Here's how I try to resist materialism/consumerism/capitalism in my daily life.

These are small, easy-to-do things. This list is far from complete. Add your hints, please !


.Not buying products that have been made
under poor conditions (a lot of the tea we
drink has been reeped by Chinese prisoners
who are forced to work for the Chinese
government for free), this means checking the
origin of both product and background of the
company. There's books on this, where you
can find which companies are ok, and which
aren't. The Net provides plenty of info too.

.Supporting products that have been made
under decent working conditions, such as
African cooperative farmer organisations,
fair trade bananas and coffee.

. Taking your own plastic bag(s) when you go shopping, or use paper bags,

. Buying drinks in glass bottles (no plastic, no aliminium cans),

. Using shampoo, toothpaste... that hasn't been tested on animals,

. Using cleaning products that are bio-degradable,

. Using cotton handkerchiefs instead of paper ones,

. Never buying those 'mini-snicker family packs' (you buy more packaging than snickers !),

. Buying fresh vegetables and fruit, not canned,

. Not having the tap running while you're brushing your teeth,

. Not having your (central) heating system on when you're not home,

. Keeping rooms that have their heating switched on closed,

. Not using a car for distances less than 5 kilometres (approx. 3 miles) (unless you have to transport a fridge and it's raining, of course hey, I'm not a beast !)

. Switching off the light in the hall when you leave,

. Not defrosting food by putting it in the microwave, but by taking it out the freezer the night before and putting it in the fridge (this way, your fridge will first use the 'cold energy' of the frozen food before using electricity),

. By putting a filled water bottle inside your toilet-reservoir, this means you can flush using less water (make sure there's still enough to flush all the excrements though, or you'll end up with an 'Angieee doodoo-situation' )

. Switching off your computer screen if you're downloading that 214 MB file with your 28.8 modem
and not doing anything else on your PC,

. Not always having all equipment in your studio switched on,

. Buying second hand if possible,

. Skipping GMO's (Genetically Manipulated Organisms). Check http://www.truefoodnow.org and http://www.greenpeace.org/worldwide.shtml for more info and tips.

Not only do you save money this way, but it can also be a start to consume less, to be more aware of our environment and our responsibility as inhabitant of this planet.


krewc


OKAYPLAYER COMPILATION 2000 !!!
http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/okpcompil2000.htm

OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 2 :
http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okp2s.mp3

OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 1 (the original baybee !!):
http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okplayer.mp3

HOME : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators

I'm part of this too ... :
http://www.thejawn.com/okprod/

the instrumentals for my next album (in MP3-format) :
http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/instrus.html


'We've got to change our own minds about each other. We have to see each other with new eyes. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. We have to come together with warmth'

that was beautiful Krewcial. We need to pay more attention to how our everyday actions affect the relentless churning of capitalism's gears.

love and respect,
El Rey


http://www.mumia2000.org
http://www.mumia.org
http://www.mumia911.org

EFF A FAKE QUOTE! I DEAL WITH THE REAL (so if its artificail let it be ...) (c) Blac... awww, you know who

;-);-);-);-);-);-);-);-)
A mob is not autonomous: it executes the real will of the people who rule the state. The slaughter in Birmingham Alabama, for example, was not, merely, the action of a mob. That blood is on the hands of the state of Alabama: which sent those mobs into the streets to execute the will of the State ...

... A mob cannot afford to doubt: that the Jews killed Christ or that n*ggers want to rape their sisters or that anyone who fails to make it in the land of the free and the home of the brave deserves to be wretched. But these ideas don't come from the mob. They come from the state, which creates and manipulates the mob. The idea of a black person as property, for example, does not com from the mob. It is not a spontaneous idea. It does not come from the people, who knew better, who thought nothing of inter-marriage until they were penalized for it: this idea comes from the architects of the American State. These architects decided that the concept of Property was more important -- more real -- than the possibilities of the human being. (c) James Baldwin.

Word is bond! I feel you, it's easy to preach Socialist proaganda and or Anti-Socialist rhetoric. But you manifest those ideals in daily as i try to everyday you seem to have a more comprehensive plan, thank you for sharing your wisdom and helping to make me a better man.

