Just because the lady Ebbie mentioned is spending the money she steals from her tenants on her sons instead of directly on herself doesn't stop it being greed.

The important thing is that the people producing the stuff you buy are not being exploited, and as kat pointed out, it is possible to do that. Whether they are in the same country as you are is much less important, they are all members of our family wherever they live. Within the Mudcat I don't feel closer or more distant to particular people because of the country in which they happen to live.

That's at the national level. At a local level other factors come in, because I have a direct interest in what happens in my locality. I do have a special link with other people who play music who live in my area, because we play together, and we need each other. Essentially the same applies to other types of economic and social activity.

As the saying goes, think globally, act locally.