Hmmmm

Last week we met at Simon and Henrietta's house - thanks for having us guys - a good time was enjoyed by all.

I say a good time, the subject matter was hard going but in the best possible sense. We looked at the need to lobby for more rigorous monitoring of the supply chain in British business. We wrote some letters to the justice secretary Jack Straw and our local MEP and others, to question how it can be good enough for companies to shirk responsibility for how and where the raw materials for their products are sourced.

I have been guilty over the years of imagining this kind of activism is futile. If I am honest, I do still question what kind of difference we can effect in trade issues by expecting government or big business to get our house in order. I am sorry I feel like that. Cynicism is ugly, I know.

Sure, we must keep writing and shouting, jostling and marching for justice. As long as we're questioning the morality of demand for goods, as well as the morality behind their supply.

We all know that if our society and we as individuals, keep demanding new and more and better, someone will keep walking over bodies to give it to us.

dp