NationStates Jolt Archive

I actually own a pair of these sneakers.
https://secure.adbusters.org/orders/sneaker/
"The result is the world's first global anti-brand: Blackspot Shoes. Earth- friendly, anti-sweatshop, cruelty free, and pro-grassroots, Blackspots are the only rough-and-ready shoes designed to give toxic megacorporations what they need the most: a swift kick in the brand."

"Wages
The minimum wage in Portugal is 365 Euros per month. Workers in this factory earn between 420 and 700 Euros per month, depending on their job and seniority. In addition to basic salary, workers receive 25 paid days off and two extra months of pay per year, which works out to 35% above minimum wage."

And I plan on purchasing this phone:
http://www.workingassetswireless.com/
"We donate 1% of your wireless charges to progressive causes, and that's at no extra cost to you. Since 1985, Working Assets has raised over $50 million for groups like ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Greenpeace, and many more."

Anybody else know of socially aware products?

Sure.
Anything from these guys (http://niketown.nike.com/niketown/home.jsp?cp=USNT_KW_Spring06_Google).

By buying their products you're feeding the third world.

Sure.
Anything from these guys (http://niketown.nike.com/niketown/home.jsp?cp=USNT_KW_Spring06_Google).

By buying their products you're feeding the third world.
10,000 Indonesians went on strike to protest wages that are below subsistence level.
"If I don't work overtime, I can't survive," says Baltazar at PT Hasi Nike factory in Jakarta. He works an average of 40 overtime hours a week.

Vietnamese workers make $l.60 a day
1,300 workers at the Sam Yang factory went on strike to demand a one cent per hour raise in wages. Other issues include excessive and illegal overtime and compensation for working with hazardous material.

Chinese workers make $1.75 a day
There is no minimum wage in China and when abuses are discovered, the whole factory disappears. "The supervisors will get nervous and move the work to another province. It's impossible to monitor factory conditions," says Asia Monitor Resource Center in Hong Kong.

Isn't the minimum wage enough to live on in those countries?
1- If minimum wage was enough, workers would not have to work from 100 - 200 overtime hours per month.
2- The Indonesian government admits minimum wage is only 90% of subsistence needs for one person.
3- U.S. companies like Coca-cola and Goodyear recognize minimum wage is not enough. They are in Indonesia paying above minimum wage and have remained competitive in the global market.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Boycotts/NikeThird_facts.html

Why pick on Nike, if other shoe companies are just as bad?


First of all, we heard many, many complaints from Nike workers and local labor groups. The AFL-CIO office in Indonesia, for example, said that Nike factory workers filed more complaints about wage violations than any other shoe company. In the first two years that Nike was in Vietnam, one factory official was convicted of physically abusing workers, another fled the country during a police investigation of sexual abuse charges and a third was under indictment for abusing workers, as reported in The New York Times.

Secondly, it's important to pick a company that can afford the cost of improvements. Nike is so profitable and sells its shoes for such high prices that it can well afford to double the workers' wages without increasing the retail price.

Thirdly, Nike is the biggest shoe company in the world and puts itself forth as an industry leader. Their Code of Conduct says: "in the area of human rights... in the communities in which we do business, we seek to do not only what is required, but what is expected of a leader." By targeting the industry leader, we hoped to make changes throughout the whole industry. This strategy has proven effective. Reebok, for example, has been making improvements in its overseas factories even though it has not been the target of a major campaign. Adidas, fearful of being tarred with the Nike brush, is starting to make changes as well.
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/sweatshops/nike/faq.html

Mr. Philip Knight
President and Chief Executive Officer
Nike Corporation
Beaverton, Oregon 97005

Dear Mr. Knight,

As members of the United States Congress we are deeply disappointed and embarrassed that a company like Nike, headquartered in the United States, could be so directly involved in the ruthless exploitation of hundreds of thousands of desperate Third World workers, most of whom are women. It is not acceptable to us that the national media reports that girls as young as 13 years of age are employed in the sewing, handwork and cutting departments of factories in China producing Nike shoes that are imported into the American marketplace.

