Ethics

What does ethical really mean? It may seem a lazy device to use, but there is no better definition of ethics than in the Oxford Dictionary:

•   1 moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity

•   2 the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles

Schools of ethics in Western philosophy can be divided, very roughly, into three sorts. The first, drawing on the work of Aristotle, holds that the virtues (such as justice, charity, and generosity) are dispositions to act in ways that benefit both the person possessing them and that person’s society. The second, defended particularly by Kant, makes the concept of duty central to morality: humans are bound, from a knowledge of their duty as rational beings, to obey the categorical imperative to respect other rational beings. Thirdly, utilitarianism asserts that the guiding principle of conduct should be the greatest happiness or benefit of the greatest number.

All three principles were exemplified at the Observer Ethical Awards, where those who received accolades including the National Campaigner of the Year, Ecover Green Young Champions and Lifetime Achievement Award were celebrated. Each category, whether it focused on tourism or trade, showed the importance of peering past the boundaries of our own lives. As I sat in the ceremony, tears were not far away on several occasions. The first was when Francis McCrickard received the Unsung Hero award – reminiscent of the story of ‘The Man Who Planted Trees’ in his commitment to, well, doing just that. Over 8000 trees have sprung from his hands, as well as meadows yielding wildlife and a project restoring old tools for new use. The ‘unsung’ part of the award is important, for he was incredibly gracious, doing what he does not for the praise but for the practical impact on others.

The second was Malala Yousafzai. I mentioned her in my last post but one, expressing my admiration for her very vocal call for girls' education in the Swat Valley, and more widely in Pakistan. She is three years younger than me, and many decades braver. This astounding girl was the rightful winner of the International Campaigner of the Year. I know I wasn’t the only one who felt shivers at watching a video that summarized her actions. It was humbling.  

We live in unsettled times. We’re witnessing not only the effects of climate change, but also the impact of global corporations who value profit above people. Technology moves faster than our resources. Women are still deemed second-class in many countries, while the global and local gap between wealth and poverty is deplorable. When all of that is acknowledged, things can feel bleak. To be honest, some of it is.

But that’s not it. There are good people, good initiatives and good businesses at work. They are the ones who adhere to Aristotle’s ideas of justice and generosity, or Kant’s moral duty. No one person can (or should be expected to) take on the weight of the world’s problems. Yet this shouldn’t stop the individual or collective helping to add to the sum of humanity in a small way. I respect those who don’t just stumble through their own life, but actively try to improve the lives of others. I aspire to their actions. This isn’t some ‘holier than thou’ comment though; just a recognition that the world extends beyond the parameters we each mark our existence with. 

I was lucky enough to be at the awards ceremony because I had been shortlisted for the Well Dressed Award - a new category based on sustainable style which was judged by Livia Firth and Baroness Lola Young, and sponsored by Eco-Age. I was both thrilled and shocked to find that I was the winner. The adrenaline rush of this exciting news carried me through my last exam the next day (completed after a long train journey back from London), and I was featured in The Observer magazine the following weekend (wearing my beautiful handmade cape by ethical designer Asuyeta.)  It was also written up by the lovely Jessica Bumpus from Vogue.co.uk here.

I wore this dress from ethical company Beautiful Soul (also shown in the top photos) paired with my paternal grandma's belt and my late maternal grandma's handmade silver rings recycled by a local silversmith/artist from old, scrap jewellery. That, and a nice layer of Chanel Lilis nail varnish. The clutch is a vintage pyjama case. 

There had been a shortlist of three, and my surprise at winning was due to my knowledge of the amazing credentials of the other two...

Zoe Robinson (pictured on the right in a vintage dress sourced from eBay, with Alice Wilby the editor of Eco-Age on the left) is a sustainable stylist, charity consultant, writer, fashion editor and founder of the brilliant ethical community hub The Good Wardrobe. In between all that she's also finding time to work on a sustainable food festival. It was a great delight to meet and talk with her.

Jane Molloy is behind the stunning business Get Clobbered. Pictured above is one of her beautiful creations (stylist: Lisa Fifer). The ethos is one of "consume less, re-use more" and Jane was the perfect figurehead for her own designs in a fabulous, fringed belt at the ceremony. 

Ethics 2013-06-18T14:16:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Unknown