Virtual Consumer 2008 - 2014
Virtual Consumer column in Ethical Consumer magazine
Ethical Consumer magazine is one of the most respected authorities researching and documenting companies and their ethical record. Founded in 1987, long before the current wave of interest in ethical consumerism, the magazine was for years the only reliable source of information for people concerned about the impact of their consumer choices.
I first came to know Ethical Consumer through their pioneering work in the early 1990's to store research information in an on-line database - a project that ultimately led to the current Ethiscore system.
From 2008 to 2014 I wrote a column for the magazine looking at ethical and technology issues mainly concerned with the Internet. This column became known as Virtual Consumer.
At the moment I'm covering the latest developments in the Save Our Bank campaign for the magazine instead.
The full series of Virtual Consumer columns are reproduced here, thanks to Ethical Consumer.
2014
Sep-Oct 2014: Who owns the Internet
Mar-Apr 2014: From top to bottom
2013
Nov-Dec 2013: Life begins at forty
Sep-Oct 2013: Nothing to hide, nothing to fear
2012
Nov-Dec 2012: Hiding in the open
May-Jun 2012: Developing trend
Jan-Feb 2012: Right in the net
2011
Nov-Dec 2011: Disruptive influence
Sep-Oct 2011: Domains of influence
Jul-Aug 2011: Mutual advantage
Mar-Apr 2011: Writing on the wall
Jan-Feb 2011: Slipping out of Neutral
2010
Jul-Aug 2010: Joining the dots
May-Jun 2010: Is there an 'e' in ethical?
Jan-Feb 2010: Jumping out of Windows
2009
Jul-Aug 2009: Is File Sharing Unethical?
May-Jun 2009: The Makings of a Good Host
Mar-Apr 2009: Storm in a teacup
Jan-Feb 2009: Both sides of the argument
2008
May-Jun 2008: The Internet pound for pound