Paul, It's nice to hear an opinion from somebody who has first hand experience on this topic. Your thought about America's appetite really strikes a chord. Inexpensive. Replaceable. Here in America, we used to build things that were made to last. Now we live in a world where most of technology has built in obsolescence, and we rarely think about the impact of our throw away society. I heard a report on NPR recently that was really shocking. There's a little island in the middle of the Pacific, similar to Easter Island, which has never really had any human contact or visitation at all. It's primary occupants are a few species of birds that aren't found any place else on the planet. These birds are now dying off because of plastic. Plastic that has been dumped into the ocean and drifted to this little island. To the birds, it looks like delicious little pieces of food, but it's deadly to them. The source of this dumping and plastic is primarily thought to be the USA because it consists of pieces of products that are mostly found in the US. I hate hearing stories like that. I often wonder how many of us think about the things that we throw away. There is so much waste in the world today.
--- In [email protected], "Paul Vail" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > The retailers are correct. The Asian ecomies are the fastest > growing in the world because of America's appetite for inexpensive > Asian made products. > > True slave labor exists in countries like Burma and North Korea, not > in free Asia. This is where the gutsy human rights activists focus > their energies. The psuedo activisists that go around pointing > fingers at succesful American Companies often have an agenda that > has little to do with improving the lives of factory workers. > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "oakdorf" <oakdorf@> wrote: > > > > >>> paul, you're taking the retailers response that they are doing > > "good" for those countries. > > > > While that may be true the fact is they do work extended hours and > is > > near forced labor in many cases. There are plenty of guys that > travel > > the world seeking the cheapest sources. Many of them are here in > the > > summer. We all buy the stuff and typically overpay. > > > > I don't know what's right or wrong, other then we should be able to > > print a single piece of paper here in the US instead of mexico or > > china or indonesia. As proven again with the lead paint in > everything > > - there is alot that goes unchecked or checked and bribed away. So > how > > many of those workers may have some type of lead poisioning? Or > lung > > cancer? Education? > > > > Yea, it is pretty good here in America. We provide alot of things > here > > to those less fortunate, SOME of who take advantage of it or abuse > the > > system, refuse to work or have NO incentive to go to work because > the > > pay isn't as good vs remaining home. It's an ugly cycle. > > > Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
