The Salt Lake Tribune has a special series written by a reporter who spent a year in China investigating the conditions in 25 factories. While Americans are running around concerned about the long-term effects of lead in toys, real Chinese workers are dying in deplorable working conditions as they put together our cheap gas grills and La-Z-Boy recliners so we can enjoy them at everyday low prices.
One is dying from silicosis from making Char-Broil gas stoves. One lost three fingers making goods for Restoration Hardware. One is suffering from a precursor to leukemia after painting and varnishing furniture bound for America. Others have cadmium poisoning after making batteries for Eveready and Energizer. In all cases, not even basic safety protocols or safety devices were observed. It was simply a matter of what was cheapest and most expedient.
American Imports, Chinese Deaths [Salt Lake Tribune]
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I wanted to list a forum were we are trying to compile more information on this topic. It’s a heavy complicated topic that seems to only get worse the deeper we dig.
[www.chinalookout.com]
Thank you Consumerist for the great posts.
Well, I’m not at all surprised that China is killing United States citizens, since that country has been an enemy of the United States for years. They have nukes pointed in our direction and have stated that if the USA lifts a finger to defend Taiwan, well, those nukes will be fired and all will supposedly land in the western United States. As for me, I am and have been an enemy of China, and I exercise that while I am purchasing items in stores in the USA. I DO NOT BUY CHINA-MADE ANYTHING!!! YEP, A BOYCOTT FOR YEARS AND YEARS, NOW. I take it personally that big companies in USA have put millions of Americans out of work. Thank God that I can make my own clothes, and do alterations.
Funny that none of the items named are ‘cheap’. The companies who are having them made in China and buying dirt cheap, then selling for ridiculous profit here are the ones who should feel guilty. The Chinese gov’t doesn’t give a crap about their people, so this isn’t going to stop.