Another world is not only possible...

Another world is not only possible...

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When it comes to alternatives, one is almost tempted to just write "BUY YOUR GAS AT CITGO!" and leave it at that. Citgo is, after all, Venezuelan oil and by keeping the message simple people -like you- might not get drowned in too many options.

But it isn't enough.

And it doesn't have to be much more complicated or demanding.

The boycott movement opens the door to a lot of constructive opportunities. A boycott often entails not merely avoiding one company or product but actively choosing another. This helps garner much needed economic support for small businesses, fair trade, community currency systems and so on.

This site hopes to present some of those options. But if you still want to keep it really simple. But your gas at Citgo and choose Fair Trade coffee and chocolate while you're at it.

Alternatives

to War-based Economics and Bloodstained Corporations

For those of you who feel up to doing more than coffee, chocolate, and Citgo, this section of links is divided in seven sub-categories. 1. Alternative consumption; 2. Alternative currency systems; 3. Worker solidarity; 4. Socially responsible investing; 5. Simple living; 6. Peace through piracy; and 7. Pro-Activism. These are strategies that people are practicing all over the world today. It is up to each person and organization to determine what is most appropriate and effective in their own community and personal lives.

Briefly, "Alternative consumption" is about changing which products we buy. This can entail choosing Fair Trade when it is available or simply choosing companies that do not involve themselves with the war industry. It is as routine as choosing which media provides our information needs and it is as exceptional as choosing which country we spend our vacation in.

"Alternative currency systems" is about community currencies, LETS, and other forms of alternative economics. Often these are resource-based and bound to a specific geographic area.

"Worker solidarity" is about various actions or practices that unions can engage in to support alternatives to the war industry.

"Socially responsible investing" is about just that: socially responsible investment options.

"Simple living" is about buying less and getting more: voluntary simplicity and frugal living.

"Peace through piracy" is about the so-called informal economy and detaching products from profits.

"Pro-Activism" is about putting pressure on your stores, jobsites, sports teams, organizations, even local and national governments to buy and invest responsibly. For example, to get a local government to switch from buying Caterpillar machinery to another company can make a much larger economic impact than a boycott by many individuals. The same goes for getting a sports team to start buying clean clothes and/or fair trade snacks.

"Pro-Activism" can also be about working to change the global economy into something that better enables peace and justice rather than exacerbating conflict and inequality.

1. Alternative consumption

Products, companies, and Fair Trade

The Fair Trade Page

Oxfam-Fair Trade

Clean Clothes

BuyBlue.Org

Ecological products such as in-door composters and water-powered clocks(!)

SERRV Self-Help Handcrafts

Extensive list of specific companies that have supported George W. Bush alongside alternatives (Provided by BoycottBush.Net)

Free downloadable Anti-War songs

Linux

List of Alternatives by Simple Living.Org

Travel

Note: Costa Rica recently succumbed to pressure from environmental groups to abandon a project on off-shore drilling and focus more on eco-tourism as a source of national income. They should be rewarded for their choice. Extra links to Costa Rica are thereofer provided here.

Eco-Tourism

Tips for eco-tourists to think about when choosing a tour

Eco-tourism: Preservation or Destruction (article)

Sister City International

Center for Responsible Tourism

Eco-tours in Costa Rica

Book about finding various eco-tourist alternatives in Costa Rica

Eco-tours in Costa Rica

Alternative Newsmedia

World Link TV

Independent Media Center

Al-Jazeera

Alternet.org

Common Dreams

Z Mag

CounterPunch

Michael Moore

Guardian Unlimited

2. Alternative/complementary economic systems

Ithaca Hours

Complementary Currencies at Transaction.Net

The original LETS Homepage

Links to LETS sites

PARECON

3. Worker solidarity

Download Oxfam's Guide to Fair Trade for Trade Unions and Employees (PDF)

Global Unions

Global Solidarity

International Labor Organization

Industrial Workers of the World

CGT Confederación General del Trabajo Spain

More links of global unions

4. Socially responsible investing

Social Investment Forum

Socialfunds.org

Pax World Funds

List of Socially Responsible Stocks

Rocky Mountain Humane Investing

5. Simple living

The Simple Living Network

The Center for a New American Dream

Frugal Times

6. Peace through piracy

"We are proud that American films continue to enjoy immense popularity around the world but the need for copyright protection in the digital age is crucial to the preservation of our most prized trade asset. Piracy is having a dramatic impact on the creators and copyright owners of this nation..."

-Jack Valenti, outgoing president of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)

"I do well enough already and I made this film because I want the world, to change. The more people who see it the better, so I'm happy this is happening."

-Michael Moore, in support of the pirating of his film Fahrenheit 9-11

Article by Tim O-Reilly: Piracy is Progressive Taxation

Courtney Love writes about the mathematics of piracy

Copyleft

The Droplift Project

Free Software forum

FairShare project

Creative Commons: a non-profit organization devoted to expanding the range of creative work available for others legally to build upon and share.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

P2P File sharing activism

ZeroPaid Filesharing software and information

Slyck Filesharing news and community

7. Pro-Activism

Download Mother Earth's Boycott Kit (rtf file)

Download the Fair Trade Action Guide (PDF file)

Make your school Fair Trade

Fair Trade Sports Balls for Your School or Team

War Resisters

Attac

Yes- this is a real ad by Lockheed-Martin

(although sometimes one might wonder: who is working for who?!)