Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Fair Trade
If you're interested in not buying products made in China or other countries known for its sweatshops, you should think about buying "Fair Trade" items. A great organization with a variety of products that are made by villages and family cooperatives from different parts of the world, check out The Village Experience. Not only do they sell fair trade products, but the majority of the proceeds go back to the families, and a percentage of the proceeds also go to financially backing humanitarian trips to different areas of the world. All the information is available on their website. Check it out!
Buying Handmade
Over the last month, it has become my new passion in life to support not only those who create with their hands and make beautiful and quality products, but to also take a stand to not buy products made in Asian countries. Even more reasons to buy handmade and free trade!
Sure, we can always buy items "responsibly made in China," but what is the Chinese government's definition of "responsibly made?" Can we really believe that corruption and danger does not affect those workers who work in factories that create "responsibly made" products for our American addiction to consumerism & materialism? Can we honestly believe that conditions are not "spruced up" and fronts are presented when inspected by American companies who believe that they are supporting a different kind of "made in China?" And the sad thing is that it isn't only China - it's Indonesia, Thailand, the Phillipines, India. The list can go on.
It has become my new mission in life to NOT support the forced labor of poor workers who make less than they can survive on just because our society is driven by poorly and cheaply made products that are offered for next-to-nothing. When did we as a society lose sight of a quality product and the value in that? And when did we begin to stop demanding quality products? When did children's toys that are toxic and laced with lead become ok? When did phosphorous-laden drywall used to build our homes become healthy for us? When did inferior products that we spend our hard-earned money on satisfy our need to just consume as much as possible?
Needless to say, my inconsistent but substantial shopping habit has dwindled over the last month which makes my husband very happy!! I know that one person cannot do a lot, but I do know that by not buying that product "made in China" is making a statement. I am saying that I don't support the cheap labor of sweatshops that is necessary to produce junk for our wasteful society. I am saying that I will not support an American company that refuses to produce their products on American soil and employ American citizens when we have one of the highest levels of unemployment since the Great Depression. I am saying that, specifically regarding China, I do not support a communist government - I do not support corruption, I do not support tyranny, but I DO support human rights. I believe that every person has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you believe that those people or children slaving away in sweatshops to feed our hunger for material things are "happy" or living a life of liberty, than you need to spend some time in a communist country. You need to talk to people who have lived in a communist country. You need to understand the corruption and the complete disregard those governments have for human rights.
Did you know that after discontinuing outsourcing production with 4 plants in Fort Wayne and 1 plant in Cleveland, OH, Vera Bradley has opened a new plant just southwest of Fort Wayne in order to bring production back in-house? A great business move to the general public. However, by discontinuing production with the 4 plants in Fort Wayne, Vera Bradley managed to unemploy 500+ people in Indiana alone. The new plant opened and began employment with only 75 employees. Can you guess where the rest of the popular Vera Bradley bags are now made? If you guessed China, than you are correct. Check out the article on this website: http://berrystreetbeacon.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/vera-bradley-the-ultimate-outsourcer-to-china/. What a disappointment for myself, a fellow Hoosier. A famous Hoosier company that is known nationally and internationally has sold-out. But you won't see a reduction in prices just because the famous bags are now being pumped out in sweatshops. You can trust that their margin just got SUBSTANTIALLY greater.
This may seem like just a lot of ranting, but it is time that Americans begin to buy responsibly. We need to understand what kind of impact our greedy and materialistic society is making on other societies. We are supporting a low level of living by purchasing products made in sweatshops, by children who shoud be in school getting an education, by people barely getting by on their wages.
Make the right choice. Buy responsibly.
Sure, we can always buy items "responsibly made in China," but what is the Chinese government's definition of "responsibly made?" Can we really believe that corruption and danger does not affect those workers who work in factories that create "responsibly made" products for our American addiction to consumerism & materialism? Can we honestly believe that conditions are not "spruced up" and fronts are presented when inspected by American companies who believe that they are supporting a different kind of "made in China?" And the sad thing is that it isn't only China - it's Indonesia, Thailand, the Phillipines, India. The list can go on.
It has become my new mission in life to NOT support the forced labor of poor workers who make less than they can survive on just because our society is driven by poorly and cheaply made products that are offered for next-to-nothing. When did we as a society lose sight of a quality product and the value in that? And when did we begin to stop demanding quality products? When did children's toys that are toxic and laced with lead become ok? When did phosphorous-laden drywall used to build our homes become healthy for us? When did inferior products that we spend our hard-earned money on satisfy our need to just consume as much as possible?
Needless to say, my inconsistent but substantial shopping habit has dwindled over the last month which makes my husband very happy!! I know that one person cannot do a lot, but I do know that by not buying that product "made in China" is making a statement. I am saying that I don't support the cheap labor of sweatshops that is necessary to produce junk for our wasteful society. I am saying that I will not support an American company that refuses to produce their products on American soil and employ American citizens when we have one of the highest levels of unemployment since the Great Depression. I am saying that, specifically regarding China, I do not support a communist government - I do not support corruption, I do not support tyranny, but I DO support human rights. I believe that every person has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you believe that those people or children slaving away in sweatshops to feed our hunger for material things are "happy" or living a life of liberty, than you need to spend some time in a communist country. You need to talk to people who have lived in a communist country. You need to understand the corruption and the complete disregard those governments have for human rights.
Did you know that after discontinuing outsourcing production with 4 plants in Fort Wayne and 1 plant in Cleveland, OH, Vera Bradley has opened a new plant just southwest of Fort Wayne in order to bring production back in-house? A great business move to the general public. However, by discontinuing production with the 4 plants in Fort Wayne, Vera Bradley managed to unemploy 500+ people in Indiana alone. The new plant opened and began employment with only 75 employees. Can you guess where the rest of the popular Vera Bradley bags are now made? If you guessed China, than you are correct. Check out the article on this website: http://berrystreetbeacon.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/vera-bradley-the-ultimate-outsourcer-to-china/. What a disappointment for myself, a fellow Hoosier. A famous Hoosier company that is known nationally and internationally has sold-out. But you won't see a reduction in prices just because the famous bags are now being pumped out in sweatshops. You can trust that their margin just got SUBSTANTIALLY greater.
This may seem like just a lot of ranting, but it is time that Americans begin to buy responsibly. We need to understand what kind of impact our greedy and materialistic society is making on other societies. We are supporting a low level of living by purchasing products made in sweatshops, by children who shoud be in school getting an education, by people barely getting by on their wages.
Make the right choice. Buy responsibly.
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