What You Can Do

What is it to choose compassionate consumption?
Each time you purchase a good or patronize a service, you have a choice — and that choice makes a statement. Together with UUSC, you can act on a deep commitment to workers' rights, ethical eating, and building a just economy by choosing to spend wisely, in alignment with your values. Find out more.

Choose Compassionate Consumption

Choose Compassionate Consumption is a justice-based consumer advocacy initiative that mobilizes people and communities to channel their consumer power into goods and services that reflect moral values, address human-rights violations, and promote a just economy. There are many ways to get involved, but whether you choose to demand an end to child labor practices in the cocoa industry, buy fair trade products, or dine only at restaurants that pay its workers fair wages, you are choosing compassionate consumption!

Contact your elected officials

Bring issues of economic justice to the attention of your elected officials and lend your powerful voice to advocating for fair and just legislation by responding to one of UUSC's action alerts.

Be a media advocate

As a UUSC media advocate, you help to raise awareness of critical social-justice issues in the United States and around the world — and influence public opinion. Write op-eds and letters to editors and get them published in your local newspaper. Learn more.

Bring "Living Wage Days" to your community

Several dates of the year have been designated as "Living Wage Days". UUSC colleague Let Justice Roll has sponsored hundreds of Living Wage Days services and events across the country to build crucial support for raising the minimum wage in the states and winning the first federal minimum wage raise in ten years. We encourage you to create or participate in worship services and community events around the issue of decent pay for work.

Support fair trade

Supporting fair trade is central to UUSC's commitment to strengthening human rights and dignity for workers in the global economy. Fair trade is a set of principles and practices that more equitably distributes wealth and provides producers and farmers with a living wage. You can support fair trade by choosing to purchase certified fair trade products. Through the UUSC Coffee Project, you can purchase fair trade coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate from our colleague in fair trade, Equal Exchange.

Sign up for e-mail

By subscribing to our e-mail alerts and newsletters, you will stay informed about the latest news on UUSC issues you care about. You will also get the chance to make your voices heard when decision-makers most need to hear from people committed to human rights and social justice.