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| (Image from The Nielsen Company) |
My New Year's Resolution for 2013:
"Conscious Consumerism!"
My New Year's Resolution for 2013 is to become a more "Conscious Consumer!"
For, I genuinely feel that "Conscious Consumerism"* is the key to creating a world where everyone can meet their daily needs in a way that promotes ethical and sustainable practices for the production of goods and services worldwide...
...And I actually began this effort when I read about the "Cooler Smarter" campaign by the Union of Concerned Scientists!** So, I have already signed up for 100% renewable energy with my local power company; I have chosen to stop eating beef (although, I do still eat other meats, cheese, milk and honey); I have invested in using rechargeable batteries for all of my devices; and I am working on replacing all of my incandescent light bulbs!
And then, just recently, I found out that "over 80% of the worlds chocolate comes from West Africa and, unfortunately, many of those farms are using child slaves—in particular the cacao-rich country Ivory Coast."*** Thus, I have also changed my chocolate buying habits to always purchase organic chocolate and/or fair trade chocolate!
(By the way, later on I found out, from a local food cooperative of which I am a member, that slave labor is even being used in organic chocolate production, so now I only buy fair trade chocolate products!)
Plus, I am also working on being aware of whether I am buying anything made with slave labor and so, I have also taken the WalkFree.org pledge for 'A World Without Slavery'**** because "I believe our generation can build a world without slavery!"
-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Poet, Artist and Philosopher)
"I am the poet who thinks that he knows it!"
*"Ethical consumerism" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable monthly donation):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_consumerism
**"Cooler Smarter" from the Union of Concerned Scientists:
https://www.coolersmarter.org/
***"Chocolate and Child Slavery" from TheMarginalized.com:
https://themarginalized.com/forced-migration/chocolate/
****"I Believe In A World Where Everyone Can Walk Free" from Walk Free:
https://www.walkfree.org
My Writing About Reducing My Carbon Emissions: I am working toward the goal of becoming "Cooler and Smarter" by reducing my carbon emissions through the process of doing the following: (1) signing up for 100% renewable electricity; (2) using rechargeable batteries; (3) using LED light bulbs; and (4) no longer consuming animal products, due to the environmental impact of raising animals for food. –Paul Whiting (written June 4th, 2012, revised April 14, 2015, revised November 24th, 2015 and revised July 18th, 2022)
My Writing About Conscious Consumerism (which were written approximately on January 1st, 2013; written approximately on January 1st, 2014; written sometime after January 1st, 2016; written on March 26th, 2016; written on October 18th, 2018; written with reference to October 28th, 2019 on January 23rd, 2022; written on August 12th, 2021 and turned into 'my writing' on July 31st, 2022):
Written approximately on January 1st, 2013: I genuinely feel that "Conscious Consumerism" is the key to creating a world where everyone can meet their daily needs in a way that promotes ethical and sustainable practices for the production of goods and services worldwide...
...And I actually began this effort when I read about the "Cooler Smarter" campaign by the Union of Concerned Scientists! So, I have already signed up for 100% renewable energy with my local power company; I have invested in using rechargeable batteries for all of my devices; and I am working on replacing all of my incandescent light bulbs!
And then, just recently, I found out that "over 80% of the worlds chocolate comes from West Africa and, unfortunately, many of those farms are using child slaves—in particular the cacao-rich country Ivory Coast." Thus, I have also changed my chocolate buying habits to always purchase organic chocolate and/or fair trade chocolate!
(By the way, later on I found out, from a local food cooperative of which I am a member, that slave labor is even being used in organic chocolate production, so now I only buy fair trade chocolate products!)
Plus, I am also working on being aware of whether I am buying anything made with slave labor and so, I have also taken the WalkFree.org pledge for 'A World Without Slavery,' because "I believe our generation can build a world without slavery!" –Paul Whiting (written approximately on January 1st, 2013)
Written approximately on January 1st, 2014: ...Buying organic and/or fair trade products is the best way that I can help to Abolish Modern Slavery in the food industry, which is a major issue in food production worldwide—even here in America! –Paul Whiting (written approximately on January 1st, 2014)
Written sometime after January 1st, 2016: I also decided to become vegan again, sometime before the end of March 2015, and I am feeling much better about my food choices, plus I am feeling much better overall. You see, I became vegan the first time in 1999, right before I moved here to Portland, Oregon from Salt Lake City, Utah the first time. (I moved back to Salt Lake City, Utah from Oregon in early 2007—for about two years—and then I returned to Portland in early 2009.) So, this is actually my second time living in Oregon and also my second time being vegan! –Paul Whiting (written sometime after January 1st, 2016)
Written on March 26th, 2016: I buy "preserved foods" as much as possible (that is, canned, cooked, dried, frozen, pickled and refrigerated, etc.), so that I virtually never throw away food, because I only eat foods that are preserved, when I am in the mood to eat them... Now, this also means that I don't eat fresh foods, but I would eat my own home-grown foods, if I had my own garden! Thus, I choose to not buy fresh produce since I worry about being able to eat produce while it is good and fresh! That is just my personal preference, however, in order to prevent throwing away food that has gone bad—which means wasting food—and that is not okay in My Philosophical Book Of Life! –Paul Whiting (written on March 26th, 2016)
Written on October 18th, 2018: I realized, in the year 2018, that I should be buying and eating fresh produce, especially local produce, as part of choosing to be a "Conscious Consumer." And what prompted me to realize that I should be buying and eating fresh produce, especially local produce, is the fact that in the year 2017 here in Portland, Oregon, I joined three cooperative grocery stores—as a member who buys a 'co-op' share in order to support that 'co-op'—but I was not buying any fresh produce! Thus, I realized my error with regard to not buying fresh produce in terms of being a 'Conscious Consumer,' who endeavors to support local businesses, including small farms. Therefore, I have started to buy and eat fresh produce, from the various grocery stores at which I shop, but in small quantities, so that I have time to eat the produce while it is good and fresh! –Paul Whiting (written on October 18th, 2018)
