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Tell us what you think >>
Selected submissions will be posted here regularly, so visit again to read more
comments.
Many people want to help the workers featured in CHINA BLUE. Read why filmmaker Micha Peled will not contact Jasmine and his answer to the question: what can we do to help? >>
4/10/07
Terra Macias
Yakima, Washington
I feel so many emotions it is almost unbearable! The arrogance of the factory owner is appalling! and the young girl "China Blue" has captivated my heart! I am very active in my community in regards to housing code enforcments, minorities, etc. I so wish I could send that young girl some money that she could return to her family and be a young girl! I realize that their are millions in her place but to just help one would bless my soul! If there be a way to contact her I would be interested in sending her a letter! Today is Easter Sunday and I was feeling sorry for myself that I was not with my family. Seeing this program was a blessing, it caused me to look at others who might not even have the knowledge of our Risen Saviour and that He (Jesus Christ) came to save them too! I may sound fanatical but so be it I am a Believer in the Word of God and I want so much to ease some of the hardships of that young girl.
4/10/07
Stefan
Springfield, OH
It's unfortunate but it seems as this is the cost of free trade. We could boycott the sales of these slave labor items but what would happen to these people? Would they be forced back to their rural homes with no chance of earning a few meager dollars to better their families lives?
4/10/07
Marty Cernek
Corinth, NY
From now on, I will try not to buy anything from China. While this may not be possible, I am determined with more of a conscience now to think of Jasmine when I buy anything from China. I have seen other documentaries on PBS about China and I was appalled then, but I was starting to get complacent again. Thanks for putting Jasmine's face in my mind forever.
4/10/07
Connie
Harrisburg Pa
this has brought a whole new light to the term "minimum wage." as americans, we complain when we are paid about $6 a hour but to these girls get paid only pennies in comparison. it makes me cherish living in america so much more.
I believe that workers should be paid a better wage. In America, we pay anywhere from $10 to maybe even $100 for jeans due to the markup. Those conglomerates can afford to offer more compensation to the workers to better their lifestyles.
Also I remember the boss saying that he earns about $40k a month, he could afford to earn just a few thousand less and pay for overtime. It's not fair for him to exert his power so the government will look the other way.
We as consumers can do something about this situation, but since we are so worried about maintaining our lifestyle; we do not care much about the suffering of others. Sure there are a few of us that are willing to help better another's life, but majority of people are not willing to sacrifice.
"About 2% Own Half of the World's Wealth and the Bottom 50% Own Only 1% of Wealth"
4/10/07
Lancaster, PA
I caught the episode randomly when flipping through the channels. Once I started watching, I was hooked. I knew the rough structure of the workforce in China but seeing it first hand in this great documentary drove the point home. It was very heart wrenching, yet eye opening at the way of life when compared to our own in the western world. I too wish I would have written down the address of Jasmine so I could write her an encouraging note.
4/10/07
Medford, MA
I was just bored online and clicking through the channels on TV. When PBS was showing CHINA BLUE, I was just shocked to see how these girls in China are being exploited for their labor. I admit that I'm an American that buys only brand-name jeans, but I would like to fight against such injustice. It would make me feel a lot better knowing that my clothes are being made by happy workers with well paid and treatment by their boss.
4/10/07
Taili
Sewell, NJ
I'm so happy that you made this documentary to let people know what's behind their jeans. I believe all the materals we use all came w/ a story behind. Please let me know when you have more this kind of documentary will air at PBS or else where.
The relationship between the workers, the supervisors, the factory's owner, & the foreign buyers is very much like food chain in the wild animal world. The only different is the animal only fight for food enough to keep them from hunger, some human fight the $$$ because they're too greedy.
4/10/07
Joe
Lexington, KY
It's wonderful that someone is willing to actually do something about things like this, instead of just complaining like most Americans do.
Americans get a bad wrap for many things across the world, and many do deserve it but there are a lot of good people here who are in the dark.
It's a disgrace that those people in China and other parts of the world have to give up their lives to protect ours. Our country was founded in that way. Many were forced out of homes and killed just to take away land.