One Love

peep my band

http://www.3rdeyevision.net/urbanorganicproject

Here are a few that I do:

-take a backpack or duffle bag to carry groceries
-drive your bike (or skateboard, or whatever) for anything under 10 miles
-keep windows open and use natural light instead of electricity
-but only fresh fruits and veggies
-buy meat, dairy, and eggs w/o growth hormone
-buy in bulk to avoid extra packaging
-make sure your computer has the energy saver sticker
-DON'T BUY STUFF YOU DON'T NEED
-invest a set percentage of earnings so that I can buy a house/car/retire/whatever later rather than spend it on useless stuff now (also, you can invest in mutual funds that only support green and socially conscious corporations)
-turn off the TV and read a book, thus avoiding dumb programming AND alluring TV ads
-make lists when you go shopping to help avoid impulse buying
-carpool or use public transportation
-support small businesses (ie buying veggies from the Saturday market or family owned store instead of Safeway/ going to the local indy CD store instead of HMV or Best Buy)
-give away my old Nike's and clothes instead of trashing them
-print out drafts and other stuff on the clean side of previously printed out stuff

----------------------------------------
All great truths begin as blasphemies.
--George Bernard Shaw

>Here are a few that I
>do:
>
>-take a backpack or duffle bag
>to carry groceries

I have this great canvas bag that is the perfect size

>-drive your bike (or skateboard, or
>whatever) for anything under 10
>miles

C'mon, you own a car? I don't own a car

>-keep windows open and use natural
>light instead of electricity

I keep the windows closed in the winter.
:-( I leave a light on for the cats.

>-DON'T BUY STUFF YOU DON'T NEED

Yup.

>-invest a set percentage of earnings
>so that I can buy
>a house/car/retire/whatever later rather than
>spend it on useless stuff
>now (also, you can invest
>in mutual funds that only
>support green and socially conscious
>corporations)

Yup - good one - think about using your company 401(k) if you can b/c (1) the savings are pre-tax dollars which means that it's not as painful as savings from net pay and (2) you don't have to wait until you retire for access to it - there's changes proposed (or hell, maybe enacted by now) to the tax laws that will allow you to withdraw for first house, education, blah blah.

>-turn off the TV and read
>a book, thus avoiding dumb
>programming AND alluring TV ads

C'mon, you own a TV?
Okay, I do, too, but the antenna's broken, and I don't get cable -- I use it as a video player. It lives in the closet unless I am actually watching a movie. Yup -- I read. Good and good for you.

>-make lists when you go shopping
>to help avoid impulse buying

Yup. Also prevents you from having to go back to the store to get what you forgot to buy while you were giving in to impulses and preventing that return trip cuts down on additional impulse purchases that would have been made on the second round....

>-carpool or use public transportation

Yup. Dump that car!

>-support small businesses (ie buying veggies
>from the Saturday market or
>family owned store instead of
>Safeway/ going to the local
>indy CD store instead of
>HMV or Best Buy)

Same thing with book stores. Buy used and buy independent and DO NOT PURCHASE BOOKS FROM AMAZON because they do not support literacy and they are not connected to your community.

>-give away my old Nike's and
>clothes instead of trashing them

Yup. Don't forget that this can be tax deductible.

>-print out drafts and other stuff
>on the clean side of
>previously printed out stuff
>
C'mon, you have a printer?.....:-)

Peace.

>C'mon, you own a car?
>I don't own a car

Me niether. Not yet anyway, I'm thinking of getting one for the long drive from college to home to other long distance trips. I guess added to this list would be to only buy cars with good milage, and DON'T BUY NEW CARS ON CREDIT.

>Yup - good one - think
>about using your company 401(k)

I'm thinking of using an IRA or a Roth IRA, not sure yet.

>C'mon, you own a TV?

No TV for me, I never bought one after I moved out of my parent's house. Alas, I'm thinking of getting one of those TV/VCR combos for watching movies and to take advantage of the free cable in the dorms. What can I say? There are a few channels that I like. Have mercy on my soul. But I'll still take a book over South Park anyday.

>and DO NOT PURCHASE BOOKS
>FROM AMAZON because they do
>not support literacy and they
>are not connected to your community.

I'm guilty of this one, I buy from Amazon alot since it's so cheap and easy to find books. I need to start looking for some local bookstores.

>C'mon, you have a printer?.....:-)

Gotta have a printer to go with my computer, it's like peas and carrots, or something like that.

