I stole this from another blogger but think it's interesting to talk about:
NPR : Chinese 'Button Town' Struggles with Success
I take so much for granted in my worldview. I never considered where my button was made and under what conditions until I read this article. Not that I should feel guilty because I buy a shirt that has buttons, but rather that I should be aware of my role at the receiving (consuming) end of a world economy that has winners and losers.
How should I be a responsible consumer in this world economy? Should I boycott Nike for exploiting children? Don't all the other shoe companies do the same things? Should I try to consume as little as possible and swim against the stream of supply and demand in my own life? Buy more expensive shirts with union-approved buttons? I don't think the unions are even aware of the problem. I heard one union boss talk about international unions as the next step for labor relations to take. So maybe they will become a force for change in places like China. Who knows? All I know is I won't cross a union picket line if I can avoid it. Of course, pickets are at Target AND Walmart right now, so I guess that leaves KMart, Smart&Final, and Food4Less.
2 comments:
It's ironic that the Chinese button mogul Wang Chunqiao is shown wearing a button-free t-shirt.
i didn't notice that. it is funny, though. maybe that's the way to go -- all T-shirts, all the time. of course, now my job requires a collared shirt, so that means i pretty much have to wear buttons. the irony abounds.
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