Oh, well as long as they make a profit, it must be okay, right? I feel just as sorry for them as you but there is nothing I can do. Bull****. You can stop buying their products for one. If you are so worried and u feel Nike has no heart to do this write a complain to Nike. What difference would that make? Don't start abusing us or basketball players or anyone who wears Nike shoes just because the way they were made. Why not? Don't you find it horrible? I bet you have heaps of stuff made by these poor people too. Maybe I should complain about you too! At least I try. As far as athletic companies go, Nike is the worst, closely followed by Adidas. I try to avoid these brands. I'm not saying other companies don't exploit overseas labour, but based on the research, Nike and Adidas do it the most. It's near impossible to avoid everything, but you've got to do what you can, ya know? Looking for the "Made in the USA or Canada" tag goes a long way (not that there aren't sweatshops in North America, but they're usually not as large-scale). Get over it! This is just like Vegitarians. If u are or where vegitarian would you be complaining to everyone who eats meat? This is nothing like vegetarianism. Besides if those people didn't make these products how well off would they be? They would be even worse then they are now. Maybe, but Nike isn't doing it to help them out. They're doing it to cut costs. No matter how you try to justify it, Nike is exploiting these people. Besides, a lot of them are <u>children</u>! That's my main problem. But I guess you have no beef with a company that allows kids to slave away their childhood in a dirty shoe factory for pennies a day. BTW, I have 2 pairs of nike shoes and I'm proud of them! And I don't give a **** where they came from as long as they don't stuff up, they stay on my feet and they do their job. So basically, what you said earlier about feeling just as sorry as I did was a lie. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.
Listen to Markell. He makes sense. The other dudes need to get over...I can't wait to buy some of Cat's new NIKE shoes! Damn, if we were to protest and rally against every company or manufacturer who has done a moral travesty or injustice, then we all might as well live butt-naked under the freakin bridge! Get over! ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
What research? Support your findings! Did you go to these countries firsthand? O.K. Where is the hard evidence to support your claims that Nike and Adidas do it the most? In addition what are you using as a barometer to conclude Nike and Adidas do it the most?..And btw it is impossible to avoid everything! ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
To stay on thread, let me say how bombastically proud I am of our super 2 guard...Cuttino mobley! This achievement is certainly a prelude of positive things to come for him. Many of you may say my enthusiasm and acclaim for our dynamic duo (Steve and Cat) may be a tad pre-mature at this stage. You all know how I feel about our guards and I just can't help but to look towards the bright horizon awaiting these two magnificient players! ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
Before I really new about this deal, I opened one of my friend's teen-p*rn magazines FHM, or For Him Magazine. On the first page, bam, Cuttino laid out in front of a backdrop on a backcourt. Awesome. ------------------ We're going to stay together until something happens, if something happens. - Sidney Lowe on Shareef's career in Vancouver.
Nike works very hard these days to ensure child labor is not used in any of its factories. Now I don't believe for a minute they would be doing this if there hadn't been a big outcry about it a few years back, but at least they do it. Nike's code of conduct can be found on-line, specifically their child labor practices are at: http://nikebiz.com/labor/age.shtml ------------------
Cuttino Rocks!!! Fadeaway, Sweatshops are places where shady business men collect large numbers of impoverished people(usualy imigrants) pay them a much lower than legal wage, and subject them to poor working conditions. Child labor laws are often broken as well as safety regulations. These are all terrible things to us americans, and these practices are frowned upon. However, these conditions in an average third world nation are called a FACTORY. it is only when these conditions exist in a loft in the garment district, or in china town that they are inhumain. When this great nation was industrializing, our manufacturing plants had some of the worst conditions in the world. all of these laws and regulations are in place now as a result of how bad the past was. the countries with these factories in them are just going through their industrialization. All of that being said. countries like Taiwan were exploited by big business for years. preying the workers les than us americans require, but more than most in Taiwan. this practice went on for long enough to make taiwan an industrial nation far ahead of it neighbours. sure to american standards and laws these work places are inhumane, but in non industrial countries they dont give a **** about humane. they need food, and these companies pay them! If the workers in Nikes factories were being paid the $5.75 they would have to be paid back here in america instead of the $0.25 they get now, those shoes you wear would cost a ton. also if Nike can build these shoes and sell them for $100, than think about how the company that you support. their shoes likely cost less, maybe $60, or $80. think of how they kept their cost down. I could understand your support of american workers, and keeping the work in america, but come on. every major company uses cheap foreign labour. seriously take a stroll along your border with mexico. their minimum wage is somewhere around $1.25 ahhh forgwet it. Its like having a debate about abortion. No one is willing to see the other side of it. Fadeaway. do yourself a favor, and make sure you look into it before you take the media, or what ever activest (that was trying to get on tv) word for it on these labour practices. think of those kids in the sally struthers adds. dont you thing they would rather be working in a factory for food and lodging rather than live the lives they have now?? well again, Cuttino Rules, and you havnt seen the best of him yet. RISING STAR!! woo hoo all star 2003 PEACE ------------------ Hanta-Force Paintball http://www.hanta-force.com
Originally posted by The Voice of Reason: they need food, and these companies pay them! All Hail Nike -- Saviour of Humanity. from: <A HREF="http://novanewsnet.ukings.ns.ca/stories/99-00/000211/sweatshop.htm">Workers Face Harsh Conditions, Union-Bashing</A> Last year, the Interfaith Centre on Corporate Responsibility, an ethical pension investment group, found workers producing Nike gear in a factory in Vietnam have to work 10 hours just to earn enough money to buy one kilogram of chicken. In May, workers at the Sam Yang factory in Vietnam told researchers with the Asia Monitor Resource Centre that their wages do not cover their living expenses. Sometimes they have to borrow money from their families to survive, the workers said. The Asia Monitor Resource Centre is a Hong Kong-based group that supports independent, democratic labour movements in Asia. The workers also told the Resource Centre's researchers that managers penalize them if they do something wrong, and sometimes strike them with rods. One worker had to be hospitalized after a beating he received from a supervisor, they said. Nike workers in Vietnam say they don't earn enough money to cover their basic needs. PHOTO: ROBIN PERELLE I could understand your support of american workers, and keeping the work in america, but come on. every major company uses cheap foreign labour. Just because they do it <u>does not make it morally right</u>! seriously take a stroll along your border with mexico. their minimum wage is somewhere around $1.25 Canada does not border with Mexico. ahhh forgwet it. Its like having a debate about abortion. No one is willing to see the other side of it. Fadeaway. do yourself a favor, and make sure you look into it before you take the media, or what ever activest (that was trying to get on tv) word for it on these labour practices. What makes you think I haven't? Do you think I'm making this stuff up? Watch the news, read the papers. Information is everywhere. think of those kids in the sally struthers adds. dont you thing they would rather be working in a factory for food and lodging rather than live the lives they have now?? Oh, so Nike is doing it to save the kids, are they? What about the billions of dollars spent on endorsements? If they cared so much about their workers, why don't they use a piece of that pie to improve conditions at their factories (thus, increasing productivity) instead of dumping truckloads of cash at Michael Jordan's doorstep. Let me ask something, do you guys really agree with this stuff deep down inside, or are you just defending Nike because I attacked them so vigorously? ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.
How many sho companies can you name that don't manufacture in sweatshop environments? 1. New Balance I cannot think of any more. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Now comes the response- If we were to boycott Nike because of their labor practices, the loss of demand would send those laborers away without any compensation. Now instead of 10 hours to earn enough for food, they'd be forced to adopt other methods. As we all know, the world isn't perfect. The standards in third-world countries can't be expected to holdup to the standards of the US. However, nobody else is producing that shoe that I desire except for Nike. Given this, I choose to buy these nike products. ------------------ Oh.. so this is how you add a signature huh? coo coo.
It's one thing to say, yes, Nike uses sweatshops to produce its products, but I don't believe anything I could do would really make a difference (or don't care), and go ahead and buy Nike products. It's another thing to deny that Nike uses sweatshops or exploits child labor in order to justify the purchase of Nike products. The latter approach is just ignorant, and it is making a lot of people in this thread look it. ------------------
I still stand by what I have said. I'll try to find that article for u fadeway. ------------------ PrEsident of The Danforth Langhford FAN CLUB... He IS our future All-Star Small Forward
I agree with snow. Sweat shops do have some bad affects, but they arent entirely bad. I also saw that article he is referring too, and the kids make a good amount of money. If not for those shops, the kids would not be able to eat since the money they make is essential for their survival. The concept of sweatshops is not entirely humane, but it still helps feeding a lot of people. ------------------
So both of you are basing your entire opinion on one article? And you think sweatshops are A-Okay? Unbelievable. You guys scare me. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.