Here are a few more little things I thought of:

-Borrow as much as possible instead of buying. Try setting up a collective of items that you and your friends can share. I've heard of neighborhoods pooling money to buy a shed, lawnmower, weedwacker, etc, that the whole nieghborhood has access to so that it saves everyone money.
-once again, since it's the most important: DON'T BUY STUFF YOU DON'T NEED. I'm guilty of buying stupid crap over the last few years, and now I'm trying to get rid of it all, but since it's useless crap no one wants it. It's a vicious cycle.
-even though she may sound good, pay no attention to Matha Stewart. You'll end up buying more crap than when you started. I have relatives that live in the suburbs, trust me on this.
-cook your own meals. eating out is expensive and unhealthy. veggies and wholesale meats are inexpensive. If you have the storage for it, buy a whole cow (or pig, or whatever) from an auction or ranch and have it butchered. This will save you TONS of money since you'll have meat for a whole year. You'll need an extra freezer to store it all though, so this is impractical for alot of people (maybe do the collective thing and I suggested before and do this? hmmm...). My family does that since we inherited a freezer years ago (plus we used to live on a farm, so our nieghbors hooked us up with good beef), and let me tell you, not only does the meat cost less, it's much better tasting. Plus, you can have it cut to your own liking. Butchers are nice people like that.
-hold out doing your laundry as long as possible, and then squeeze three loads into one washer. This saves alot of quarters and trips to the washing machines. Try and time it so that washing day coincides with your last pair of clean underwear. To make the plan work better, buy more underwear.
-Don't get sick. Doctors are expensive. Don't get hurt, either, cause emergency rooms are expensive. Instead, just walk it off, soldier. (or get a job with benefits, or write your congressman to push for universal healthcare, or move to Canada)
-slow down. realize that you don't need the latest technology to live a happy life. take pleasure in simple things and eventually you'll be weaned off your dependance for material things (I'm getting there, and it feels... nice)

----------------------------------------
All great truths begin as blasphemies.
--George Bernard Shaw

>>I don't own a car
>
>Me niether.

If you're thinking about a car, what about one of those electric/gas hybrids? I have a friend with one and my sis & her husband are thinking about buying one. Hmmmm.

>
>I'm thinking of using an IRA
>or a Roth IRA, not
>sure yet.

But I didn't realize that you're in college still. Some people start saving for retirement in college, but tax deferral is most key once you start earning a relatively large paycheck. If you're still a deduction on your parents' 1040 or if you don't earn enough income to pay taxes, you shouldn't worry about tax deferred income yet. Leave that for a couple of years.


>No TV for me, I never
>bought one after I moved
>out of my parent's house.
> Alas, I'm thinking of
>getting one of those TV/VCR
>combos for watching movies and
>to take advantage of the
>free cable in the dorms.
> What can I say?
> There are a few
>channels that I like.
>Have mercy on my soul.
> But I'll still take
>a book over South Park
>anyday.

Well then, your heart's in the right place. Me, I have to go to bars in order to watch playoff games.

>>>and DO NOT PURCHASE BOOKS
>>FROM AMAZON because they do
>>not support literacy and they
>>are not connected to your community.
>
>I'm guilty of this one, I
>buy from Amazon alot since
>it's so cheap and easy
>to find books. I
>need to start looking for
>some local bookstores.

The other thing that people say is that amazon is easy because you never have to leave the house. If that's any part of your rationale, use www.abebooks.com -- it's a consortium of independent used bookstores. You're going to pay less for the book than at amazon because it's used (which is in line with the rest of your thinking, anyway), and you will support independent bookstores, which is a big issue for me. Independent merchants of any kind, but books in particular because they're my thang ya know?

>Gotta have a printer to go
>with my computer, it's like
>peas and carrots, or something
>like that.

Or broccoli. Sorry, I didn't realize that you were referring to a comic strip. :-)


>Here are a few more little
>things I thought of:
>
>-Borrow as much as possible instead
>of buying.

If you can borrow money from your friends, they won't usually charge interest so you can leave your own money in those high interest cds

>-once again, since it's the most
>important: DON'T BUY STUFF YOU
>DON'T NEED.

Or you could buy things that I need and send them to me.

>-even though she may sound good,
>pay no attention to Matha
>Stewart.

Martha has never sounded good to me. I give her all credit for being a completely self made woman, but you think that anyone that rich does their own composting? Forget it. She's a fake.

>-cook your own meals. eating
>out is expensive and unhealthy.
> veggies and wholesale meats
>are inexpensive. If you
>have the storage for it,
>buy a whole cow (or
>pig, or whatever) from an
>auction or ranch and have
>it butchered.

You know, it's even more fun to raise 'em as pets and then butcher them yourself in a satanic ritual, particularly if you have recently learned that they are cancerous.


>-hold out doing your laundry as
>long as possible, and then
>squeeze three loads into one
>washer.

Well, if you own your own washer, you'll make that TWO loads, not three because you won't want to break your own property.


