Action and Info
When it comes to clothes, there are many ways to be a global citizen:
Buy used clothes. Used clothes are cheap, and they are a great way to make your own statement. There are all sorts of used clothing stores, from ones run by non-profit societies like the Salvation Army and women's shelters to higher-end stores that are very selective about what they sell. When you buy from any independent store, you support local businesses and you reduce the amount of world energy that goes into producing and transporting new clothing.
When you buy new clothes, ask questions. Clothing companies like The Gap all depend on the same thing: customer satisfaction. If you buy from these stores, you have a chance to let them know what you think. Ask questions to the store clerks, and if they don't know the answers, ask the manager. Every company wants you to be happy with their product-if you share your concerns with the right person, they will listen. Check out Fair Trade Concepts, and click on the "How to Shop" icon at the top of the screen for a list of questions that you can ask.
Live the simple life. When you consume less, you use up less of the world's resources. Many North Americans are choosing a lifestyle in which they spend less, work less and have more free time. Check out Buy Nothing Day-an international event started by a Vancouver group that encourages people to kick off the Christmas season with a day of buying absolutely nothing.
See what Liz Claiborne and The Gap have to say about workers' rights.
To find out more about sweatshop labour, and what you can do about it, go to this Canadian site, which has great resources and links.
To learn more about Ramona and the working conditions in Latin America, take a look at VIDEA's Sweatshop Series, available in print.
Trade issues are complex, but they affect things we depend on everyday, like medicine. One of the best things you can do is to learn about trade agreements, and share what you know with others. Read this site for a critical look at the World Trade Organization.
The World Trade Organisation knows that it has its share of critics. On this page, the WTO defends who it is and what it does.
Take a look at the website of Glaxo-Kline, a major pharmaceutical company.
This site from Public Citizen, a US non-profit organization, critiques the WTO.
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