Thursday, January 12, 2012

Mr Daisey goes to Shenzhen

Ever wonder who makes your stuff? Mike Daisey did and he went to China to meet the people who make his Apple stuff. The result is both humorous and heartbreaking. Don't miss Mr Daisey and the Apple Factory.



This confirms the stuff I read Factory Girls, a book that follows the lives of several teenage girls that left the countryside to seek factory jobs. The girls report that factories don't allow them to leave on their (once monthly) day off if the guards suspect that they won't return. If a worker can't leave when the conditions are intolerable, then they are slaves. (You say involuntary labor, I say slaves.)

There's so much else I want to talk about, but I don't have time.

Follow these links instead:

4 comments:

  1. Human rights leaves much to be desired in China, just one of the reasons I do not buy "Made In China" goods... (and I'm still waiting for your to cite your references! the mysterious Australian scientist you said declared a permanent weather change for our country??)

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  2. Factory Girls was an interesting book and really made me think about labor and the price of good and expectations. I had already come to the conclusion that cheap consumer goods probably aren't worth the actual cost. Increasingly I wonder what is worth it and try to me more mindful, not always successfully.

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  3. In case you haven't seen this recent development:
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/mike-daisey-responds-to-this-american-life-retraction-of-apple-supply-story/2012/03/16/gIQAddRqGS_story.html

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  4. @Penny
    I wish he made the distinction between Dramatization and Journalism from the get-go. This terrible lapse in ethics can't help his just cause.

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