Animals:Animal Testing, Factory Farming, Other Animal Rights
Politics: Political Activity, Boycott Call, Genetic Engineering, Anti-Social Finance, Company Ethos
Product Sustainability: Organic, Fairtrade, Positive Environmental Features, Other Sustainability
Children and teens are the main consumers in our world. Most young consumers have no idea how their purchases are supporting environmentally harmful products and/or ethical injustice. It is usually difficult to educate teenagers about these topics because they are not concerned with how a product is made or who/what their purchase will affect; instead, they concentrate on how products look or benefit themselves. This page was made to help educate consumers about a few popular brands that are using unethical processes, which in turn hurt either people or the environment. There are alo many links to informative websites which, will help you to become a more conscious consumer.
These are just a few of the advertisements Nike puts out to attract consumers. Nike sells equipment for every athletic competition and even casual clothing. It is easily one of the most popular athletic brands in America. In 2010, the company made $19 billion in revenue. All that consumers assosciate Nike with is their over-whelming popularity and amanzingly creative product design. Also, Nike is continually recognized for their ability to make their products 'green', and noted to a environmentally friendly company, but what about the factory workers who produce Nike's products? Some Nike shoes sell for over $120 and some sweatpants cost $50, so you would think the workers are fairly paid for their rapid and percise production, right? Well, you have been fooled. Nike takes advantage of poverty stricken countries, paying minimal amounts to workers, which to the workers is acceptable due to their economic situations. Toolnes.com is website that was made to, "provoke thought about the current economic situation," put up this cynical advertisement on their website:
"At Nike, we're dedicated to making more money so you'll invest in our company when our profits soar. That's why we've established exclusive Sweatshops™ in poverty-stricken nations to allow us to treat our workers like dirt and increase our profit margins. Now that we make more money than ever before, we're sure you'll buy our stock—and you'll be glad you did, when it comes time to retire."Nike has also been caught breaking child labor laws:
"Nike was severely embarrassed on the child labor issue in 1996 when a major story in Life magazine featured a photograph of a very young Pakistani boy sewing a Nike soccer ball. Evidence continues to emerge of young persons under the age of 16 employed in Nike contract factories. In the absence of economic development in their communities, however, excluding children from factories may force them into even more dangerous and degrading work. Global Exchange believes that payment of a living wage to adult workers would be by far the most effective means of benefiting children in areas in which Nike's goods are made." - Global Exchange
HANES
Hanes, founded in 1901, is a brand currently owned by the Hanesbrand Inc. Corporation.
Produce clothing: both inner and outer wear
Women's underwear: bras and panties
Men's underwear: boxers, briefs, undershirts
Kids underwear and undershirts
Socks
Activewear: performance t-shirts and shorts
Casual wear: t-shirts, fleeces, and sports shirts.
National Labor Committee:
Non profit organization found in 1981
Human rights advocacy group that focuses on the promotion and defense of worker rights.
Mission:
Help defend the human rights of the workers in the global economy
To empower workers in the developing world by educating them about their fundamental legal rights and assisting them to organize
To educate global citizens about their role as responsible consumers
The institute is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA with offices in El Salvador and Bangladesh.
Problem: not enough people are well educated about the troubles of the unfairly paid and unfairly treated workers. The people who are aware aren’t doing enough (if anything) about it. WE, the buyers, are the reason companies are in higher demand of employees and employ children and teenagers to hard, manual labor. It is our job as the buyer to put an end to this cruel and disgusting system that destroys the lives of innocent children.
Harvest Rich Factory in Bangladesh
An estimated 200 children (some 11 years old or younger) were discovered sewing clothes for not only Hanes but Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, and Puma
Treatment: the children that were interviewed reported being routinely slapped and beaten, and passing out from exhaustion. In the month of September, the workers had only one day off. Children are beaten if they make mistakes, fall behind in their production goal, fall asleep, or take too long in the bathroom.
Hours & Wages: children report being forced to work 12-14 hours a day, 19-20 hour shifts, often seven days a week. Paid as low as 6 ½ cents an hour.
One worker said that if they could earn just 36 cents an hour, they could climb out of misery and into poverty, where they could live with a modicum of decency
According to wikipedia, these are the areas of concern for ethical consumerism:
Children and teens are the main consumers in our world. Most young consumers have no idea how their purchases are supporting environmentally harmful products and/or ethical injustice. It is usually difficult to educate teenagers about these topics because they are not concerned with how a product is made or who/what their purchase will affect; instead, they concentrate on how products look or benefit themselves. This page was made to help educate consumers about a few popular brands that are using unethical processes, which in turn hurt either people or the environment. There are alo many links to informative websites which, will help you to become a more conscious consumer.
These are just a few of the advertisements Nike puts out to attract consumers. Nike sells equipment for every athletic competition and even casual clothing. It is easily one of the most popular athletic brands in America. In 2010, the company made $19 billion in revenue. All that consumers assosciate Nike with is their over-whelming popularity and amanzingly creative product design. Also, Nike is continually recognized for their ability to make their products 'green', and noted to a environmentally friendly company, but what about the factory workers who produce Nike's products? Some Nike shoes sell for over $120 and some sweatpants cost $50, so you would think the workers are fairly paid for their rapid and percise production, right? Well, you have been fooled. Nike takes advantage of poverty stricken countries, paying minimal amounts to workers, which to the workers is acceptable due to their economic situations.
Toolnes.com is website that was made to, "provoke thought about the current economic situation," put up this cynical advertisement on their website:
National Labor Committee:
Problem: not enough people are well educated about the troubles of the unfairly paid and unfairly treated workers. The people who are aware aren’t doing enough (if anything) about it. WE, the buyers, are the reason companies are in higher demand of employees and employ children and teenagers to hard, manual labor. It is our job as the buyer to put an end to this cruel and disgusting system that destroys the lives of innocent children.
Harvest Rich Factory in Bangladesh