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How principled are you?

(95 Posts)
Sago Sun 09-Jul-23 11:52:36

I used to be so principled, I boycotted Tesco for 20+ years due to their sending all their profits out to the BVI and the detrimental effect they had on the local economy.
I would not purchase Nestle products as they were promoting formula milk in third world countries and so it goes on.

This morning to my fury I read that Jeremy Hunt was refused a Monzo account because of his politics.
I immediately went to my account to transfer all the funds to another account, I then remembered our trip across Spain next month and the reason I opened the account in the first place!

I’m sorry Jeremy but if I’m still angry in September I will close it then😬.

keepcalmandcavachon Tue 11-Jul-23 08:37:19

I try to shop free range/ local for food and produce as I like to know whats in my meals, this is one of the reasons I dont eat out as I think there must be huge financial pressure on eateries ( more so lately I fear) to turn a profit . Sadly they will not all be able to use ethical meat/produce to cook with. Dont choose to fly so feel lucky to be in such a beautiful country already!

Grammaretto Tue 11-Jul-23 09:19:30

Is it better that this stop oil activist, who has changed his spots, continues to speak out despite his once being rich and unprincipled or should he stay home and say nothing, overcome by guilt and shame?
I prefer he speaks out!
The principle is more urgent.

Callistemon21 Tue 11-Jul-23 09:40:29

Chardy

You are seriously suggesting that someone who paid into their pension for over 3 decades should forfeit it?

I'm grateful that someone who knows the oil industry inside out is now on the side of the angels.

on the side of the angels??
🤔

He's (presumably) an intelligent man, surely he can find better ways of bringing the message to people, working with organisations and individuals to help them achieve their aims to achieve a transition to carbon neutrality and sustainability without antagonising them?

Callistemon21 Tue 11-Jul-23 09:46:26

Grammaretto

Is it better that this stop oil activist, who has changed his spots, continues to speak out despite his once being rich and unprincipled or should he stay home and say nothing, overcome by guilt and shame?
I prefer he speaks out!
The principle is more urgent.

Why should he stay at home?

Why do people only see extremes? Disrupt people's lives or stay at home?

Should it be either/or? There is always another way.

There are ways of achieving aims without antagonising the majority of the public.

dragonfly46 Tue 11-Jul-23 09:46:40

I always buy vegetables in season, organic chicken and eggs and British produce where possible. This is not because I am principled but because they taste better.

How many principled people would give up their cars, not fly, give up meat etc. These are the main cause of global warming

Grammaretto Tue 11-Jul-23 10:34:59

I was simplifying Callistemon . Not literally staying home but keeping out of the limelight in order not to be an embarrassment to his fellow activists
.
You have a good point though, He could be doing important work behind the scenes.

Callistemon21 Tue 11-Jul-23 10:37:33

Wimbledon officials, for instance, are trying hard to improve sustainability. Instead of disruptions, Stop Oil could be offering considered advice.
Same with the Chelsea Flower Show.

They do make themselves look and seem ridiculous and it doesn't further their cause one jot.

NotSpaghetti Tue 11-Jul-23 10:40:36

Sago, I haven't (knowingly) bought any Nestle products since the late 70s.

Grammaretto Tue 11-Jul-23 11:00:04

Isn't there a drip feed effect of "waking up"?
Greta tunberg was alternately ridiculed and sanctified but she got her point across.
I agree that the constant disruption is annoying but small fry compared to the hideous results of ignoring the elephant in the room global catastrophes unfolding.

Callistemon21 Tue 11-Jul-23 11:05:11

Greta broadcasts her message!

She doesn't throw orange paint over people.

DH wondered if they'd try to disrupt that prolific user of oil, The Grand Prix, by throwing orange paint on to the cars.

Grammaretto Tue 11-Jul-23 11:09:48

Point rather than paint perhaps!

Grandma70s Tue 11-Jul-23 11:09:48

I am about food, not so much about anything else. My brother is so principled he can hardly do anything!

rocketstop Tue 11-Jul-23 11:29:13

biglouis

I do whatever suits my convenience and never let "principles" interfere with that. Ive paid enough into the community for things I dont use and now I put myself first without a pang of conscience.

That made me laugh ! As did your follow up post(Tried to use that as a quote but it kept adding a quote by another poster !)
What do you sell BL? Grear to be able to have the choice to let people 'Go elsewhere'

rocketstop Tue 11-Jul-23 11:29:46

great not grear !

Grammaretto Tue 11-Jul-23 12:09:50

The government plans to license more than 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025
Just saying!
I didn't know the figures before I looked it up so those oil protesters are making us think.

Norah Tue 11-Jul-23 16:24:08

NotSpaghetti

*Sago*, I haven't (knowingly) bought any Nestle products since the late 70s.

We attempt that as well.

Mostly sell many things we've no need of - I do drink Perrier.

Lilyflower Wed 12-Jul-23 05:25:36

To associate principles with boycotts is blunt and problematic. I notice that the posters above are almost all admitting to withholding custom to support activist left wing causes, some of which had complex and difficult outcomes..

I don’t say don’t do it, but be informed and think things through. Also, be prepared to change your mind if circumstances change. Virtue signalling isn’t virtue.

NotSpaghetti Wed 12-Jul-23 06:25:05

The thing is, Lilyflower, some of us don't think our "causes" are "left wing". I can't see that in the examples given and my own certainly aren't. Mine are largely humanitarian and about the way we live in the world.

Also, re virtue signalling, it's hard to virtue signal if you mostly just get on with it and do it quietly behind the scenes.

I expect the majority of us on here who have given an example of something (in line with the OP) do/don't do or buy/don't buy in accordance with principles and never crow about it.

In my mind, principles are about the way We live. About more than just buying and travel. They are about others.

I have less energy these days for protests (and so-on) though I have actually been to a coue of demos and protests in the last few years but I no longer put hours into making posters and lobbying for my causes. It does feel like a "cop out" that I'm less "active" and I do sometimes mourn the campaigning, challenging, socially vibrant person I was.
However, it is comparatively easy to send an email to a director of a company, choose to eat differently, support people who are trying to make the world better/ live in line with your ideas. Information is more available now. We don't have to go to the library or write letters to find out the simplest of things. We have Google and Google Scholar at our fingertips. I try to influence by my interactions and conversations. I still write, and yes, I do still boycott Nestle

M0nica Wed 12-Jul-23 09:16:16

Lilyflower Do you see the problems of Global Warming as an^ an activist left wing cause^?

If so, why?