An ethics quota: the way forward?

Tend to opt for a convenient lifestyle over an ethical one? Krysia Sturgeon explains how you can redeem yourself by following her ethical quota.

''The Daily Mail is a newspaper I despise, with its bigoted articles on immigration and asylum, but the other day I 'sold-out' - I bought it.'' ''It was because there was a free DVD of Passport to Pimlico on offer, which I really wanted.'' ''I convinced myself that it was good to read opposing views as I flicked through, but I bought a Big Issue on the way home to redeem myself.''

I am certainly not ethical ALL of the time. This is partly out of choice and partly as a result of my surroundings. What I mean by this is that sometimes it is difficult, almost impossible even, to be ethical. The Daily Mail is a newspaper I despise, with its bigoted articles on immigration and asylum, but the other day I ‘sold-out’ - I bought it. It was not out of convenience, there were plenty of other newspapers on the shelf. It was because there was a free DVD of ‘Passport to Pimlico’ on offer, which I really wanted. I convinced myself that it was good to read opposing views as I flicked through, but I bought a Big Issue on the way home to redeem myself.

With regards to recycling, I do it all the time in my flat. When the pile of plastic bottles, cartons, old newspapers and cans starts to take over the kitchen, I make a pilgrimage to the recycling station around the corner. This makes me feel good. In fact, when putting the flattened Nestlé cereal boxes in the recycling bin it is like washing my hands clean of buying an unethical product. In my opinion the good deed cancels out the bad.

Recycling is not something that’s easy to do when out and about. I often drink a can of Coca Cola and put it in a normal bin. If there were a recycling bin present, I would definitely use it. So, I make a choice to put my empty can in the nearest bin out of convenience. I feel guilty for a few seconds, but then I start blaming the local council for not having recycling bins everywhere. So I write a letter to my local council about the recycling facilities in my area, which in turn cancels out my initial act of putting recyclable rubbish in a normal bin.

Being ethical is not all about buying Fairtrade products, although if I could afford to I would. Little things can make a difference - recycling is just one of the things I do in my attempt to be ethical. I also volunteer for a local community group, help people when I can see they are lost and offer a warm smile to people I pass in the street. I suppose I see myself as having a sort of ethics quota. Recycling household waste gets me points. Buying Coca Cola and Nestlé’s products takes points away. As long as I get more points than are taken away I think I am doing OK. The most important thing is that I am trying.