We need a cultural shift. Few of us intend to drain the planet's dwindling resources, overwhelm its absorptive capacities, or perpetuate sweatshop labor, but our collective buying habits bear those very consequences. Our culture, measuring success and personal worth in terms of material possessions, is especially cruel to the poor. Madison Avenue preys on low-income communities, saying success and status are only a purchase away. 8 Children, often self-conscious to begin with, are another popular target for advertising predators .
Human compassion has the potential to go a long way.
10 Beyond financial contributions, much else can be done to make the world a better, more equitable place. As consumers, we can shop responsibly, rather than impulsively or conspicuously. We can also band together and demand durable, eco-friendly products made by workers earning a livable wage. As voters we can support policies that benefit underrepresented constituencies, both today's materially poor as well as the future generations that will inherit our land, air, and water. This is an economical, ecological, and moral question.