Do we have a responsibility to others?

[stupidgirl]

A conversation I had last night (which I may well rant about later, as I'm still very upset/angry about it...), made me wonder what everyone else thought...

Do we have a responsibility to other people? Thinking specifically about people in the 3rd world/fair trade type issues?

So you think the everyday decisions you make (where you shop, what brand of washing powder you buy, etc) really do make a difference? Are you prepared to change the way you do things on the basis of those convictions, and if you aren't, does that make you selfish?

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Off point a bit - but I am genuinely surprised by the charity begins at home approach that some people favour - preferring to give to local charities rather than the third world. I'm the other way - give only to third world charities. Still its a personal choice and each to their own!

If she thinks that way about humans I wonder what treatment she would impose on animals!?!

We give money to wildlife charities over humans - but support ethical shopping completely -- animal/vege and mineral.

It is easy to go off on the theory tangent and forget to think how it would apply in practise.

SG, you're right, she's wrong; and next time she says you're arguing from a Western POV direct her to some of the very articulate, organised labour movements in the South

I've only just seen this thread, sg, it's a very interesting one, although I'm so sorry that you have lost a friend over this, that's always hard. It does sound like your friend has some kind of huge chip on her shoulder about something and also that she has jumped on the bandwagon that I see a lot these days where people have misinterpreted the fact that NGOs and charities try these days to work alongside the people who need their help, understanding their culture, rather than patronising them and imposing a foreign POV. I know a number of people who have taken this to mean that struggling cultures and countries share none of our values and therefore should not be offered help because either (a) it will be squandered or (b) they should be left to sort it out for themselves as that would be more politically correct. IMHO this interpretation is an excuse for putting on blinkers and it sould like your friend has a nice fat pair firmly strapped to her head. Possibly with a Gucci logo on them.

However, please can I take issue (without ruffling feathers) with a couple of posts that have decided that as your friend works in fashion she cannot possibly have a conscience? I don't think that kind of generalisation is fair - the fashion industry can indeed be very superficial and some fashion companies certainly have a case to answer re sweatshops and so on, but I don't think being concerned with your appearance, liking makeup and nice clothes makes you an irresponsible person with no thought for global issues/environment and so on. We are all consumers and we can make choices in our consumption (which I think is the original point that sg was making) to support responsible companies, and that goes for fashion companies too. BTW, I have to admit that this is more of an issue for me because dh works in fashion retail and I do resent it when people think he doesn't have a "real" job, and that he's only interested in nice clothes. Those people also usually think he's gay, but that's a whole other thread... Yes, he can tell you what colour we're "supposed" (but never do) to be wearing this season, but he also believes in recycling, responsible tourism, supporting charities and so on. Hmmm, is this my longest post yet? Sorry for the rant everyone.

Hi SG (have you changed your name yet?), was thinking of you the other day when reading this article . I'm not a fan of GM, but find him interesting most of the time, although, sheesh, get a dictionary and use shorter words!

Wilbur, I agree with you. Fashion isn't evil and it's good to think of where the clothes are produced. For example, Walmart (in the US) is not exactly fashionable, but it's still a horrid horrid place to shop if you want to support workers' rights. So unfashionable doesn't equal good. Same as fashionable doesn't mean it's not good ethically.

Far too many negatives.. sorry!