Volume 5The Art and Science of DeliveryDelivery is both an art and a science. We think the art is in the innovation and adaptability of the actors and different delivery models, while the science lies in replicating and scaling those models.
Volume 5The Art and Science of Delivery
Volume 4The Socially Conscious ConsumerHow the global rise of socially conscious consumers can help drive environmental and economic sustainability.
Volume 3Financing Social ChangeAcross the globe, innovative new tools are helping fund social change.
Volume 2The Rise of Social MovementsTaking to the streets: The rise of the Arab Spring and Occupy Movements.
Volume 1Jobs for the young & restlessYouth around the world have been particularly hard hit, registering disturbingly high unemployment numbers.
What MattersSocial innovationCan fresh thinking solve the world’s most intractable problems?
What MattersSocial entrepreneursCan social entrepreneurs create large scale change?
What MattersCitiesAs the global population becomes increasingly urbanized, what will the cities of the future look like?
What's Your Q?
Global consumers have been flexing their purchasing muscles for political purposes since at least the 18th century. From the Boston Tea Party to Gandhi’s Salt March and today’s campaigns against conflict diamonds and fast food, we present highlights in the history of consumer activism and ask you to decide how you would have responded to each campaign. Based on your answers, we’ll tell you what kind of consumer you are.
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1773
1773
Boston Tea Party
Disguised as Native Americans, radical American colonists board merchant ships and dump their cargo of imported tea into Boston Harbor. The action follows years of colonial unrest over the British Parliament’s imposition of a tea tax, which many reject on the grounds that the North American colonists had no representation in Parliament. Known as the Boston Tea Party, this act of civil disobedience sparks a broad consumer boycott of imported tea in North America and is followed three years later by the outbreak of the American Revolution.
Disguised as Native Americans, radical American colonists board merchant ships and dump their cargo of imported tea into Boston Harbor. The action follows years of colonial unrest over the British Parliament’s imposition of a tea tax, which many reject on the grounds that the North American colonists had no representation in Parliament. Known as the Boston Tea Party, this act of civil disobedience sparks a broad consumer boycott of imported tea in North America and is followed three years later by the outbreak of the American Revolution.
- A.
I would personally hurl chests of tea into the harbor. Give me liberty or give me death!
- B.
Taxation without representation is certainly unfair, but this issue should have been settled peacefully in the courts. Still, I probably would have switched to coffee
- C.
Tea and politics don't mix. Cream and sugar, please.
1820s
1820s
Rum and Sugar Boycotts
U.K. abolitionists revive a consumer movement to boycott slave-made rum and sugar from British colonies in the West Indies. In a precursor to today’s fair-trade initiatives, some shopkeepers post notices announcing that slaves were not involved in producing the sugar that they sell.
U.K. abolitionists revive a consumer movement to boycott slave-made rum and sugar from British colonies in the West Indies. In a precursor to today’s fair-trade initiatives, some shopkeepers post notices announcing that slaves were not involved in producing the sugar that they sell.
- A.
I would boycott all slave-made products, even if it meant paying more money for inferior goods.
- B.
I sympathize with the abolitionist cause, but how is my boycotting sugar going to change the lot of a West Indian slave? That said, I might join in a boycott if it was truly a mass movement that had potential to influence the slave economy.
- C.
Slavery is undoubtedly evil, but Parliament and the Royal Navy are responsible for eradicating it, not me.
1930
1930
Gandhi's Nonviolent Resistance
Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi launches a nonviolent resistance campaign against the British monopoly on salt and its associated tax. He leads 78 followers on a march to the Arabian Sea, where they produce their own salt in defiance of the tax. Gandhi’s march sparks a broad campaign of civil disobedience in which millions of Indians avoid the salt tax by making or buying illegal salt.
Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi launches a nonviolent resistance campaign against the British monopoly on salt and its associated tax. He leads 78 followers on a march to the Arabian Sea, where they produce their own salt in defiance of the tax. Gandhi’s march sparks a broad campaign of civil disobedience in which millions of Indians avoid the salt tax by making or buying illegal salt.
- A.
I would cast off all my worldly possessions, including my supplies of cursed imperialist salt, and join the Mahatma's march.
- B.
In the privacy of my own home, I would strongly support the Mahatma's brave stand. I would probably keep my supply of monopoly salt, however. Waste not, want not!
- C.
Eating a balanced, healthy diet is much more important to me than supporting a symbolic consumer campaign, however worthy. Pass the salt!
1970
1970
Mandatory Seat Belts
The Australian state of Victoria passes the world’s first law making seat belts mandatory for motor-vehicle occupants. Since then, seatbelt laws have been credited with saving thousands of lives in countries around the world. Consumers are divided on the issue, with some supporting seat belt laws on health and safety grounds, while other oppose them as infringements of personal liberty.
The Australian state of Victoria passes the world’s first law making seat belts mandatory for motor-vehicle occupants. Since then, seatbelt laws have been credited with saving thousands of lives in countries around the world. Consumers are divided on the issue, with some supporting seat belt laws on health and safety grounds, while other oppose them as infringements of personal liberty.
