Comments on: On the Perils of Purchasing

By: Brandon Becker

Brandon Becker — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:18:34 +0000

Mark, you mentioned “The Vegetarian Myth” by Lierre Keith.

Here’s a review of the book:
http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/full_article/vegetarianmyth05102009/

Two links with good discussion of the book:
http://vegansofcolor.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/vegetarian-myth-lierre-keith/
http://www.animalperson.net/animal_person/2009/05/the-book-that-saved-derrick-jensens-life.html

By: Mark Robison

Mark Robison — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:06:37 +0000

It’s tough. One New Year’s resolution for me in 2010 is to buy directly from people I support. For example, I could buy books on veganism or animal rights (or other issues I’m interested in) usually cheaper from Amazon. In fact, I can often buy them still cheaper if they’re used – I’m currently thinking of the Bloodroot vegan cookbook. But I’m determined not to do that this year. If the item is from or about something I support and want to see more of, then I’m going to buy new and buy direct from the author or the publisher or from the tiny underground distributor run by idealistic souls. This also means there’s a priority for buying from vegan-owned businesses. Further, it means that I can buy less things because they cost more – but I actually like this aspect because I’ve got more than I’ll likely ever use in my lifetime.

Some examples are shoes (no more Payless!), organic fair trade socks and “Vegan Brunch” (Isa doesn’t sell it on her site, but rather than buying it used on Amazon, I bought it new and I linked to the Amazon from an animal sanctuary so it gets part of the proceeds). I’m also joining a CSA this year through the local co-op, even though the neighborhood chain grocery store is cheaper. Etc.

On a similar note, I just started reading Lierre Keith’s “The Vegetarian Myth” about how eating vegan is worse for the planet than going hunting because of the ravaging effects of industrial agriculture and its monocrops of things like soybeans. No opinion yet.

Still, whether something is vegan is still the first consideration when I buy.

By: How Do You Deal With Shopping? | Animal Rights Blog

How Do You Deal With Shopping? | Animal Rights Blog — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:44:44 +0000

[...] an interesting discussion about the frustrations of shopping (”On the Perils of Purchasing“) over at Animal Rights & AntiOppression. If you haven’t stopped by, please do and [...]

By: Grace McCarter

Grace McCarter — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:07:47 +0000

When it comes to clothing and accessories, I tend to never buy new. I shop at thrift stores/yard-sales, but still go by a semi-strict approach.
When I’m at the thrift/secondhand shop/yard-sale, I ask myself this questions before buying anything:
“Does it contain any animal products?”
If not, and I like it, I’ll usually buy it. But I don’t really buy clothing(I often get handme-downs… Before I went veg*n, I used to buy things like Tripp pants, which are more likely than not, made in sweatshops. So now, my attire is a heavy mixture of when preppy meets goth, but at least I’m not giving those industries any more of my cash)
Not to mention, secondhand shops tend to be run by churches. Even as a Pagan, I still shop at places like those(People are probably calling me a hypocrite). But if you think about it, they donate money from such shops to organizations to help the homeless, sometimes even help animals at homeless shelters. They don’t usually keep the money for themselves. Not to mention you can usually find a great bargain!
Then is someone pounces on you for having something non-fair-trade, you can always pull a quick “I bought it at a thrift shop, so it’s used.” That will probably shut up the environmentalist “police” and one could say nearly the same thing about sweatshop clothing from a thrift store. Sure it doesn’t right the original wrong, but it’s easier and cheaper than spending a ton of money to get new clothing that doesn’t support it.
I have an American eagle shirt that I decorated with a cute baby chick(stencil and paint mind you!:) ) and painted “I am not a nugget” on it. If I had gotten it new, for like $50 from the store(instead of a free hand-me-down) I probably wouldn’t have, and as well supported a sweatshop(I dunno what AE’s policy is with that but still…)

By: John N

John N — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:07:11 +0000

When I’m shopping I go for hemp, organic cotton or poly, sometimes bamboo. Yes I’m always trying to find the best deal (who’s not in this effed up economy?) and feel it’s plus if I can purchase it from a vegan or non sweatshop retailer. I also want quality for my dollar…again why shouldn’t I? My opinion is you’ll go crazy if you keep looking too deeply into it. One thing for sure is you won’t find any type of animal product in my clothing (as far as I know!) and that includes denim jeans which often have the little leather brand patch on the waistline.

By: Elaine Vigneault

Elaine Vigneault — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:43:42 +0000

When it comes to consuming anything, I think the most important questions to ask are:
1) Do I need it or just want it?
2) Does this consumption choice represent my values?

The sense I get from the above dilemma of cheap synthetic Payless shoes vs. expensive vegan fair-trade shoes vs. repair old nonvegan shoes is that the worry isn’t so much about what choice is right, but rather the worry is more about which choice will receive less criticism. Choose the one your heart tells you to.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:14:14 +0000

I also only buy products if they’re animal product free, on in the case of sneakers at least seem animal product free. (It’s often not labeled if things are completely man-made in my opinion).

I try to shop at thrift stores but end up buying almost all my clothing new and at places that probably use sweatshops. In my opinion, the best bet is just to buy less new stuff. But for some reason I’m always in need of underwear and socks.

I wear my pre-vegan wool coat and down coat, and I wore my pre-vegetarian uggs for a year before I donated them. I’ve never had anyone go vegan police about it on me, but have had people try to tell me numerous times that certain vegan candies had gelatin.

By: b

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:29:45 +0000

Actually, AA is known for union-busting. Just because workers are paid well (which is still low considering it’s garment industry work) doesn’t mean they have rights.

A few years old but still one of the best pieces on the matter:
http://clamormagazine.org/issues/38/aa/

More updated stuff, as you mentioned, is readily available online as well.

By: Billie

Billie — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:45:24 +0000

I obviously try to do the best I can when I purchase things. My number one priority is making sure there are no animal products. I just feel like that’s the easiest, most obvious thing I can do. All the other problems are so complex, I feel overwhelmed trying to juggle the other issues. I try to counter that by just not buying things unless I need them. And the sweatshop issues are so awful. There was an article in Harper’s recently, mostly about the lack of sweatshops in Cambodia, but it mentioned Vietnam and their sweatshop situation. The sweatshops are awful, but a large part of their economy. People live in dumps there, a dangerous and degrading life, who would love to work in a sweatshop. If you don’t buy, or enforce conditions on work, it will only force businesses to close and drive the workers into more poverty. It’s awful. So, yes, I’m a bad consumer. But I don’t know anyone who isn’t. I wish it were a clear issue.

By: Mary Martin

Mary Martin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:20:55 +0000

I’m glad you brought this up, Jen. When I first read the argument for sweatshops, I was shocked, yet when you look at the evidence and the history of nations that are developing, you see that sweatshops are actually better than the alternative for many people (particularly women), and the sweatshop is the first step toward more legitimate, safe, fair, ways of doing business that get a country and its people out of abject poverty. In other words, it’s not a matter of sweatshop=evil when viewed in a larger context and when you factor in the complexities in some cases (not all). I completely forgot about Half the Sky, by the way. Thanks for reminding me to read it.