Query: labels and conmsumer ed for social change
David S. Conner (dconner@zoo.uvm.edu)
Fri, 17 Jan 1997 13:43:41 -0500 (EST)
A recent direction of my research has been investigating the
role of consumer educationin general, labeling specificially,
as a means of social change. Does anyone know of research on
this front? My thininkg goes like this: in order to achieve some
objective, two avaenues are possible: an authoritarian one (you
must do this, must no do that) or non-authoritarian (educating
people as to why it is in their intersts or why it is right to
do or not do something).
My particular interest is with rBST, and the labeling law in
Vermont, where consumer groups, for a time, pressured the
legislature into requiring labels. Though the law has been
suspended, some dairies still label rBST-free volontarily.
Most instances I have read about deal with health or safety
issues. BST has these concerns, but the problems with rBST go
beyond this, to animal rights,and socioeconomic issues. Very
little is done on this front(buy rBST free, save the family
farm, etc.) It's almost like selling an austere lifestyle, a
difficult task
Anyway, pardon my rambling, but has anyone looked into this,
have references as to labels like this, who uses them, what is
effective etc.? I'm just beginning, so any help is appreciated
Thank you all
DC
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David Conner
Center for Rural Studies
207 Morrill Hall, UVM
Burlington, VT 05405
(802) 656-3021
FAX: (802) 656-0776
dconner@zoo.uvm.edu