Dispatches: Fashion's Dirty Secret

Peek inside the average woman's wardrobe and it will be packed full of trendy high street clothes emulating the latest catwalk fashion - all bought at just a fraction of the price. My wardrobe is no different. A pair of £7 skinny jeans, t-shirts that cost no more than a few quid and a favourite dress which I grabbed for just under a tenner. High street fashion is in its heyday because now we can all have the latest designer trends at bargain prices.

But what's the real cost? Dispatches has discovered that fashion has a dirty secret - there's a hidden cost to cheap clothes and it's a human one.

Ethical Trade Initiative

Good video on what ethical trade initiative have achieved...

The Co-operative

This video is about the co-op bank and the formation of their ethical policies, the focus of which is inspiring young people, tackling global poverty and combating climate change.

The Co-operative have been consistent in their efforts since 1992 and they have set the standards for in the market for ethical trade and retail. They are the UK's most ethical brand, according to a study by GfK NOP Ltd, a leading research agency.

Change trade, not our climate

"Change trade, not our climate" is a publication launched in late 2009 by the Our world is not for sale network. These are videos from a talk hosted by the Trade Justice movement.

In this video Asad Rehman talks about the struggle between those who want 'business as usual' and those who say thats just not possibe anymore. He talks about the economics and politics involved and the issues around the Copenhagen summit. The essence of it is, that changing the way we trade is crucial and basic to reducing the impact of climate change - and thats the issue we have to be dealing with.

The other video's are watchable on the War on Want website, and talk about ethical trading in general. They're quite informative to get an idea of the big political and social issues.

The rhetoric of corporate social responsibility outweighs the reality

"The rhetoric of corporate social responsibility outweighs the reality" Guardian.com

Found this article from the guardian on the development aspects of CSR. Its interesting to get another opinion on how CSR is still only seen as a marketing ploy.

One quote from the guardian was:

"At the moment, CSR-driven schemes are simply not proportionate to the value these companies extract from Africa and Asia.!

Maybe we do need that goverment legislation to help support this!!

First Tragedy, Then Farce

"First Tragedy, Then Farce" by fantastic contemporary philosopher Slavoy Zizek.

An important, if slightly grueling, introduction to the ethics of CSR.