I might  not a good companion for shopping (big smile)...and  a kind of annoying person (am I ?).
        I remember when I was in Pasaraya (one of the big department stores in South Jakarta) with Esthi looking for a pair good shoes for her field works in Aceh after Tsunami. We were looking at nice Nike expensive shoes (which I believe they are sweat products produced by Indonesian or Vietnamese cheap labor force). Suddenly she asked me "Am I still your friend if I buy Nike shoes?" then I said "No" (actually it was a joke; I respect her rights to buy anything she wants). However, finally she chose other shoes that seemed  not a sweat product..(geez, I hope she was ok with it).

Yeah, I am a sort of picky customer.  It's a kind of habit that I divide for "things I need to buy" and "things I want to buy". I also have another rule: trying to purchase something ethically by finding the history of products. Actually I never intend to force my view on others, really, just sometimes out of control…big smile (especially if I am with my close friends because I know they accept me as I am).

I believe that we, the consumers have a great power. We can push industries to pay more attention to respect human rights or to protect the environment. A massive movement can lead significant changes on the way of production. Finding adequate information will help us to consider the entire history of the products and services we buy, including the policies of the companies that provide them. I remember a world wide campaign in 90's for boycotting sweat shop products such as Nike. Everybody was shocked to know the cheap labor force behind the extremely expensive pair of shoes. It lead  a guilty feeling for being irresponsible buyer. The company is pushed for better management and treatment for its  labor. It was also a moment that awoke my awareness to be more responsible for the things I consume.

  Now a day, the impact of global economy and trade chains interaction are not only rising cheap labor force issues but also unsustainable way of production, exploitation, natural resources conflict, and the worst is a war. I know the problem can't be solved by critical consumer movement alone. However, making a wise decision when we purchase something is always important. Before buying, just asked ourselves :  "Is the item made in line with my values? Am I supporting the local economy? Are the people who produce this product treated and compensated fairly? Is this item built to last? Is it safe to be consumed?

Here, I would like to share categories of consumer (sorry, I forgot the source of information, will put on this blog as I found it, promise). I hope we can work together for betterment starting from being a responsible consumer.

Very dark green: is nearly always buying environmentally friendly products. They try as far as possible to buy such product.

Pale green: is tending to buy green products if they see them

Armchair green: they care about environmental issues but their concern does not affect their spending habits.

Ethical spenders: buying good which do not, for example, involve dealings with oppressive regimes, sweat shop, irresponsible selling.