by the corporations to always want more, faster and cheaper. 

We, as consumers should take some of the responsibility ourselves.  As I sit here typing this on my computer with an LCD monitor, while sitting on a cushy leather chair, I have to admit that while I attempt to be as environmentally and socially responsible as possible, I am also a spoke in the wheel of this recipe of disaster as a consumer and as an investor (Although I am constantly looking for ways to improve and making changes to my lifestyle to make it more sustainable).  

Most people may not be truly willing to accept responsibility for their actions; Are you? 

Most people  may not be willing to make significant changes to their lifestyle to try to live sustainably and reduce our footprint to afford future generations the same access to resources and lifestyles that we enjoy; are you willing to make those changes?  If you answered that you are not, then perhaps you should stop reading.  Until each one of us is willing to make these changes, the disaster pie that we are so handily baking is only going to grow.  But if you are willing to make some changes, I commend you. 

One of the first steps is to exercise your voice and buying power as a consumer to reflect the more responsible choices that you would like to make.  For example, do you want to use a hand soap from a corporation that tortures bunny rabbits to test on while developing that soap (or make-up or dye or whatever) ? I’d prefer to buy soap from a company that doesn’t test on animals, and that soap is just as good and yet is still priced to compete.  I speak out and email corporations that test on animals or do other things that I dislike (click here to visit CaingConsumer.com a site which documents corporations that do and do not test on animals).   I have also created this website to try to hold corporations accountable for their actions.  In the coming weeks and months I will greatly increase its breadth and scope.

It is also important to make your voice heard and to send emails to your elected representatives so that they know people are concernced about these issues and can hopefully work towards improving them.   Click here if you would like to get your member of Congress’ email address.

I have started focusing on the issue of Chevron’s environmental disaster and in turn social / health disaster in Ecuador for a few reasons.

1. While visiting the beautiful Amazon rainforest I discovered the terrible devastation and reprehensible actions perpetrated by  Texaco while operating its oil concessions in Ecuador.
2. The more I learned about it, the more I was disgusted, and the more I wanted to raise awareness in others, about this issue.
3. The ongoing law suit is the MOST important law suit of our time.  This will be the first time that a major US multi-national corporation will be held accountable for sub-standard environmental behaviour outside of the United States.  It is the first time, that it may cost the corporation billions of dollars (yes Billions, with a ”B”). 

In other words, this is the front line for concerned global citizens who want to take a bite out of the growing disaster pie and put some checks and balances in place on corporations.  The ramifications of this lawsuit, which is binding in the United States, cannot be underestimated.  Suddenly, overnight, corporations around the world will be forced to operate in environmentally responsible fashions and within American (or the parent corporation’s home country’s)  guidelines and standards out of fear of huge law suits like this one.  Suddenly, the world will not simply be the oyster for corporations to exploit for their own bottom line… it will be a place to be respected, protected and dealt with responsibly.

For this reason, I am asking you to take the first step towards making the world more the way you want it to be for your great-great-great-great-great grand children, and all future generations.  Sign my petition to tell Chevron that you want them to act responsibly in the jungles of Ecuador and to the people who live there.  If we can hold Chevron accountable in this case, the fallout will be huge around the world.  Email  your representative in Washington, about this issue or any other environmental or social iunjustice.  And please think twice when buying what you buy and investing.

I welcome all comments or emails to me, David M Handelman, at contact@theneweraofresponsibility.com.

Other Posts of Interest

• Corporate Social Responsibility Internationally: The Front Line
• Chevron Oil Spill – Take Responsibility!!
• Ecuadorians: Chevron Lawyers resort to insults
• Chevron’s Ecuador Smear Ads
• Dirty Oil in Ecuador: Living with Chevron-Texaco’s legacy