Its a sad world :(

[maz]

Me as a person...I tend to think im doing the right thing ethically.
As you all know I do my bit cloth wise, I use energy globes, im pro woman choices, donate and support a charity.

But reading through this entire section..I feel really sad . I fell like I do nothing in comparrison. I am sitting here..shocked, speechless and terrified that not us as individuals but governments, high professions and big name companies think they can control us with their brain washing adveritising and disgusting moral ways. To hurt others, destroy lives and kill another human is beyond me

Honestly...I was sick to death of seeing certain avatars on FB as sometimes it feel slike over kill and as if peple are trying to 'ram' their thoughts down your throat. Thats just my own selfish brain not wanting to hear...to shut out the obvious and turning my back on trying to do something to help. It wasnt until a thread in this section was started that my mind was cleared a bit.

I have decided to sit down with my eldest amigo's and let them know some of what is going on in the big world and together as a family hope to make a positive choice. I have no idea were to start as yet....Im hoping that some of the links in this section will help us.

We may be small, no bodies but when alot of no bodies get together they make alot of noise

Thank you to those who post in this thread about such things. Word of mouth and ears that want to listen are a wonderful asset to have.

thank you

[onthefly]

There's always hope while there are people who think and care Maz

[Rouge]

I don't have an avatar and I think it's great that people do. If no one voices there opinion how will others learn there are other opinions. Just because you feel you don't do enough doesn't mean you don't or are any worse than someone else. Everyone does what they can KWIM? I just don't feel there's any need to rain on anyone elses cause KWIM? 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. However I think it's AWESOME that other people do it because hopefully they can be that voice that is needed. And I have lots of friends who are activists for many different things, yet they never ever make me feel bad because I'm not. It's all good Maz... it's all about perception hon

[BellyBelly]

Good on ya Maz. My kids know I don't buy Nestle, but I think I should do like you and show them why too, so they don't enter the world as an adult blind to all this. They see things as they are. My daughter already knows my opinion on marketing - having been to many seminars, I know the nasty tricks they play. I know how they play on human psychology to make you feel like you need something, are not adequate enough with something, or have to have something to be 'in' with the crowd. I tell them ads are all there to tempt you to buy things, often that you don't need. And my daughter now tells me, I don't like the ads on TV mum, I don't listen, because I don't need those things. It's great that children can recognise that as individuals, all that matters is them, not what other people think they need or what they should be like - and companies will do whatever they have to, to make you think otherwise.

[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?