It's unethical that this kind of thing still goes on and regardless of color or race, everyone is the same and deserves the same freedoms.
We should all get together and yank those CEO's out of their smug offices and force them to work like slaves!
My lifestyle doesn't allow me to do the things that Micha X. Peled is doing. But, we just had a Wal-Mart Supercenter open up in our small town. I wrote a letter to the editor of our newspaper about the reality of sweatshops to give everyone a chance to think about it every time they go shopping.
4/10/07
i just got done watching China Blue & it has opened my eyes alot more! i was in an environmental class where i had teachers that would educated small groups of kids about these sorts of things, i was aware of what goes on in those factories and i've changed alot since then but to hear it from a young girl that works in one of them and to actually see what they go through really brought MORE ATTENTION! I want to educate the ones around me like my family and friends. I wish i can do something for the workers too, at least write one of them a letter or something! i want them to know that i stand by them and that i do think of who they might be and how old they are, what's there name, and how they feel....that i do care. It brought tears to me and it disgusted me that hard workers are being treated this way.
4/10/07
Erik
Missoula, Montana
Thank you for this show
Please think about these girls when you spend 50 buck on a pair of jeans and know how much disgusting companys like Wal mart is reaping in huge profits off of factory worker abuse.
4/10/07
Annie
I was so moved and astonished by this documentary. I was crying when I heard her say that she still had money left to send to her parents.
What can change? Everything needs to change. First, The chief of Police needs to be fired. I am so upset at seeing this communist country affect the lives of innocent children who have futures. This was the first I have sincerely been moved by a political issue, such as this. I hope the best for that young girl. FROM NOW ON I WILL BE GRATEFUL WHEN I BUY JEANS MADE IN CHINA and I will share with everyone what I have seen. We need to appreciate what we have in this country and wake up.
It doesn't change the fact that I am going to buy jeans but next time I will be very appreciative and always remember this documentary. I am so grateful that I live in America...Thank you PBS
4/10/07
Matthew C
Washington, D.C.
When the price of these jeans is $40-$150, what is the incentive to save pennies by cheating the factory workers? Is the market so competitive for cotton pants? If not, then why aren't more firms getting into the business? I understand Americans are not willing to pay for clothes made by workers making American-wages ($10/hr), but the difference between workers earning twenty-five cents and fifty cents an hour would hardly be noticed. Well, I suppose corporations will always go with the cheapest alternatives while they are unregulated.
Thank you for the interesting and personal view into the life of these factory workers. They play an important part in the clothes we wear everyday, yet they are so far removed from our everyday lives.
4/10/07
Atlanta, Georgia
My daughter is from Sichuan province where little Jasmine is from. My adopting her probably saved her from having to work in one of those factories some day. This film highlights corporate greed. The factory owner, although course and hard hearted, is right, the retailers make all the money. He is just making a small profit. The stockholders of these retail companies reap the benefits of the labor of these people. They could still make a profit and see to it those workers are paid a decent wage but they wont as long as they are not made to do it. But if China demands higher wages for its workers then the retailers will just move thier business to Mexico or Pakistan. I will not buy Levis or any Limited brands ever again. There are other options. For more insight to life for a young worker in one of these factories check out this link about a worker who abandoned her newborn at the factory where she worked. They are just kids themselves.
http://research-china.blogspot.com/
4/10/07
Donna Posley
Sparta, Ga
I watch the documentary on China Blue and I was just sick to my stomach. It's a global economy of global slavery. I couldnąt help but to start checking my blue jeans for the label of made in china. I will never buy another pair of jeans again that I believe that was made in slaved labor. In my opinion, corporate greed is destroying America.
4/10/07
Leo
Boston, MA
I feel so sad. I come from China and I know all those on China Blue are true and it is happening everyday, everywhere in China. International companies are exploiting the cheap and illegal labor in China. I wish some day I can do something to change it.
4/10/07
Jerry Stears
Peachtree City , Georgia
There needs to be a grass roots movement to expose what's going on in China.
