Read about the issues further and come to your own conclusions. Change your personal habits to consume less, and become more aware of what you are consuming.
Contact the companies whose products you use and ask them about their purchasing policies. Do they use conflict resources, sweat-shop or slave labour? Do they contribute to human abuses in other parts of the world? If you find a product that uses misleading or faulty advertising claims of “ethical” behaviour, report them at the Competition Bureau or at the Better Business Bureau.
Contact your government and state your opinions. Ask them to take action against human rights abuses around the world. Here are some people to try in Canada:
The Prime Minister – pm@pm.gc.ca
The Foreign Affairs Minister- cannon.L@parl.gc.ca
The Leader of the Opposition- Ignatieff.M@parl.gc.ca
Other party leaders in Parliament- Layton.J@parl.gc.ca; duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca
Find your Member of Parliament here.
And find your MPP here.
It is as simple as one email. It’s not hard! You can do it! Come on! Get to writing. If you need suggestions or sample letters, please feel free to contact us at apeaceofconflict@gmail.com; we’d be happy to help you get started!
Democracy is only democracy if we use it! So make your voice heard and make democracy work for you.
If you are from a country outside of Canada and have suggestions of people in power to contact in your own country– please feel free to add them in the comments or write to us! We will gladly add them to our list!
Some computer companies to try:
Message 21 of the biggest electronics companies through the Enough Project.
Hewlett Packard dfisher@hp.com
Toshiba Sherry.Lyons@toshiba.ca
Dell: try writing their corporate office at:
Dell Canada
155 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 501
North York, Ontario M2H 3N5
Apple:
supplierresponsibility@apple.com
or try writing their corporate office at:
Apple Computer
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino California 95014
Some recent legislation.
In Canada:
In the US:
Conflict Minerals Trade Act of 2009
Congo Conflict Minerals Act of 2009
In the EU:
Global Witness pushes for legislation
Some of the corporations:
Congo tracking project aims to end IT industry’s use of “blood tin”
Supply chains unite to start iTSCi mineral traceability project in DRC
Global e-Sustainability Initiative
Just like with fur the best thing to do is just try to not buy. It’s horrifying that here in the U.S.A. school children are being required to have lap tops; Its financial slavery for the lower working classes to afford such luxuries and complicity in rape.