a Bible in one hand, and this one in the other

14Jan09

Back in August of ‘08, at a cohort gathering with Brian McLaren, Brian presented a somewhat lofty idea that could address globalized corporate evils like forced labor, unfair trade, exploitation of natural resources, and animal abuse. Brian mentioned the idea of a system that, like nutrition labels, could eventually become a government-mandated label placed on all products that detailed the (un)ethical measures taken to get the product from its natural resources all the way into the store in which you shopped. The hope would be that I, the consumer, by reading the label, would buy a shirt made ethically over and against a shirt made unethically. I would then feel no guilt for not knowing how much blood, sweat, and C02 went into the production of that shirt, and I could in good conscience buy the product, and in some way, love my neighbor.

But it all seemed like a distant dream for a more just world. So most of us filed the idea away in the “good idea, but…” file.

Enter Ellis Jones.

I’ve only recently been put on to a book that I believe every socially responsible follower of Jesus in the America would be better off taking a look at. It’s called “The Better World Shopping Guide #2″ by Ellis Jones. Unless you’re living off the grid on an organic communal farm, you need this book.

What started as a dream to bring grassroots accountability to corporations is now becoming a reality. Jones’ research team has now ethically and thoroughly ranked the companies that provide us goods in 75 categories ranging from beer to bread to toilet paper to toys.

So how does this book help? Case in point: I’m driving back from Abilene to Birmingham on I-20 last Saturday night, and I realize I’m low on gas. I see an interstate sign showing the fuel options ahead. My options are Chevron, Exxon, Shell, and BP. I choose BP because, as I recalled, BP received a ranking of B+. It was toward the top of the list, just below Sunoco. The others fell quite short of a B+ ranking. Shell gets a C-, Chevron gets a D-, and Exxon, well, Exxon gets an F.

Across the page, we read that Exxon has been awarded the title of “Corporate Villian.” Here’s why: Exxon is ranked “#1 worst corporation on the planet,” “Renowned human rights violator,” and “#5 in ‘Top 100 Corporate Criminals.’” Unless they get their act together, or I’m stranded, Exxon will no longer be getting my money in exchange for their gasoline in my tank.

Now take that decision, and apply it to products that we buy across the board. It’s not that this book might change the game. It already has. It’s not that it might work. It already is.

In the land of capitalism, buying is like casting a vote, except that you don’t have to wait for once every four years to do it. It’s time we start rewarding corporate responsibility, and there’s an easy way to do it.

Get the book here. And let’s shop responsibly.

Oh, and in case you were curious, here’s the top ten worst companies:

1. Exxon-Mobil
2. Kraft
3. Wal-Mart
4. Chevron-Texaco
5. Pfizer
6. Nestle
7. General Electric
8. Archer Daniels Midland
9. General Motors
10. Tyson Food

“The above list represents the 10 worst companies on the planet based on their overall social and environmental records” (p. 11).

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Tags: consumerism, corporate evil, environment, ethics, human rights, social justice