Its a sad world :(

[maz]

And TBH I haven't joined the Nestle Boycott, or the page or added an avatar. Why? Because I know there are products in my house that are Nestle and I would feel hypocritical.

and thats exactly how I would feel if I did something like that. I think thats why I was sick of it, my guilt and having those items ect. I dont like jumping on band wagons just because someone else is on that I like I need to have a reason and logic behind it, selfsatisfaction yes...self gratitude that im doing something not just for the sake but for a good 'cause' so to speak.

I really do think that this is something that would be an important parenting and ethical step for me and my family. Having an almost 10 year old who expects ect, it might be an eye opener for him and something we can share to know we are doing some good in the world rather then just taking from it.

Kelly - that is fantastic that your DD has those views already. See to me...those sort of things would stop alot of the bullying ect. I see so many people bringing up aggressive, negetive children that it makes me worried that my children are more emotional and compasionate to others. I am extreemly proud of how well my boys display their emotions and perspective on certain things....but I think that doing this will just make them that much more a better person and as you said take their wonderful ethic's into adulthood

thanks guys

[Jennifer13]

I'm with you, Maz, and agree with Rouge for the same reasons.

I do what I can, at least professionally I can say I'm out there trying to make a difference. We make small choices in our everyday lives in our household that consider the environment and other issues that are important to humanity, but we still have to live in this world. I'm well aware that I haven't completely locked out all unethical brands/companies/choices.

I am always pleased when I see someone, somewhere making a stand though, because without those voices, no one would sit up and pay attention. And I believe that if everyone made some small changes through awareness the world would be a much better place. all around.

[Trillian]

You can only do as much as you can hun Friends of ours have a son with Autism and he lives on Milo custard. It would make up 80% of his diet (I know this is not ideal) and No Way Known would they ever be able to get him to stop eating it. I imagine it would be similar for you too I think you have to do the best you can. If that is the only Nestle item you ever buy, then that is pretty damn good I reckon. There are probably even things in my cupboard that aren't directly nestle, but are owned by them and I don't realise they are, but my priorities are different. As I said in that other thread, first and foremost I support Australia made and owned/grown and by default that means that I buy very little nestle to start with but there is the odd item that slips through. And like you said, there are loads of other areas where you do your bit too so it does all even out. And think of it this way, someone who may not have a single nestle owned product in their house may leave all their lights on and drive a car with poor fuel economy LOL, but someone who doesn't boycott may walk everywhere and turn everything off at the wall kwim?

I think the most important things is that you make yourself aware of all this stuff, even if you don't boycott anything. Because by not knowing, you remain ignorant to the cause kwim? So long as you know, you can make little changes here and there that will add up to a lot over a lifetime. Don't forget that you are only 1 person, and you can't be expected to join every cause, just the ones that mean the most to you. If everyone had the same cause who would be working on the other ones?

[Poppetty]

I agree with Trillian's post.

Maz, it sounds like you're doing a wonderful job and as others have said we can only do what we can do. I live a fairly anti-consumerist lifestyle and am vegetarian, but feel guilty for not being vegan and for most things I buy, but always try to remind myself that a little bit here and there really does add up over the course of a life time I think as someone else said too awareness is the key, and educating the next generation on these matters is a big step in changing the future.

[christy]

I think education as far as social justice is awesome. I talk with my kids about social justice as a whole heaps. M & I today had a discussion on why my grocery bill was so high so that I couldn't afford heaps of lollies and ice blocks I said that we as a family chose to buy earth conscious products in order to help preserve the earth we live in, and that means we don't buy certain products because they don't help the earth. She asked me about cloth nappies and we discussed the use of cloth wipes etc, and how "mummy doesn't like chemicals" and things like that are part of it, but there is also a responsibility to the earth.

[BloominRoses]

Maz, I think this whole issue is really hard and confronting to say the least. It's like when someone mentioned on FB that Nestle owns 30% of Loreal, I had literally the night before used a Kerastase hair mask and Kiehl's face scrub to have some me time while DS finally slept. Well, Loreal owns both of those brands, don't they? And heaps of others. So the crapstorm of guilt began. (Thanks Lulu for telling us on your blog to pamper ourselves... I'm blaming YOU for this one lmao).

I think the best that we can do as newbies to the whole thing is to THINK. Rouge made a great point earlier about why she didn't actively take part in the whole Nestle campaign, but to be honest, it's only from living with her that I know about the evils of Nestle at all. Every time (and believe me, they were very few) she whipped out a Nestle product to use while baking- usually evaporated/condensed milk if I remember correctly - she made a comment like "ah shiart, it's Nestle but I need it for this recipe". After hearing that a few times, I subtly worked Nestle into the conversation and she explained the whole formula issue. Even though I am a Mum who uses formula now, I was beyond appalled. But I never would've known if she hadn't have shared what she knew.

And I guess that's all we can do. Just think and be aware. And if it's practical for us and our families, we can take action, even in the smallest little ways. For me it's a bit hard to cut much Nestle out as far as what I consume because I didn't grow up on Milo (have never even tried the stuff) and don't like Nestle chocolate here in Australia as it tastes different than back home, so it's not like I'm a massive user to begin with.

But that's not from being ethical. That's just from personal taste. I do know however, that you'll never catch me buying another Loreal cosmetic or Loreal owned cosmetic/beauty product again. And really? My life won't change at all except for the fact that my wallet will be much happier as some of that stuff is darn expensive. But am I going to throw out the stuff I already own? Heck no. I personally can't afford, nor desire to do that. And if it turns out that DS only wants to drink Milo after some evil person gives it to him (lmao - would probably be one of my in-laws), then realistically, that's what he's going to drink until I can convince him of otherwise.

We're all trying, Maz. And none of us are better than the other. We're all just at different stages along the awareness/do-ability ladder, but at least we're trying to climb the ladder to begin with.

S xo

[CrazyLady]

As someone mentioned in another thread, you can be buying products and not even be aware they're Nestle. I feel that being aware and trying your best is a good thing. sure i may not have a nestle free home and such but I try to make conciensious efforts to minimise the products i do have.

Rouge-that's the reason I didn't join the Nestle free easter thing too