Written with reference to October 28th, 2019 on January 23rd, 2022: After October 28th, 2019, I decided to stop taking public transportation in order to get around... So, I started to walk everywhere I go in order to transport myself—and as a way for me to exercise at the same time! However, I am limited as to how far I can travel, since I can only walk about a total of three to four miles in one direction. And so, I have been walking everywhere I go, ever since October 28th, 2019. –Paul Whiting (written with reference to October 28th, 2019 on January 23rd, 2022)
Written on August 12th, 2021 and turned into 'my writing' on July 31st, 2022: "How I Use Conscious Consumerism To Live With Respect To The Planet Upon Which I Live": My Point Of View No. 1: I only eat plant-based foods, which means that I'm vegan. I also try to buy minimally processed natural foods, as well as organically grown, fair trade, rain-forest safe, and non-GMO products. Also, I try to buy local products as much as possible. My Point Of View No. 2: I try to buy 100% recycled paper products, including toilet paper, facial tissues and paper towels. My Point Of View No. 3: I try to buy natural personal care products, such a oral hygiene products, as well as organic shampoo and conditioner, organic soaps and natural cleaning products, wherever possible. My Point Of View No. 4: I buy 100% clean electricity for my apartment and rechargeable batteries for my devices that can use rechargeable batteries. My Point Of View No. 5: I travel by walking — which is exercise for me — although, that limits to how far I can travel by walking. My Point Of View No. 6: I keep up with politics in order to stay more informed as a voter. And I make sure that I vote in every election, including "special elections." My Point Of View No. 7: I also keep up with the news in order to stay more informed as a citizen. And I subscribe to news organizations that I can afford given my budget. My Point Of View No. 8: I budget very carefully, so that I know where every penny is going. And I track what I save when I spend money, such as store discounts and coupons, as well as other discounts, so that I can spend that money on other things. My Point Of View No. 9: And the mobile phone company that I'm with, CREDO Mobile, is also very environmentally conscientious and socially conscientious. Plus, they make regular donations to different organizations that are trying to do good in the world. My Point Of View No. 10: And, so, this is how I am doing my part to try and reduce the effects of global warming! –Paul Whiting (written on August 12th, 2021, turned into 'my writing' on July 31st, 2022 and revised May 12th, 2023)
My Writing About The Perfect Reasons To Go Vegan: Why give food that you can eat to animals and then eat animal meat, or other animal products? In other words, "Cut out the middle man." Besides that, why contribute to the impact of eating animal meat, or other animal products, which accounts for a really large percentage of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions? In other words, "Cut out the global warming." –Paul Whiting (written March 30th, 2015, revised October 18th, 2021 and revised July 18th, 2022)
My Writing About How Raising Animals For Food Is Slavery: Raising animals for food is basically slavery—and we should not engage in, support, or condone slavery in any way, shape or form—because slavery is just plain wrong. –Paul Whiting (written April 11th, 2015 and revised July 18th, 2022)
My Writing About Becoming Vegan: If possible, become vegan! I became vegan again (for the second time), around the end of March 2015, and I am feeling much better about my food choices, plus I am feeling much better overall. Veganism is naturally healthier and you can lose weight! The first time that I became vegan, I lost forty pounds over several months, due to choosing to only consume foods that were not animal-based. –Paul Whiting (written April 11th, 2015 and revised July 18th, 2022)
My Writing About How Consuming Animal Meat And Other Animal Products Is Not Good: Consuming animal meat, as well as other animal products, is not good for the animals—it is not good for you—and it is not good for global warming, because livestock, and their byproducts, account for a really large percentage of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. –Paul Whiting (written December 27th, 2015, revised October 18th, 2021, revised October 24th, 2021 and revised July 18th, 2022)
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My Philosophical Notes:
The reason that I wrote this prose can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this prose because "I genuinely feel that 'Conscious Consumerism' is the key to creating a world where everyone can meet their daily needs in a way that promotes ethical and sustainable practices for the production of goods and services worldwide..."
Also, I will provide an update in 2014 of my year-long efforts in 2013 to become a more Conscious Consumer in My New Year's Resolution 2013 Update, which can be found below.
And this prose was also published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this prose applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer."
This prose was written in Portland, Oregon.
-Paulee
https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com
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My New Year's Resolution 2013 Update (which was written sometime after January 1st, 2014):
It's 2014 and—as I mentioned above—I began to provide the dates that I started purchasing various conscious consumerism products and the stores where I started buying them... However, I found out around the middle of 2013 that I couldn't really afford to buy a lot of what I wanted to! So, I decided to simply be as conscious in my consumerism as I could, as often as I could, given my budget! (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS. And I am on Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, so my income is quite limited.) Then, toward the end of 2013, I had some lunch meat go bad, since I wasn't eating sandwiches often enough, and I thought to myself, "Why am I eating meat at all? I did feel like I needed to have the highly concentrated protein of meat when I was having health issues, but now that my health is so much better, I should just become a vegetarian again!" So, I started a vegetarian diet toward the end of 2013 which, in and of itself, is an enormous step toward being a more conscious consumer! (By the way, I am not vegan, since I eat eggs, dairy and honey, etc.) Plus, I am continuing this same New Year's Resolution of Conscious Consumerism in 2014, since I think that some New Year's Resolutions should carry over to additional years, if your New Year's Resolution takes more than one year to complete!
This "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Post No. 025 was edited on December 6th, 2023.
"Prose is using all of the words that are necessary in order to describe all that is necessary to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]