Furthermore, knowledgeable human rights investigators have also determined that Chinese workers producing Nike products toil in environments where they may be beaten, compelled to work overtime, and paid wages below what is legally required by the Chinese minimum wage law. These reports follow on the heels of massive worker demonstrations that were held earlier this year against Nike in Vietnam and Indonesia because your company allegedly was not even paying the paltry minimum wage that those countries require under their own national laws.

In China, the minimum wage is $1.90 a day. In Indonesia, the minimum wage is all of $1.57 a day. In Vietnam, according to an article from the Associated Press (March 28, 1997), "women as young as 15 toil for 20 cents an hour to make 1 million Nike shoes a month, suffering corporal punishment and sexual harassment, according to a human rights report released today." According to Mr. Thuyen Nguyen, a leading Vietnamese human rights activist who inspected four Nike plants in Vietnam, about 35,000 workers at the plants, 90% of whom are young women, put in 12 hour days in overheated plants to produce shoes that retail in the United States for as much as $149. The average wage of these workers is $1.60 for eight hours of work --- moreover it costs these workers more than $2 to buy three meals a day. In other words, Nike is paying less to these workers than they need for their physical survival. We call this working for "hunger wages."

According to Forbes magazine, as the primary owner of Nike you are now one of the wealthiest people in the world - worth over $5 billion dollars. Sadly, while your personal wealth continues to grow, you maintain a labor strategy which pays workers in Asia pennies an hour. Further, you spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year in advertisements treating our young people as a market and urging them to buy your expensive products - which often cost more than $100 a pair.

Interestingly, however, while Nike employs hundreds of thousands of people around the world to manufacture shoes, virtually none of these manufacturing workers live in the United States. Nike has led the way in abandoning the manufacturing workers of the United States and their families as it produces its products in low wage Third World countries.

As we see it, you want American workers and their children to purchase your shoes, but you don't believe they should earn a living wage by manufacturing them. In community after community across America, as the real wages of American workers continue to decline, there are working people who desperately desire decent-paying jobs. Nike could play an extraordinary role in rebuilding the manufacturing base in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Toledo, Ohio, Los Angeles, California or any of a thousand other cities. Yet, Nike travels the world in search of the cheapest possible labor and turns its back on the very people you want to buy your products. Apparently, Nike believes that workers in the United States are good enough to purchase your shoe products, but are no longer worthy enough to manufacture them.

Needless to say, we very much disagree with your investment strategy and labor relations approach. We believe that you should treat your Third World workers with respect, dignity and decent wages. We also believe that you should begin building shoe manufacturing plants in the United States, and create jobs here.

As members of Congress, we would very much appreciate the opportunity to discuss these issues with you. Please contact the office of Congressman Bernie Sanders or Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur so that we can set up a mutually convenient time and place.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely yours,

CONGRESSIONAL SIGN-ON LETTER TO NIKE
http://www.clrlabor.org/alerts/2001/congressional_sign_on_letter.html

While Nike was conducting a huge and expensive PR blitz to tell people that it had cleaned up its subcontractors' sweatshop labor practices, an alert consumer advocate and activist in California named Marc Kasky caught them in what he alleges are a number of specific deceptions. Citing a California law that forbids corporations from intentionally deceiving people in their commercial statements, Kasky sued the multi-billion-dollar corporation.
Instead of refuting Kasky's charge by proving in court that they didn't lie, however, Nike instead chose to argue that corporations should enjoy the same "free speech" right to deceive that individual human citizens have in their personal lives. If people have the constitutionally protected right to say, "The check is in the mail," or, "That looks great on you," then, Nike's reasoning goes, a corporation should have the same right to say whatever they want in their corporate PR campaigns.

They took this argument all the way to the California Supreme Court, where they lost. The next stop may be the U.S. Supreme Court in early January, and the battle lines are already forming.
(sidenote: they settled the suit so it is still unclear what rights to "free speech a corporation has)

http://www.uvpeaceandjustice.org/corporateRights.html

And for a bit of fun:
http://www.geocities.com/athens/acropolis/5232/comicmay97.htm

Undelia's just yanking your chain DM, don't bite on his troll.

Thanks for the tip on the blackspots, I've been thinking about getting a new pair of sneakers...

