In many cases the government acts as a conscientious consumer. If the government prevents the sale or taxes heavily the products from a certain company or countries, that affects all consumers purchasing decisions. Citizens can influence the government’s conscience by voting for representatives that share their views. Citizens can also contact government representatives to influence them or support groups that lobby the government. In some cases, consumer activism (and the related boycotts) have prompted government action.

However, once the government makes a law that effect consumer choices, all consumers are left with the result. Sometimes the government’s conscience will align with consumer’s conscience. In many cases it won’t. But regardless what the government does, a conscientious consumer’s own conscience decides what’s right and what’s wrong, and which companies and countries they will support and which ones they won't.

The Tuna/Dolphin Compromise in Congress
The Earth Island Institute

http://www.earthisland.org
/immp/tunadolphinpressrelease.html

Tips on Contacting Your Elected Officials:
To Determine Your Congresspersons:
Project Vote Smart
http://www.vote-smart.org/ce/

Tips on Contacting Your Congress Persons:
http://www.commoncause.org/
get_involved/action_kit.htm

Conservative Activist’s Email Link Page
http://www.conservativeusa.org/
megalink.htm

American Heart Association
Office of Public Advocacy
http://americanheart.org/Support/Advocacy/

What is It?

As Part of the Purchasing Process

The Importance of Boycotts

Keys to Successful Boycotts

Creating a Personal Boycott

The Payoff!

The Vocal Consumer

What's Governments Role?

Why it Won't Work

The Goal of this Web Site

Be a Conscientious Consumer

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