Most of us choose organic for more than just strictly environmental reasons. Most of us see the broader context of the choices we make. Most of us are concerned about fair labor from the field right through the supply chain to the store.

The new organic gorilla in the U.S. is, of course, Wal-Mart. Not only are they misrepresenting some of their products as organic (don’t they know what it means?), but they are still having trouble in the area of fair labor.

We still need to make our organic choices in context. Don’t be fooled by strictly economic choices that bring higher organic dollars. Do the companies you buy from embrace social justice?

Co-op America (of which we are members through our sister company Fuzbaby) is promoting their 12-step plan for climate action.

Scientists at the Princeton University’s Carbon Mitigation Initiative (CMI) have taken up this challenge, and propose stabilizing carbon emissions by dividing this huge task into smaller, doable action “wedges” of equal size—each with the capacity to reduce carbon emissions by 1 billion tons/year by 2054. CMI lists 15 possible “wedges,” out of which we need to achieve just seven to reach carbon stabilization.

Co-op America has filtered these wedges to give us the strongest 12 steps we can take.

1. Increase fuel economy
2. Cut back on driving.
3. Increase energy efficiency.
4. Decrease tropical deforestation to zero.
5. Stop soil erosion.
6. Increase wind power.
7. Push hard for solar power.
8. Increase efficiency of coal plants.
9. Replace 1,400 gigawatts of coal with natural gas.
10. Sequester carbon dioxide at existing coal plants.
11. Develop zero-emissions vehicles.
12. Develop biomass as a short-term replacement for fossil fuel.

What should you do? Ask state legislators, members of Congress, business people, and others with power to make these changes. Learn about one (or more) options and write letters to the editor. Talk to people. Help those around you see the necessity and possibility of change if we ac now.

A friend of mine has joined the Compact, a group of people in San Francisco agreeing to buy nothing new in the coming year except food, health and safety items, and underwear. They are taking Reduce, Reuse, Recycle a step further in their effort to step outside the consumer machine. Good for them!

This could be seen as part of the voluntary simplicity movement.

What is more simple than cloth diapers, especially flat cloth diapers made with nothing but organic cotton? Better yet, cut up old towels, use what you have on hand. Remember that diapers and diaper covers can be simple tools to do a simple job.

Organic Consumers Fund, the lobbying sister organization of the Organic Consumers Association, has launched a political candidate survey and voters guide to the 2006 election. This is a cooperative effort, and you can help.

You can send the 17-question survey to political candidates. First question, “1. Do you think organic agriculture should receive a fair share (at least 2.5%) of government resources spent on agriculture?” Well, yes! Better than just sending the survey, you could work to educate local and national legislators about the importance of maintaining standards for organic agriculture.

The steps are easy:

1. Find Your State Page
2. Scroll Down to Read Your State’s Survey Results
3. Lookup Missing Candidates in Your State
4. Add Candidates and Automatically Send Them the Survey
5. Contact Candidates Who Haven’t Yet Answered the Survey

The survey will be as thorough as we, the organic consumers, make it.