“The idea of maximizing the well-being of people by minimizing consumption is an unimaginable concept. First, the idea that it must be done to end the human destruction of natural systems requires knowing the earth as well as ourselves when we barely know one another. Second, a global economic regime built on trade in the non-material is possible, but only if life’s essentials ever becomes known. In the meantime, all we can do is follow the watchdogs who are eager to protect us from what we need or want. Others may choose to work with Marie Kondo, however my favorite is Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) at the bottom of this grouping.”
Rex L. Curry
Consumers Union (CU)
Testing products and services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and respond to consumer concerns.
Consumer Federation of America (CFA)
Nonprofit organizations network disseminating information about the consumer movement toward greater transparency.
Public Citizen
The consumer rights marketplace is growing strong. Use it to help local concerns health care, transportation safety, clean energy, environmental protection, fair trade, campaign finance reform, and corporate and government accountability through advocacy, litigation, research, and public education. The list is long in the tooth, but so are they…
U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG)
Local and state-based, citizen-based research on safe consumption practices use investigative research tools and grassroots organizing to implement and support litigation in the public interest.
Food & Water Watch
Works to ensure clean water and safe food sustainably produced by empowering people to take action to challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources.
Center for Auto Safety (CAS)
Consumers Union (Ralph Nader) began in 1970 to sustain a voice for auto safety across the country. Got a lemon — see CAS.
Center for Responsible Lending
Dedicated to protecting homeownership and family wealth by working to eliminate predatory lending and other abusive financial practices.
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
Knowledge resources grounded by the idea of a global learning ecology marks the beginning efforts to base government policy and decision making on science as equally as it does law. To get a sense of this, have a look at their video channel on YouTube. There are hundreds short videos, all of which should spark thinking about the relationship between law and science. The entire group videos is available in the link below. Here is a sample.