1986
1986
Paul Simon's Graceland
US musician Paul Simon releases his Graceland album - a collaboration with black South African musicians such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and General MD Shirinda. The album is a smash hit, but it sparks controversy because Simon violated a worldwide cultural boycott of the apartheid South African regime by traveling to Johannesburg for the recording sessions. Anti-apartheid activists picket Simon’s Graceland concert tour, urging consumers to boycott his music.
US musician Paul Simon releases his Graceland album - a collaboration with black South African musicians such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and General MD Shirinda. The album is a smash hit, but it sparks controversy because Simon violated a worldwide cultural boycott of the apartheid South African regime by traveling to Johannesburg for the recording sessions. Anti-apartheid activists picket Simon’s Graceland concert tour, urging consumers to boycott his music.
- A.
As much as I like Paul Simon’s music, a successful boycott depends on universal compliance so I would not buy the album.
- B.
Tough one. While I support the boycott, Graceland helped a number of black South African musicians build careers in the West. I would buy the album with some conflicted feelings.
- C.
Seriously? Simon made a beautiful album featuring black South African musicians who freely chose to work with him. I’ll buy it and dance in the aisles at the concert!
1989
1989
Slow-Food movement
Delegates from 15 countries sign the founding manifesto of the Slow-Food movement, dedicated to weaning consumers from industrial fast food and to preserving local food traditions. The movement now includes more than 100,000 members with chapters in 150 countries.
Delegates from 15 countries sign the founding manifesto of the Slow-Food movement, dedicated to weaning consumers from industrial fast food and to preserving local food traditions. The movement now includes more than 100,000 members with chapters in 150 countries.
- A.
Sign me up! I think the industrial food complex is bad for farmers, bad for human health, and bad for the planet.
- B.
Not so fast. Organic food is a nice luxury for wealthy liberals, but we can’t feed the exploding global population without industrial food production, including fast food.
- C.
Thanks anyway, but I’ll pass on that heirloom tomato. I happen to like the taste and convenience of fast food, and I don’t see why I should feel guilty about that.
1997
1997
Fair-Trade
To promote equity in international trade, Fairtrade international launches a worldwide association of producer networks and national labeling initiatives. Fair-Trade advocacy campaigns seek to improve labor conditions and secure rights for marginalized works by educating consumers about the social and ethical benefits of buying fair-trade certified goods.
To promote equity in international trade, Fairtrade international launches a worldwide association of producer networks and national labeling initiatives. Fair-Trade advocacy campaigns seek to improve labor conditions and secure rights for marginalized works by educating consumers about the social and ethical benefits of buying fair-trade certified goods.
- A.
I’m happy to pay more money for products from farmers and artisans who are treated with respect by their trading partners and paid a fair price for their goods.
- B.
I might get a warm, fuzzy feeling by paying a little extra for that pound of fair-trade coffee now and then, but I can’t blow up my budget to subsidize a grand social experiment.
- C.
I base my purchasing decisions on quality, convenience, and price, period.
2003
2003
Conflict Diamonds
States involved in the diamond trade begin implementing the Kimberley Process, meant to certify that the stones are not sourced from brutal warlords who use “conflict diamonds” to finance their armies.
States involved in the diamond trade begin implementing the Kimberley Process, meant to certify that the stones are not sourced from brutal warlords who use “conflict diamonds” to finance their armies.
- A.
I would never buy a diamond unless I was absolutely certain that it was not a conflict diamond.
- B.
Nobody wants to see their engagement ring purchase subsidize a genocidal warlord, but the Kimberly Process is deeply flawed by corruption and poor enforcement mechanisms. I would buy from a reputable retailer and hope for the best.
- C.
I choose diamonds based on clarity, color, cut, and weight. The global diamond supply chain is an issue for police and customs officials, not me.
2010s
2010s
Ivory Poaching
Ivory poaching has reached critical levels across many African countries. Thousands of elephants and rhinos are slaughtered every year, with notorious armed guerillas — such as the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army — profiting from the trade. So long as demand remains strong, however, it will be difficult to stem the tide.
Ivory poaching has reached critical levels across many African countries. Thousands of elephants and rhinos are slaughtered every year, with notorious armed guerillas — such as the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army — profiting from the trade. So long as demand remains strong, however, it will be difficult to stem the tide.
2012
2012
Gender Roles and Toys
A Swedish regulatory organization reprimands a local toy distributor for gender discrimination because their catalogue shows girls with tea sets and boys with toy guns. After undergoing a consciousness-raising course, the company publishes a new catalogue that shows girls playing with guns and action figures while boys frolic around dollhouses.
A Swedish regulatory organization reprimands a local toy distributor for gender discrimination because their catalogue shows girls with tea sets and boys with toy guns. After undergoing a consciousness-raising course, the company publishes a new catalogue that shows girls playing with guns and action figures while boys frolic around dollhouses.
- A.
I would applaud the regulator’s efforts and decline to buy toys from any company with stone-age notions of gender.
- B.
I think children should play with whatever toys they like, within reason. But short of a consumer safety issue, I don’t think the government should tell private companies how to market their products.
- C.
The Swedish regulatory action sounds like political correctness run amok. I would happily buy toys from the old catalogue with its perfectly sound marketing strategy based on natural, innate differences in the tastes and propensities of boys and girls.