Victoria’s Secret Revealed in Child Picking Burkina Faso Cotton

[1871]

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(12-22-2011 12:26 PM)cleef Wrote:  I see your point 71, but why should a company be forced to sign up to fairtrade to be able to run a business in the third world. To some extent im sure businesses which dont agree with the way fairtrade is organised are harmed by not signing up.

I agree with the principle but it is western values being imposed on other nations which may not share the same values

The only way i see it working is if the people in those communities have autonomous control over what they consider fair

The point is though, that they dont have control. The exploitative process has control - and they - even the exploitative suppliers are subject to that - and thats what has to be legislated for; and that also has to be monitored and policed.

It is not different internationally as it is within the specific national context; a worker is a worker, a child is a child.

I wouldnt argue that this has to be done via Fairtrade - as they obviously dont have the resources to police it - its a voluntary non profit scheme. Id go further - Id make it legislative at the national and international level. Not something wooly llike a Universal Declaration of Human Rights but something that could be enforced at a statutory level so that companies and states were required to follow a code on Universal Human Rights and workers rights.

I see these not as 'western values' but universal values. Also really theres nothing wrong with 'western values' when its clear that are for the good of people - and here Im NOT referring to cultural things but things like human rights abuses and child exploitation.

Also I think theres a presumption that workers in countries like Burkina Faso do not want better wages, better conditions etc - eg; exactly the SAME things that people in the west have. The only thing is that their trade union leaders are more likely to be silenced or shot and murdered - and there is a long record of investigative journalists who investiogate corruption, human rights abuses and 'disappearance' or Union activists not only in Burina Faso but worldwide.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norbert_Zongo

If it is part of the same production process ie; people buy the same product then it should be subject to the same legislation in my view.

The reason why companies should sign up - and btw no one is forced to sign up - though I would make legislation compulsory - is to ensure that companies comply with minimum regulations like working conditions and fair wages. Along the way if a Government wants to negotiate on that then fair enough - maybe - but people should be aware of what conditions those countries have for their workers and whether they wish to trade with them. And I think Id go further and make it a universal standard. Why is it ok to have a minimum wage in the UK for workers involved in the production process (or distribution) while workers involved in tjhe production of EXACTLY THE SAME PRODUCT should be paid a pittance ? Meanwhile the workers get absolutely zilch ? Thats just an argument for colonialism and iniquity.

So in other words I would tie legislation to the actual entre production process if companies wish to trade. There is already tons of legislation for this - but a lot of it is related to the protection of the corporate entity rather than a requirement upon the corporate entity to make the production process and conditions a standard for ALL workers involved in the production process.

So in other words I dont believe in the 'one rule for them another for us' when it comes to international trading.

You also have to consider the fact of endemic political corruption in a lot of the African countries - especially when there are ties between exploitative business owners and politicians which suit the companies trading here because they can keep production costs lower. This not only harms workers in those countries but it harms businesses here.

I am sure that there are plenty of businesses who dont agree with trading fairly if it harms their profits and there are also no shortage of corrupt politicians who dont mind seeing 'their own' workforce exploited. Bear in mind that the class system exists in those countries as well as the 'west'.

'Workers of the world....' etc

[ClichéGuevara]

(12-22-2011 12:49 AM)Rev.. Wrote:  Why are you people even surprised? it aint like ya dont wear Nike,adidas,rebook,jordans

Speak for yourself

[TheMythOfSisyphus]

I just bought a new pair of kicks a few weeks ago to replace my forces that i've had for years, when I was buying the shoes I specifically looked for brands that had reputations that I could trust/couldn't find anything negative through research.

[Laz]

(12-22-2011 06:21 PM)Sean Wrote:  

(12-22-2011 12:49 AM)Rev.. Wrote:  Why are you people even surprised? it aint like ya dont wear Nike,adidas,rebook,jordans

Speak for yourself

what do you wear? i don't wear anything expensive but i often wear nike and have adidas shoes

[ClichéGuevara]

I wear black slip on Vans.

[Laz]

ah, not my style. actually, i haven't put enough thought into my clothing for style

[Boboulas]

(12-22-2011 07:58 PM)Sean Wrote:  I wear black slip on Vans.

lol

[ClichéGuevara]

Fuck you, Bob!

[El Mono]

My sentiments exactly, Bobo.

[ClichéGuevara]

Sorry that we don't all dress like we were once chavs

[Fuzzly Bear]

(12-22-2011 08:32 PM)El Mono Wrote:  My sentiments exactly, Bobo.

I would go all ethical and shit .. but my Adi's are fucking sweet.

Black slip on Vans. LoL.
No, but Vans are very popular and cool round here.

I wear cut off camo shorts. Bloodstains and everything.

[Boboulas]

Let me ask you one question sean, do you wear.......loafers with no socks.