Undelia's just yanking your chain DM, don't bite on his troll.

Thanks for the tip on the blackspots, I've been thinking about getting a new pair of sneakers...
I couldn't help it... I'm wearing these sneakers... and.. and... they've gone to my head.

-snip-
Ah, Nike doesn't pay them enough regular wages to sustain themselves, but without Nike they wouldn't have any money at all.

Ah, Nike doesn't pay them enough regular wages to sustain themselves, but without Nike they wouldn't have any money at all.
That hardly makes Nike good. After all, Coca Cola and Goodyear (as previously stated) have both increased their wages to workers and not at all to their detriment.

Are the trainers any good? I was thinking about getting a pair myself.

http://www.greenandblacks.com/
Their Maya Gold bar was the first product ever to carry the Fair Trade stamp. It's some of the best chocolate I've ever eaten as well. It's actually owned by Cadbury now, but it's still fairly independent.

http://nosweatapparel.com/
As the name (kinda) says, the clothes aren't made in sweatshops, but by independent trade unions.

And if you want more links, this is the 'Resources' page of the No Sweat website:
http://nosweatapparel.com/resources/index.html

I never lose sleep about how much suffering goes into my trainers but ignorance is bliss I suppose

Of course I buy cheap rip-off makes I got to have food on my own table first

edit: Phonecalls for Planned Parenthood?

I never lose sleep about how much suffering goes into my trainers but ignorance is bliss I suppose

Of course I buy cheap rip-off makes I got to have food on my own table first
Yeah, but think about how many people suffered in their knowledge that their ripoff sneakers would never be as popular or as wanted as Nikes. :p

Are the trainers any good? I was thinking about getting a pair myself.
You might need something like Dr. Scholls footpads, they feel great with them. Wore these about two months with no sign of wear.

I never lose sleep about how much suffering goes into my trainers but ignorance is bliss I suppose

Of course I buy cheap rip-off makes I got to have food on my own table first

edit: Phonecalls for Planned Parenthood?
"We donate 1% of your wireless charges to progressive causes, and that's at no extra cost to you. Since 1985, Working Assets has raised over $50 million for groups like ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Greenpeace, and many more."

Also, you can take white paint and paint two large circles over the swoosh and paint a red dot on the toe of the right sneaker basically to show disrespect.

I want one of these. (https://secure.adbusters.org/orders/tvbgone/)

I want one of these. (https://secure.adbusters.org/orders/tvbgone/)
You might also be a fan of one of these: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002220590_foxblocker26.html?syndication=rss

Undelia's just yanking your chain DM, don't bite on his troll.

Thanks for the tip on the blackspots, I've been thinking about getting a new pair of sneakers...
New Balance is also supposed to be good if you're looking for non-sweatshop labour shoes.

http://www.unionjeancompany.com/

http://nosweatapparel.com/

http://www.justiceclothing.com/thereis/justice/

http://www.tombihn.com/

I love this site, it's got a ton of shit and you can decide which cause you want to donate to:
-world hunger
-literacy
-animal rescues
-breast cancer
-the rainforest
-child health
http://www.gearthatgives.com/

And this is a website that sells "green" jewelry; that is, Ecologically Responsible Jewelry. If I ever get married, I'll get wedding rings from this place.
http://www.greenkarat.com/

You might also be a fan of one of these: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002220590_foxblocker26.html?syndication=rss
What a uniquely stupid product. Seriously, people, when you have to pay $9 to have your prepackaged political statements mailed to you, you might have a bit of a problem being taken seriously.
Just use the remote and write the goddamn protest letters yourself.

What a uniquely stupid product. Seriously, people, when you have to pay $9 to have your prepackaged political statements mailed to you, you might have a bit of a problem being taken seriously.
Just use the remote and write the goddamn protest letters yourself.
Or be in on the joke and amaze your friends for a mere nine dollars.

I love this site, it's got a ton of shit and you can decide which cause you want to donate to:
-world hunger
-literacy
-animal rescues
-breast cancer
-the rainforest
-child health
http://www.gearthatgives.com/

And this is a website that sells "green" jewelry; that is, Ecologically Responsible Jewelry. If I ever get married, I'll get wedding rings from this place.
http://www.greenkarat.com/
You may have found the site for my girlfriends engagement ring. Thanks!

