Tax yourself

What is it?
Until we get internationally fair trade rules and ecologically honest prices, we can tax ourselves individually and give the tax money to organisations that work on the issues that are to be resolved by international standards and government policies in the future.

How does it relate to ecology/sustainability?
Many taxes are contributing to distorting our economy in a way that is bad for the environment and for people. Many negative external effects are not included in prices. As aware persons we promote taxes on pollution (like on gasoline or kerosene) and aim to pay ecologically and socially fair prices for all products (like in fair trade). Unfortunately in many fields those taxes and fair prices are not yet implemented. So we just wait until our government decides to do this, right? No, not right! We don’t have to wait! Simply tax yourself! Whenever you have no alternative to a polluting or unfair product, put a corresponding amount into an organisation that promotes environmental protection or sustainable development or fair rules for trade. I am taxing myself for my lifestyle which unfortunately includes many unfair and polluting aspects by paying the education for an AIDS orphan in Uganda. I believe that there should be normal trade and government mechanisms in place that allow this child to study, but in our world of today there is a lot of structural injustice. It takes time to change these structures. So until we get to change them I will directly do the transfer. Another advantage is that you can choose which organisation does good and efficient work and support them. If it was government-organised you wouldn’t always be so sure.

Where can I get more information?/Where can I get it?
I guess you simply have to do it. It is like an internal contract that you do with yourself. Please feel free to share your achievements in this field with the others in the ecology group!