Cars are problematic. I don’t own one, yet I do drive one (although not for much longer). I will probably need to buy one to get around soon and the whole idea of personal movement powered by coal (trains) or oil (car, bus) is not very appealing. However, there aren’t a lot of options in a city this large. If my sisters were not in such a difficult location I think I would go without, although it would be hard to get to the markets.
In any case, Mitsubishi has not made the boycott list purely because it makes cars. They are not the worst cars and it would probably be unfair to list them solely on that basis. However, they do rate a mention for closing down factories in Australia and putting a lot of people out of work, people who have worked in car manufacturing their whole life.
Mitsubishi owns the Canadian Chopstick Manufacturing Company. This is one of the biggest companies that make the environmentally irresponsible disposable wooden chopsticks – and makes the best version. Chopsticks have great cultural significance in Japan, and many Japanese would consider it rude to be served with anything other than unused chopsticks (according to this book). This sensitivity has resulted in Japan becoming the world’s largest importer of hardwoods – for disposable chopsticks. The practice is on the rise in China and other countries, and is entirely unnecessary.
What makes disposable chopsticks (waribashi) so confusing is that Japan’s environmental concern has resulted in an obsession with recycling . Japan is home to super low-flush toilets, efficient cars, and alternative fuel research. Chopsticks, considered a gift from the gods, remain the Japanese conundrum.
So readers … be responsible. If you are getting takeaway or even finger food, refuse disposable chopsticks. Provide your own (they take seconds to wash), or eat with your hands! Oh, and don’t buy a Mitsubishi car - with your hard earned cash, they could be logging old growth and hardwood forests for disposable chopsticks …