You may have found the site for my girlfriends engagement ring. Thanks!

Oh my, I'm so flattered that I could be a part of such a momentous decision! I hope you find a good one!

There's a few rings on there I'd consider getting for my girlfriend...though I won't be needing to for a good few years yet.

There's a few rings on there I'd consider getting for my girlfriend...though I won't be needing to for a good few years yet.

It's also good for random jewelry gifts. I'm sure she'd love that.

That hardly makes Nike good
Nothing is "good" anyway.

It's also good for random jewelry gifts. I'm sure she'd love that.
Well, yes, but I'd have to pay shipping to the UK. And I'm a poor student. So special occasions only, methinks.

Or be in on the joke and amaze your friends for a mere nine dollars.
Your friends are very easily amazed. Have you consider simply coating your couch in tin foil? That could probably keep them impressed for years.

Well, yes, but I'd have to pay shipping to the UK. And I'm a poor student. So special occasions only, methinks.

Oh, hmm. I wonder if there are other "green" jewelry vendors? Time for a big search!

I found something...try this awesome website:
http://www.veganpeace.com/sweatshops/categories/jewelry.htm
Looks like it's not just jewelry, either.

Oh, hmm. I wonder if there are other "green" jewelry vendors? Time for a big search!

I found something...try this awesome website:
http://www.veganpeace.com/sweatshops/categories/jewelry.htm
Looks like it's not just jewelry, either.
They all seem to be American...I'm sure if I looked I could find fair trade jewellery in the UK.

They all seem to be American...I'm sure if I looked I could find fair trade jewellery in the UK.

Well, what do you expect? I'm using an American search engine.

You might need something like Dr. Scholls footpads, they feel great with them. Wore these about two months with no sign of wear.


Thats great- a pair of sneakers for $55.00 or $60.00 that arent made of leather and you still need to add $10.00 inserts?

I'd rather make a pair of sandals out of old discarded tires and some rope like all the other good "hippies".

What a uniquely stupid product. Seriously, people, when you have to pay $9 to have your prepackaged political statements mailed to you, you might have a bit of a problem being taken seriously.
Just use the remote and write the goddamn protest letters yourself.


This product speaks volumes about the people its marketed for, wouldnt you say?

Well, what do you expect? I'm using an American search engine.
There are British ones...seeing as you told me to try the link, I assumed there have been British sites linked to from it. Never mind.

Komodo.co.uk make wedge sandals out of recycled motorboke tyres and banana leaves! :fluffle: Fluffle the environment!

Thats great- a pair of sneakers for $55.00 or $60.00 that arent made of leather and you still need to add $10.00 inserts?

I'd rather make a pair of sandals out of old discarded tires and some rope like all the other good "hippies".
But you probably won't.

Your friends are very easily amazed. Have you consider simply coating your couch in tin foil? That could probably keep them impressed for years.
I tried it once but it's hard to stay balanced on the couch during pillow fights.

Nothing is "good" anyway.
Let's not go into that ridiculousness. Good is a goal. Though it might not be reached in it's purest form, there are ways to make things more good rather than more bad (sic).

Environmentally conscious apartment building in NYC:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1122/p03s03-ussc.html

"It's also one of the more tangible manifestations of a trend taking off in cities across the country: the merging of affordable housing and "green" building. City officials and others are recognizing that energy-efficient buildings, while they may cost a bit more to build, are far more affordable than traditional housing in the truest sense of the word. They cost less to operate and live in, and they provide tenants with a healthier atmosphere that can save on healthcare costs.

...

For many in the movement, the hope is that ultimately green becomes the norm. "That's the ambition, that green building as a concept disappears and becomes part of regular, mainstream architectural practice," says Jack Elliot of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. "In a world with diminishing resources and rising expectation, I think it's inevitable."

But you probably won't.


Of course not. I live in the real world with a family to support and many responsibilities.
Not in my parent's basement.

Of course not. I live in the real world with a family to support and many responsibilities.
Not in my parent's basement.
That's too bad. I was willing to cut you some slack until I learned that about you.