"Frankly though the "issue" is so broad that its impossible to have any tangible impact or results."
I don't agree with you there. Human rights are human rights. If we are participating in the violation of human rights, we can do better.
"First of all did you know that Wal-Mart (WMT) has a supply chain code of conduct that specifically works to support workers rights, wages, no child labour, labour conditions, etc.?"
Yeah but do they enforce it?
http://ilrf.org/sites/default/files/...%2022%2007.pdf
"There seems to be a romantic notion of small business being good and big business bad. Well here is a consideration: small business does everything it can to become big business! Thats the point. I also laugh because where do you draw the line between small and big business? If a guy works hard and expands to two cities is he "off the list"? Its a silly idea. Tim Hortons would likely be a bad company now, but when it started it would've been fine...even though its still selling coffee and doughnuts."
Big business isn't necessarily bad... except when it's bad. I'll drink Tim Hortons if I'm desperate for a caffeine fix but the stuff tastes awful. I prefer Good Earth... Also a chain you'll note, but one which serves high quality fair trade beans.
It's just about consciousness and choices. I don't see what the problem is with that.