The CAT will be the one of the most popular player now and in the future. Long live to the CAT!! ------------------ Rudy T. will find and fulfill Rockets destiny.
Cat can endorse the following Nike products: 1) Me N Steve 2) Jacks Em Up 3) Shox Hakeem 4) ISO Crapper 5) Sweat Em ------------------ Respect Hakeem's legacy. A championship in the hand is worth two in the bush!! [This message has been edited by 3Rings (edited January 23, 2001).]
Fadeaway, i dont think you get it. If you would do me a favor and re-read my earlier post you will see that i am not endorsing the practices of these megacorps. However I made the point that this is not a black and white issue. as ****ty as it is, these factories in Vietnam are in the long run going to help the workers of that nation at the expense of some dignity, some peoples live maybe, but Vietnam will be brought closer to industrialized status through these tough times. we had to go through it in America, It is unfortunate, and downright terrible, but dont get all teary eyed, because those people could have stayed in the country side and continue their subsistance farming just as their family has for generations. However they moved to the cities looking for a different life, looking for in someway the american dream(even thought they are vietnamese) because it is something they heardabout, or saw on tv. Urbanization happens, and those people need jobs. no one forces them to worj at Nike. however the chinese immagrents in NYC chinatown are enslaved. It is this practice that is downright evil, and people like Kathy Lee Gifford are your enemies. as far as you living in Moosejaw canada or whatever, Im sorry, but your borders are actually lined with factorys. Ever been to cornwall?? NAFTA made for most companies to move to Mexico, but some went North as your wages in Canada are also a bit lower than ours. If however you go down to texas you will see factories lining the border all the way to California. now on to endorsements: If you think a publicly traded company like Nike would risk the bottom line by paying these Vietnamese kids more than they have to you are too idealistic. endorsements are ok, because at least that helps sales. hell Im just psyched that they give all that money to minorities well feel as you must but please know that i am a bleeding hear liberal, but i am a realist in a lot of ways. Nike is not your Enenm, neither is most of corporate America. It is those sweat shop operators in major cities that use indentured servents/slaves, and illegal aliens to work for their greencards peace, and Im outa this thread ------------------ Hanta-Force Paintball http://www.hanta-force.com
Voice, you should read up on the subject. You obviously don't know as much as you think you know. You have a really warped view of how things really work. How, pray tell, are Nike factories helping these countries become more industrialized? All the capital invested comes from Nike. All the profits reaped go to Nike. Just about the only things they infuse into the native economy (aside from some conceivable, but almost certainly minute taxes) are the pathetic wages they dole out, which aren't enough to even cover basic living expenses. Nike sweatshops are not helping these countries develop. Quite the contrary. They are exploiting their land and labour for their own personal use. If you don't know what exploited means, <A HREF ="http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=exploited">click here</a>. Definition 2. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy. [This message has been edited by fadeaway (edited January 23, 2001).]
hey is it just me or is it interesting to see someone on this bbs that actually extends past the rockets? NO it couldnt be, could it? but seriously man, lighten up, snow and playa aint sayin that sweatshops are good or nething, but just trying to clear up a few common misconceptions about them... ------------------ Lookin at a 75 year old man in a thong: NASTY Lookin at Shaq hit free throws: "O SH**!"
Wait, if I don't buy Nike products it's not going to do anything to stop the poor people who are making the products. Others will buy them and keep nike going. You may say if everyone does what you are doin then Nike could get run out of business but it's not that easy. I say as long as your doing what you think is the right thing then that's all that matters. But you don't try to change others beliefs because of it! ------------------ Miggidy Markell says: 1. Eastcoast is da sh*t 2. Rockets rule 3. Hip/Hop is dope 4. Buy the new Ruff Ryders album! Miggidy Markell is watching Stay STRAPPED & WATCH ya back or be Assimilated.