> To make the plan
>work better, buy more underwear.

You should have at least three weeks worth. Or even better, don't wear underwear.


>-Don't get sick.

Or if you do get sick, there's always suicide, which fluctuates between being free and being cheap in comparison to the cost of healthcare.

>-slow down. realize that you
>don't need the latest technology
>to live a happy life.

Tell me about it baby I don't own a computer -- I use the one they give me at work.

> take pleasure in simple
>things and eventually you'll be
>weaned off your dependance for
>material things (I'm getting there,
>and it feels... nice)

True too that crackers taste yummy when you're starving. Gotta keep the edge.

Bless you velo keepin it real in the wilds of the pacific northwest.

Peace.

>If you're thinking about a car,
>what about one of those
>electric/gas hybrids?

I can barely afford a used car that runs on unleaded in my price range, so this is out :-(

>if you don't
>earn enough income to pay
>taxes, you shouldn't worry about
>tax deferred income yet.

I pay taxes! Not much yet, but enough to make me think about the benefits of an IRA.

>use www.abebooks.com

Thanks, I'll check that out.

>You know, it's even more fun
>to raise 'em as pets
>and then butcher them yourself
>in a satanic ritual, particularly
>if you have recently learned
>that they are cancerous.

I had a pet sheep once, it's name was Berny. Then I sold it at a 4-H auction. Mutton is good food. I used to have lamb steak for breakfast. Farm living did have it's advantages..... too bad it didn't make any money so we had to move become city folks.

>True too that crackers taste yummy
>when you're starving. Gotta
>keep the edge.

I don't mean to take simple living to that extreme, although if that works for you.....
It's just the little things like cooking your dinner instead of going to McDonald's or reading a book instead TV, or going for a bike ride instead of TV.... they save you money, time, and are just plain nice.

>Bless you velo keepin it real
>in the wilds of the
>pacific northwest.

NORTH-WESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSIIIDDDDEE!!!!

----------------------------------------
All great truths begin as blasphemies.
--George Bernard Shaw

You live in England right?? What is the deal with Bass Ale? I heard that they are trying to open a mountain resort in Tibet. Is there any truth to that?

CARS: Not just gas mileage, think about life expectancy as well. The longer the car runs well, the better it is for everyone. Remember that the biggest part of recycling is re-using.

CRACKERS: I was being facetious, but it is in fact true that breaking the link between wanting something and getting it can/will create a more full and flavorful life in every respect. Gratitude is key. If you get something to eat every time you're hungry, pretty soon you start to think that food is created by your hunger. If instead you make a point of fasting regularly, you will find that food tastes better and you're happier to get it because you don't equate hunger and eating. Fasting can take many forms. You can stop eating for one to ten days (don't do this on the spur of the moment without taking time to understand fasting but I've fasted for ten days and, while it was hard -- longer fasts are harder for women -- it was definitely worthwhile). Another way to "fast" is to put the food on the table and wait a minute before eating it. Say grace, or stop and think for a minute about how wonderful it is that you have food to eat, and think about people who don't have food. Let me tell you, that sure makes food taste better. Another way to "fast" is to simplify your diet. Eat plain food with little seasoning. Sounds bluh, huh? You would be surprised. The simpler your diet is the better it can taste, plus when you do have fancy food, it tastes even better.

FARMS: To the extent that being an industrialized society is helpful to us, many or most of us have to forego living on farms. And I'm not exactly well suited to country livin' - I'm a city girl myself. But every little step that we take toward mindfulness is a step in the right direction, whether or not we ever even want to live off the land.

HUNTER/GATHERERS: You do of course know that in the hunter/gatherer society, men hunted and women gathered, and that gathering that those women did made up 85 - 90% of the food that was eaten by those societies? That those guys went out hunting infrequently? So to make an argument in favor of eating meat by using the h/g rationale would first of all argue in favor of eating meat like once a month, which isn't your point, and secondly, would require women to be the sole or major breadwinners which I'm not crazy about. I'd prefer to share that job equally, nahmean?

I'm sorry about Berny.

Peace.

>CARS:

I know, I know. I hate used car shopping for that very reason: you never know what you're gonna get. (just like chocolates in boxes, haha! nevermind...)

>CRACKERS:

True, true, I understand that. I wouldn't really recommend fasting though unless you really know what you're doing since that can mess with your body (I'm thinking in the "i gotta lose 5 lbs fast" sense, not the "it's Ramadan, time to fast" sense)

>FARMS:

Country, city, I'm adapted to either. I've found that it can actually be harder to live environmnetally when living in the country because you can so easily take it for granted. Just ask Canadians.

