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Not my OC but what I've believed for years: there's no conflict between reducing your own environmental impact and holding corporations responsible. We hold corps responsible for the environment by creating a societal ethos of environmental responsibility that forces corporations to serve the people's needs or go bankrupt or be outlawed. And anyone who feels that kind of ethos will reduce their own environmental impact because it's the right thing to do.
Thoughts?
I'm not particularly for/against anything here, but holding corporations accountable is the only practical option for legitimately reducing environmental degradation.
We could all use paper straws and long-lasting lightbulbs, and it would have a negligible effect on the environment. Add to that the issue that it's unlikely we'll all ever do anything.
I like the idea of personal responsibility for consumer decisions. But, it won't really reduce the global environmental impact of corporations. In that sense, getting really into sustainability with your own behavior is more about a personal sense of righteousness than anything else. If we're going to reduce the ongoing harm to the environment, we must reduce corporate power. Of the two options above, it's the only one that will produce any measurable positive impact on the environment.
How do we reduce corporate power if we don't stop buying corporate shit? We can't demand the government hold oil companies accountable and then complain about gas prices while driving home in SUVs.
The point is, people need to believe wasteful consumption is morally wrong. Because they think wasteful consumption is morally wrong they choose to reduce their consumption. And because they think wasteful consumption is morally wrong they choose to boycott and protest and demand legislation and put both financial and political pressure on corporations to change.
And because they live their principles every day they inspire others to share their views.
I grew up Catholic. I know how much a single vow of poverty can change the world. Show you care and you'll convince others it's worth caring about.
I don't believe that we can defeat polluting corporations by not buying their products simply because we can't completely buying products - many people aren't in positions to be choosy and often the same companies own the "good" product that do the bad. We need the support of the government to be able to influence these giant corporations with regulations and taxes on pollution
Absolutely. I can't demand corporations stop polluting and still do and buy things that create pollution.