Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
24/04/2014
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
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RIO - Founded just six months, the Spanish nonprofit group Knowcosters believes that , in addition to having always right , the customer also has the power to change things . Therefore , defends the right of the citizen to know what you're buying and making a conscious political and social implications of their decisions on consumption choice. According to the group , when a person chooses a product , is showing support to those who produce and the economic and social environment in which it is produced , directly setting the world in which we live .
" The most important political , social and civic act that a citizen can do is consume. It serves no purpose that we vote every four years , every day , with its consumption , is saying that the economy whatever wins is not the building of the state social welfare , "says Miguel Conde Lobato , publicist and founder movement , which has 5000 followers and you want to get at least 200 000 in Spain . " Consumption is the most important act of social transformation we can give. "
Where did the idea to create a group that believes that consumer awareness is so important and that values the power that consumers have in their hands come from?
I understand Advertiser creator and consumer goods . And besides knowing the power that consumers have with their consumption choices and the impact this has on the planet , I studied the correlation between consumption , globalization and productive concentration. We live in a globalization that is real only to the capital and caused a large rigidities in the labor market, and a workforce increasingly less necessary . The generalization of the credit has to buy something easy and made objects have increasingly less value .
With the choice of one product or another change what is around us . But we make bad choices by misinformation or lack of interest . We believe in creating an option for the consumer to know what is the social cost of things . The most beautiful of all this is the enormous strength and power we have as consumers , since they do not produce a single product that is not consumed . And from there they are consumed by certain things , for lack of information or interest ? We believe it is due to lack of knowledge , lack of information and that's where the Knowcosters .
And think of the foundation to give solutions to increase information . The idea was to get information that would help separate products that respect some of the practices that do not respect them , so that people can make choices knowing who advocates a sustainable practice.
What has been the impact of the foundation in Spanish society since its inception ?
The response has been very good . We are called upon increasingly to forums and to the media , showing concern about what we stand for . There are also companies and products who are interested in our ideas of " digital tax " and " triple labeling ."
What is the " digital tax "?
It is a way to inform the consumer pages of e- commerce fiscal trail of a product sold by internet . The goal is to inform where the taxes are being collected regarding a product purchased via the web. Thus one can know what is supposedly buying in Brazil is not being taxed there, but in the Cayman Islands , which is a tax haven . If the consumer knows and still purchase, we will respect you . But the important thing is that he knows . It is not a protectionist , but the protection of information vision. Consumers should make their choices consciously, knowing who is opting for . We're doing a pre - campaign in Spain and there are companies interested in adopting this seal , this will need to fill in some data.
Some company has joined the ' digital tax ' ?
Yes, there are in Spain . The Verdurea , which sells agri-food products . It is a small, easy to implement this idea . But the real issue in this campaign , with the chambers of commerce and consumer protection agencies , will be made from May, early June .
And what is the idea behind the concept of ' triple labeling ' ?
We want the price of a product to show what is in your training . If buying a pair of pants , you pay only the amount that is on the label . Also pays for a number of indirect costs that are linked to this product. Are the costs to the environment , called "cost world " and its social impact , " the cost of the welfare state ." In agreement with some Spanish , universities want it to be quantified. It is a complex , but possible measurement. You can buy in euros or dollars , either way you 're paying for those costs associated with a product . The idea is to put clearly that price being paid indeed. We want these costs are detailed in three chords and the consumer decides . We just want people to make their informed choices .
So what is advocating the power of information ?
Yes , that's it , exactly . One of the goals of the foundation is to make useful and clear information reaches the consumer , so that it knows where the products come from and where they lead the citizens , as well as how much they really cost . The person can choose what you want but need to be aware of their choices . If you vote every four years to avoid the reduction of social coverage , wages , why do not you make that kind of choice via consumption? It serves no purpose that we vote every four years , every day , with its consumption , is saying that the economy whatever wins is not the building of the state social welfare . Consumption is an important social act modeler . Consuming is the most important act of social transformation we can give. And we want a fair consumption. Defend a way of life in which they can consume something that meets the standards . Or opt for something that is not respecting . Important is to know who does not respect the rules of the game or when making a choice .
What is the biggest challenge for the expansion of these ideas ?
The first challenge is disclosure . Each time you publish something about us, many people are interested . It is a movement that comes from the bottom up . But people are discouraged , have the impression that you can not change anything . We need to work for a more coherent world with what we want .
The foundation also think the companies on how to include them in the process ?
There are large corporations interested in these ideas , but do not want to take any steps in the world of business until the movement is stronger among consumers , with at least 200 thousand people in Spain . Many people who respect the rules of the game are good professionals and they know that these measures will have good effect , be recognized by consumers .
Do you believe that it is possible to disseminate these ideas globally?
We believe that the " triple labeling " for example , might be interesting in Spain, Brazil , England or the USA . We can not consciously be looking away . We want a healthy capitalism.
The next step would grow within Europe ?
It depends . There is a group very interested in our ideas in Miami . There are also people who are interested in our views in Brazil . Will depend on the people . There is a hierarchy . But it is necessary to closely monitor this expansion , so as not to make improper use of these ideas .
Source : The Globe - Online
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.