OT Do you care were the products you buy are made

[General Woundwort]

Originally posted by rextorres:
I think from political stand point China is a lot more noxious than France.

Not to mention rumors I've heard of the Chinese using political/criminal prisoners as slave labor in their factories. I'm getting to be really wary (not to mention weary) of all the things I see labeled "Made in China" in the stores. But there's so damn much of the stuff it's getting difficult to avoid.

Sadly Ironic Case in Point - I got a mug from a friend of mine as a gift. Typical post-9/11 stuff - American flag on the background, large script lettering "God Bless America". The label on the bottom? "Made in China".

[narf poit chez BOOM]

china is clearly the next big threat. 'when china wakes up, the world will tremble' - Napoleon.

[primitive]

Originally posted by General Woundwort:
Not to mention rumors I've heard of the Chinese using political/criminal prisoners as slave labor in their factories. I'm getting to be really wary (not to mention weary) of all the things I see labeled "Made in China" in the stores. But there's so damn much of the stuff it's getting difficult to avoid.

Just a little comment General W.
The work system of many American penal facilities is also labelled as Slave labour by many human rights organisations.

[Growltigger]

I feel quite strongly on this, and I admit, take a similar stance to Dogscoff.

I boycott companies. I do not shop at several supermarkets which are either owned by companies which have policies I disagree with, or are particularily notorious for giving farmers a poor deal. I do not buy Proctor & Gamble products (they test non-medecines on animals) or Nike/Adidias products (slave labour in Eastern bloc/Asian countries), I do not eat at McDonalds, I do not buy petrol from Shell or Texaco, the list goes on. I boycott a company once I become aware (and I do read the FT and Times every day) that it has unethical policies.

I am a bit of a hypocrite here though because I smoke (although I currently trying to give up)

That being said, I tend to gravitate toward products from countries which I feel are well made. For example, my cars are diesel (low sulphur of course) but are both German (except for my old land rover). My household appliances, from the iron to the fridge, are all German (Bosch and Neff). I buy these due to reliability, and that post-WWII, the german companies have done more than most to introduce to decent practices in their factories, following on from the slave labour accusations justifiably made from WWII.

In relation to food, I buy local products. I always buy organic meat (not just free range, but organic). I buy organic vegetables, I buy organic wheat, and make my own bread (only way to get my nails really clean). I recycle pLastic bottles, tin cans, glass and has the famous compost heap which devours all vegetable waste from the kitchen. I dont buy food products grown in countries I have an ethical problem with.

Buying organic may not avoid all the BSE problems we have had in UK, but it does obviate part of the risk as the organic certification I buy require the herds to have been BSE free at all times.

BUT organic meat tastes better to me. It certainly has a better texture. I am slightly hypocritical here to cos I do go shooting pheasants. But I do always take away and eat what I shoot

I also bank with an ethical bank here in the UK, and my pension funds are invested in what I consider to be ethical investments. I do not invest in arms, tobacco or anything like that. Took bloody ages to sort out, but I feel better for doing that!

I do boycott US products, but primarily as I think the food produce is inferior (american cheese? YUKKK) and the beer has obviously been recycled - must be pure though after passing through so many kidneys before mine!!! I dont really buy electronic goods but those I have are made in Germany or Holland. I check place of manufacture of these quite carefully.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Just a little comment General W.
The work system of many American penal facilities is also labelled as Slave labour by many human rights organisations.

sitting around uselessly in a dark, closed in, small area doing repetitive things is not good for a person.

anyone else see the irony?

if you read the bible, ancient Isreal had some good laws for theives. basically, the theif would have to pay off twice what they stole. with no theives in prison, we could shut down jails.

[ January 14, 2004, 11:11: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

[tesco samoa]

I too do as the little tiger and the dog do.

I boycott certain companies..

Nike, Gap, Shell , Mcdonalds, Coke... etc...

I know I cannot boycott every clothing company that uses the industrial complexs all over the world. So I just pick and choose. And I stick to it.

I have never owned anything by Nike. Never given shell any of my money. Same with Gap and its stores. Mcdonalds. Going on 12 years now. Coke products 8 years.


I do like a world economy from the little I understand. But it is one of those situations where if your lucky you can look at it from the top, middle ( my location lower middle) and the bottom.

Problem is most of the material i read comes from the top and supports the top.

Not balanced and I am not sorry to say this. It is very complex And there are many many sides to the picture.

[dogscoff]

basically, the theif would have to pay off twice what they stole.

So in order to pay the fine they'd have to steal two more of the same thing from someone else? I see a problem here...