ETHOS
- a Greek word meaning "character" that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology.
FROM PETE MCGRAIN, writer/director of ETHOS -
Most of us are in the habit of voting once every few years and expecting our elected officials to take care of us. In this way we have ‘opted out’ of the process and while we are opted out abuse creeps in. It is clear that just voting once every few years is not working.
In a very real sense you and I are responsible for everything that is wrong with our system and our planet. When we consume our resources recklessly it is you and I that cause the pollution and the waste and destruction of our planet. Our consumer demand is the power that drives corporations to abuse other nations, stealing their resources to sell them to us, sending our waste to their countries for disposal, encouraging child labor and causing war.
The profits abusive companies make from the money we give them ‘empowers’ them. With the profits from ‘our’ money they have weakened ‘our’ democracy. They have the power to put ‘their men’ in a position to regulate them.
Our governments, in a very real sense, are now run by multinational businessmen. The businessmen now own all of the mainstream media so our information is tainted. This has all happened while we were all opted out. Yes, each and every one of us shares the blame. However, because it is our behavior that has caused this mess, our behavior can fix it.
The most important message of this film is about you and I taking responsibility, learning the facts about what is happening in our world and then acting accordingly. Your consumer choices are the most easily available and powerful way for you to get active. Do not underestimate the power you have right in your hands. No company can continue a practice or a product that you will not buy! This is vitally important information and if you can understand this we are on our way to an incredible new future. But keep in mind, spending less is the primary objective. Having more money does not give you more power if the objective is to spend less.
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