>HUNTER/GATHERERS:

Yeah yeah, the hunters were pretty bad at hunting in our cro-magnon days, but they tried their best, and isn't that all that counts? I'm still gonna eat meat on the daily, though. Also, I have no problem with women bringing home the bacon (or rather, bringing home the carrots in this situation). More time for me to bang rocks together and hope they make a charp edge.


And don't be sorry about Berny, I got paid well. Although it still didn't cover the cost of his food and time spent caring for him. No wonder we had to move to the city, profit margins for small family farms just stopped being able to cut it in the early 90s. Oh well, agriculture is the bane of civilization. We'd all be better off as hunter/gatherers, IMHO.

----------------------------------------
All great truths begin as blasphemies.
--George Bernard Shaw

We've had our confrontations...

I honestly never expected an avid supporter of capitalism (that you said you are) to be so conscious (for lack of better word).

There's plenty of people TALKING about change/revolution/whatever who don't even do 10% of what you do.

The only question I have is : if you live your life the way you do, how can you possibly say/pretend to support capitalism ? I'm not kidding or provoking here, it's just that I'm amazed by your genuine and good efforts to make a change in your own life, but still don't see the problem(s) with capitalism.



take care,

krewc




OKAYPLAYER COMPILATION 2000 !!!
http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/okpcompil2000.htm

OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 2 :
http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okp2s.mp3

OKAYPLAYERSONG PT. 1 (the original baybee !!):
http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/okplayer.mp3

HOME : http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators

I'm part of this too ... :
http://www.thejawn.com/okprod/

the instrumentals for my next album (in MP3-format) :
http://urgent.rug.ac.be/vinylators/audio/instrus.html


'We've got to change our own minds about each other. We have to see each other with new eyes. We have to see each other as brothers and sisters. We have to come together with warmth'

See Krewcial, we're not all evil free-market devils!!

I'll be the first to admit that capitalism has it's faults, but I also think that a free market economy is the best way to go (actually, the only way to go in today's world). I'm not against socialism, per se, I just don't think it can work. I think that this core difference in thinking is what led to our previous arguements (that you kicked my ass in, by the way-I had little idea what I was talking about our first go 'round before the Activist Board existed).

Anyway, I believe that we're too far removed from our ancestors' way of life to revert back to socialism, and as such I'm trying to live my life as an "eco-capitalist", for lack of a better term. After I graduate I hope to make millions finding ways to make socially and environmentally aware companies profitable. And since I never plan on spending that much, most of my future millions will go to various causes that I support (wishful thinking-yes, I probably won't make millions, but if I did.....)

Um... were was I going with this? Oh yeah-I believe that I can create more positive change in this world by working within the capitalist system in place than by resisting it with an outdated ideology. To wit: who would you rather have as a major decision maker of a powerful multinational corporation, a greedy uncaring self-serving rat or someone who is, as you put it, conscious? That's my goal: to promote my causes within capitalism.

That may have been long-winded and idealistic, but hopefully it answered your question.

I appreciate that you responded to suggestions as you did-I was kind of expecting to get jumped on for being a hypocrite, but hopefully I explained myself well enough for you to understand where I'm coming from (well, maybe not since I don't even know where I'm coming from yet).

Peace


----------------------------------------
All great truths begin as blasphemies.
--George Bernard Shaw

I’m feelin’ you 100%. I already try to do much of what you suggested but I could always know more. What are the names of some books or websites on this subject? Anyone? Thanks, I appreciate it.

1ne Love,
Mr Marcus

If anywon wan reach de badmon --> e me
at (smoovecog@aol.com)

Quotes------

“I never call you my b*tch or even my
boo/ there’s so much in a name and so
much more in you”...Common

“from amistad to amadou, attacked in the
streets/ the term cop really stands for
cappin’ our peeps” ...Tiye Phoenix

“no trees grow in brooklyn/ seeds need
to be planted/ i’m askin’ if yall feel
me & the crowd left me stranded”
...talib kweli

saying being hardline is what it takes/
to take life/ hiding behind your iconic
shield representing cowardice/ we as a
people need to cower less ...Vet

put me in ur corner if u wish/ but i'll
just be makin side notes on how/ f*ckin
is fundamental/ how to get corporate
america to fund tha mentals
...asighn4jane

“my wallet must be fully loaded/
semi-automatic/ justification of
assassination/ 41 shots licked quick
some miss but...they all hit
home”...incog