Chinese Factories

[incantius]

Scandinavia is there anything they don't excel at Krisbkream sir?

making whiskey & moonshine Morandir Sir!

 

[Morandir835]

You got me there Incantius sir. They do have better bands though....

 

[Running Wolf]

Also have to think "good working conditions" and "poverty" is relative.

If you go to the "bad part of town" or slums in the US it is a world above a shanty town in a third world country. Same goes for what we'd consider to be a sweat shop here in the US as one compared to one in (example) Mexico and then one is (example) Haiti.

We'd have to get into relativism. Well XYZ juice manufacturer in China had better working conditions than company ABC, but both beat working as a serf farmer in a state run collective farm.

Even if the company is sub-par by US standards (for working in) and it is above par for the country it is in it's at least a step or two above other place in said country. At lest in an ideal world it would make other companies in that country step up a bit in order to attract better workers.

I think however we can all agree that none of us want to use a company that exploits it's workers like slaves.

 

[Darrigaaz]

I think however we can all agree that none of us want to use a company that exploits it's workers like slaves.

Modern Slavery Includes Forced Labor in U.S. Military Contracting - The Daily Beast

Unfortunately, most of us still use products produced using slave labor. A snippet taken from the article I linked above:

/Decent people do not participate in the buying and selling of sexually enslaved people. But most of us, no matter how well-meaning, contribute to the broader economy of trafficking. “Most of what’s in our medicine chests has palm oil, which comes from eastern Cambodia or Sumatra or other places where we know there’s a lot of folks enslaved on those plantations,” says CdeBaca. “There’s an awful lot of slavery on the fishing fleets of Southeast Asia, and a lot of the shrimp that we eat in the United States comes from there.” He points to my iPhone, which is sitting on the table recording our conversation. It, like all smartphones, relies on a mineral called coltan, much of which is mined by forced laborers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “The likelihood that one of these was not touched by a slave is pretty low,” he says. “So that does make us responsible.”/

The following website creates awareness about how many of us take everyday items for granted and not realize they were created using slave labor:
Slavery Footprint - Made In A Free World

For smartphone users, there's a new app that's supposed to let you know if something was produced using slave labor:
New website, app estimate forced labor behind products - Sep. 21, 2011

 

[Nana2B]

You should all take that Slavery Footprint quiz. You won't believe how many slaves work for you---well providing the goods you use.
Thanks for that Darrigaaz, it was eye opening.

 

[Darrigaaz]

slaves work for you

Now everybody can add "Employee Management" to their resumes...

You are welcome.

 

[krazie_Kid]

but I'm guessing the new facility is much nicer

Aye, but knowing Steve, he will tell the owner of the factory (If it V4L that owns/runs it) that the employes are to be treated right.

 

[krazie_Kid]

Modern Slavery Includes Forced Labor in U.S. Military Contracting - The Daily Beast

Unfortunately, most of us still use products produced using slave labor. A snippet taken from the article I linked above:

/Decent people do not participate in the buying and selling of sexually enslaved people. But most of us, no matter how well-meaning, contribute to the broader economy of trafficking. “Most of what’s in our medicine chests has palm oil, which comes from eastern Cambodia or Sumatra or other places where we know there’s a lot of folks enslaved on those plantations,” says CdeBaca. “There’s an awful lot of slavery on the fishing fleets of Southeast Asia, and a lot of the shrimp that we eat in the United States comes from there.” He points to my iPhone, which is sitting on the table recording our conversation. It, like all smartphones, relies on a mineral called coltan, much of which is mined by forced laborers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “The likelihood that one of these was not touched by a slave is pretty low,” he says. “So that does make us responsible.”/

The following website creates awareness about how many of us take everyday items for granted and not realize they were created using slave labor:
Slavery Footprint - Made In A Free World

For smartphone users, there's a new app that's supposed to let you know if something was produced using slave labor:
New website, app estimate forced labor behind products - Sep. 21, 2011

Darr, I rarely get to see you on the boards, but every time I do... Unfortunatly it does not remind me of the good ol' times where we joked around and we relaxed and chilled... You always bring eye opening information to us, and personally it does make me teary eyed.

I hope all is well and I miss ya buddy,
Kevin

 

[Darrigaaz]

Yeah sorry about that Krazie. I doubt it'll ever be back to how it was in the "good ol' times". Keep in mind that I'm always lurking around on these boards, and check them at least once a workday. So if you ever need anything, just shoot me a PM.

 

[Running Wolf]

Modern Slavery Includes Forced Labor in U.S. Military Contracting - The Daily Beast

Unfortunately, most of us still use products produced using slave labor. A snippet taken from the article I linked above:

/Decent people do not participate in the buying and selling of sexually enslaved people. But most of us, no matter how well-meaning, contribute to the broader economy of trafficking. “Most of what’s in our medicine chests has palm oil, which comes from eastern Cambodia or Sumatra or other places where we know there’s a lot of folks enslaved on those plantations,” says CdeBaca. “There’s an awful lot of slavery on the fishing fleets of Southeast Asia, and a lot of the shrimp that we eat in the United States comes from there.” He points to my iPhone, which is sitting on the table recording our conversation. It, like all smartphones, relies on a mineral called coltan, much of which is mined by forced laborers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “The likelihood that one of these was not touched by a slave is pretty low,” he says. “So that does make us responsible.”/

I'm going to come back and edit this as I see more posts.

Part of this is a bit off topic... When Steve Jobs died someone wrote an article (I wish I book marked it) about Bill Gates. They compared some things that Gates and Jobs did. MicroSoft might be an evil giant IMHO, but to get that big and that rich you have to be a d-bag some times. Well the article was saying how a lot of the Apple Tech was built by "slave labor" or in poor working conditions in 3rd world companies. Jobs concern was making money..... Granted software and hardware comparisons are like apples and oranges.... and Jobs was seen as a tech guru. Gates is seen as an evil money grubbing ......., but he and his wife fund a lot of charities, give to a lot of charities, and are throwing their money around to good causes. But yet he is vilified.

It sort of changed my man about the man (Gates). I still go with Open Source as much as I can but at least now when I can't escape MicroSoft I feel a little bit better about it.

Problem is companies will go with just about any way to make their product more cost effective to their bottom line. Using a supplier that uses slave wages will be a good move for an accountant or someone with a business degree. What the companies do understand is the Almighty Dollar. If a company gets enough bad press or looses enough customers because of unethical business practices they start to understand.

The other half of the equation is the consumer. How many people are willing to give up going to Wal-Mart to get cheap stuff to take an ethical stand? Not many.... Part of the reason why I get a kick out of cars I see in Wal-Mart parking lots.... The union proud, peta, green peace, and others.