Having recently listened to the This American Life Podcast Episode #454 “Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory”, it is clear the even the most respected companies are in the dark about how their own products are made. Apple, among others, is still struggling with shady labor standards in underdeveloped countries and their own bottom line. The podcast features Mike Daisey, “a self-described worshipper in the cult of Mac”, who visits one of the Apple factories in China. Daisey pulls back the curtain on working conditions and shows us that consumers need to step up and share the responsibility.
What does it mean to be a responsible consumer? Every day we make hundreds of decisions that ultimately send messages back to companies that produce the things we wear, the food we eat and the movies & music we enjoy. We hope that companies are acting responsible and government agencies are monitoring. But is wishful thinking where our responsibility as consumers ends? I would argue that it is not enough. We need to be asking tough questions, like where & how our products are made. We need to be demanding more transparency and hold those brands accountable for the safe, quality products they promise us. With today’s technology, there are few excuses left that would not permit a business from providing detailed information on what is made, where, by whom, and under what conditions.
More recent NY Times Article “In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad”
At Blossom Inspirations, we operate on a much smaller scale than Apple. Though resources are much more limited, we have taken it upon ourselves as owners, to go and meet with our artisans. We have gone to their homes, shared meals together and talked about what is most important in our lives. These are real people with ambitions, dreams, loves and lives that are greatly affected by administrative decisions. I know we are not much in the eyes of a behemoth company, but I challenge Apple to be more like us. Make those connections from top to bottom. Know more about what you make, how and by whom. And as consumers we will reward you with loyalty and a willingness to pay a little bit more for an iPod that makes my life better as well as the worker who made it.
Jeff
January 26, 2012
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