By finding out who are the best buys and who are the worst, you can make your vote count every time you go shopping. Currently the Co-operative bank and Smile (its internet bank) are the only banks offering current accounts with a credible ethical policy stating where your money will go. FIND OUT MORE The Ethical Consumer Research Association researches the companies behind the brands so that you don't have to. CHANGE YOUR BANK Although you're more likely to get divorced than you are to change your bank, it's still worth considering. Most high street banks have their finger in a range of unethical pies. Look at www.boycottbush to find out who to avoid and what the alternatives are.

Other brands from Bush's donors include Maxwell House coffee, MBNA financial services, Lucozade and Budweiser. Esso is currently the subject of a boycott called by environmental organisations because of its support for George Bush and refusal to acknowledge climate change. Although we've seen written company policies on workers' rights improve over the last few years, NGO researchers have seen little change for those working on the factory floor. The only way to guarantee that your clothes have not been made in sweatshops is to buy from one of the growing number of ethical clothing companies such as People Tree http:// www.ptree.co.uk/; Footprint clothing http:// www.footprint-clothing.co.uk/; Greenfibres www.greenfibres ; or Hug clothing at www.hug.co.uk for t-shirts.BOYCOTT ESSO AND OTHER GEORGE BUSH DONORS Many of us wouldn't accept that there are any ethical petrol companies out there However, some are definitely worse than others. Visit www.fsc-uk.info for a list of FSC certified products.HUMAN RIGHTS The Fairtrade logo is becoming more and more common and is found on everything from coffee to bananas.

Buying Fairtrade ensures workers aren't exploited and instead are paid decent wages for their services. However, the Fairtrade logo is currently absent from many non-food items including computers, clothes and shoes. Many companies continue to use cheap labour in countries such as China and Bangladesh in order to maximise profits. When looking at buying furniture, think about buying reconditioned items or ones made from sustainably sourced wood (railway sleepers or beams from old houses for example). The only surefire way to ensure that a wood or paper product has come from a sustainable source is to look out for the Forest Stewardship Council's logo or buy recycled products.

You'll find the FSC logo on a range of products including garden furniture, shelving and even paper.Using virgin paper to wipe your bottom verges on the criminal, especially when there are plenty of high-quality recycled alternatives around. Even if you can't go the whole hog, forgoing one meat meal a week will make a difference. If you can't avoid meat altogether, choose organic meat, as organic farming has higher animal welfare standards. Contact the Vegetarian or Vegan society for more information about how to make changes. Visit the Vegetarian Society on www.vegsoc or call 0161 925 2000. The Vegan Society is at http:// www.vegansociety and 01424 427393.