Most people in America have no clue.
The labor unions in the USA need to use their political clout to educate the public and put pressure on China.
I'm sure this human expoitation is well known by the brutal Chinese leaders who have a long history of causing human misery.
I'm profoundly ashamed that I ever purchased anything made in Communist China.
Thank you China Blue.
4/10/07
Thomas Byrne
Montauk, N.Y.
This is supposed to be China? The PEOPLE'S Republic of China? The WORKERS' PARADISE? Where are the true communists? The bosses in China are worse than the capitalists in our country.
Wake up, people! Shop with a conscience!!!
4/10/07
Rick Hege
Townshend Vermont
I sew for a living, have for about 30 years and, honestly, I have to compete with these companies and these labor practices. To make matters worse, worker explotation by competitors in other countries have forced all but one of my raw material suppliers out of business. There is a ripple effect most easily seen in the garment industry. Now, I am faced with a choice, either get my raw materials from companies in China or go out of business all together. I don't like my options.
One thing that many folks don't know is that sewing is a very difficult way to earn a living under the best of circumstances. I can't sit at a machine for more than 4 hours nor would I ever force an employee to do so if I had employees. Likewise I can't stand at the cutting table for long periods of time either so I vary my tasks. It is impossible to imagine the physical damage these "factories" are inflicting on their employees especially considering the hours they are forced to work.
It was a great film. I just wish it had a bigger audience. I will most certainly suggest it to my customers.
4/10/07
Jim Willig
Albany, NY
I feel ashamed. My buying habits contribute to the oppression of children. From now on my choices will not be influenced by the price of an item, but rather the origin of an item.
4/10/07
Gabrielle
San Diego, CA
I hope the girl is okay! This film has open my eyes!
What we can do to help is to support those human right organizations that
are willing to chance,the working conditions of people in the third world
countries such as Mexico,China,and India.
I hope that one day all those factory owner's
touch their hearts and give the employees at least
a grain of what the millions they made by exploiting humans.
If one day the filmmaker has the chance to contact the girl,please
let us know how she is doing. I believe a lot of people would like
to help and know that she is save.
4/10/07
Don Hartley
Yellville, AR
I have not worn blue jeans since I got out of high school 50 years ago, but I do boycott Wal-Mart for other reasons. I never have nor ever will buy Guess, Limited, Hilfiger, or any of that other stuff the kids wear. Imagine paying $125 or more for crappy looking stuff that costs a dollar to produce, is made by children who must hold their eyes open with pincher clothespins; literal slaves who don't even get paid their paltry 12 cents/hour if the boss decides to cut expences. But just you wait and see; you have seen the future. That will be us in 5 years the way things are going. Welcome to SlaveAmerica USA.
4/10/07
Hong
When I grew up in China, we were taught that the Communist Party was our savior because it eliminated exploitation of the working mass. We used to read stories about child laborers who toiled in sweatshops in 30s and 40s, which made us hate the factory owners and love the Party with deep gratitude.
Where is the people's party today? Everyday there is news about Communist leaders charged with corruption involving millions and millions of dollars. Where does the money come from? Who'd fancy this day when Communists and Capitalists actually unite and exploit the poor together?
4/10/07
Kevin Meagher
I think what hit me the most when I was watching this film, was when Jasmine was forced to spend the Chinese New Years break alone.
When she was sitting there in that cold, dingy, dorm all by herself; talking to a gold fish...it simply broke my heart.
The contrast between her compassion for her family and willingness to endure great hardship for her sister's education versus the cold self centered calousness and lack of conscience of the factory owner speaks volumes about the state of our species.
Personally, I work stocking shelves at a Dollar Store for $6.50 per hour. I've felt sad and cheated alot recently about this. But when I saw what Jasmine and her sweet friends had to suffer, I was thankful to God for the many blessings he has shown me.
I find myself wandering what has happened to her and hope deeply that she is ok and hasn't been "punished" in some way for her participation in this important documentary.
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