What Ed says about intelligent buyers making informed an ethical decisions is true. However this does not equate to buying locally. In a closed system, such as an isolated local economy such as Ithaca, where everyone buys and sells locally, local products tend to become inbred. One can buy globally with intelligence too, sometimes more so, as one has a wider arena from which to chose ethical and earth conscious producers. Those who feel their livelihoods depend on local buyers, probably would do well to buy locally themselves too. Those who feel their livelihoods depend on global buyers, probably would do well to buy globally themselves. Basically you should buy from whom buys from you. This maintains the fair exchange and keeps the money within whatever arena you are active in. Homer ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Homer Wilson Smith News, Web, Telnet Art Matrix - Lightlink (607) 277-0959 E-mail, FTP, Shell Internet Access, Ithaca NY homer@lightlink.com info@lightlink.com http://www.lightlink.com