 |
|
|
|
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? >>
4/4/07
Rev. Roland Cole
College Station, Texas 77
I LOVE THE RESPONSES AND IDEAS OF ELIZABETH, JANICE, AND LAVINIA below! I feel so helpless
to do anything about China's oppressive system--and those in so many other countries, and
developments taking place in the US in trhew last five years. And then I feel angry.
NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO, SO MANY OF THESE TREATIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TAKE AWAY OUR SOVEREIGNTY
AND ABILITY TO LET our political REPRESENTATIVES DETERMINE OUR U.S. LAWS. THEY MAKE THE
RICH RICHER, WORKERS EVERYWHERE WORK FOR LESS AND BECOME POORER, AND TAKE AWAY THE
ECONOMIC LIVELIHOOD OF FARMERS AND SMALL PRODUCERS AROUND THE GLOBE OVER-WHELMED BY THE
POWERS/CLOUT OF GIGANTIC SUPRA-NATIONAL BUSINESSES.
SO,LET US KEEP ENCOURAGING OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO PROMOTE LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS
WORKERS' RIGHTS TO A DECENT WAGE AND DECENT WORKING CONDITIONS AND PROTECTIONS--AND STOP
THE EROSIONS THAT HAVE/ARE TAKING PLACE.I LIKE THE IDEA OF FIGHTING F-O-R A POSITIVE
VISION, NOT JUST BITCHING ABOUT NEGATIVES. MAYBE, HOWEVER AND WHEREVER, WE COULD BAND
TOGETHER WITH A FEW LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS TO KEEP WRITING, SUGGESTING, QUESTIONING
CORPORATE HEADS AND POLITICIANS--AND NOT GIVE UP AND GIVE IN--IS A GOOD IDEA. AND FINDING
AND SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY WORKING EFFECTIVELY IN AREAS/ARENAS
POSSIBLY ABLE TO CHANGE THINGS POSITIVELY. Thanks for a great, insightful film. I still
feel for all the oppressed workers AND that includes a lot of the middle managers who are
also not free of horrendous pressures and options.
4/4/07
Null
Seattle, WA
- We need to start pooling information on the sources of our products (retailer,
distributor, producers, buyers) with detailed names, addresses, and photos of the main
stakeholders publicly on a centralized worldwide website. I bet China can't block the
entire world's websites.
- We need to purchase stock from each company and mutual funds that does business that
includes acts of economic slavery or such. And go to shareholder meetings and contact your
fund managers to raise the issue. If there is enough opposition (and often), they will
address this.
- As a world citizen, keep consumption down and don't buy. I see the world on consumption
sprees and heavily in debt buying things, then either donate or toss them in the landfill.
What's wrong with conservation of resources?
4/4/07
Vicki Alexis Genson
Boulder Colorado
I am relieved and grateful to you. you created the film i wanted to make with every
sensitivity, dramatic detail (jasmine's interior monologue) and the intelligence of what
to leave out. Having included Mr. Lam and Liefang factory is so extraordinary and
necessary to the telling of the story, it makes "China Blue" a complete miracle and then
there is the letter jasmine wants to put in the pocket of a pair of jeans to remind us
that she exists. The story had to be told with love and a reminder that it is as much
about us as about them. thank you once again for your sacrifices to see this project
through to its perfect completion.
4/4/07
Shane Smith
Portland, Maine
When I first started watching this documentary, I saw a young girl's hope of a better
future, of achieving and providing for her family. When the hope in her faded and reality
sank in about how she was being used and mistreated it was heartbreaking. The callousness
of the owner was surprising. To here him say that the workers were unintelligent and and
were being treated well, made me realize how the human mind can rationalize our poor
treatment of others. He really didn't seem to see them as humans at all, just resources,
to get his product made and his bank account full. I see a parallel story to the early
industrial revolution here in the US and in England with our wool mill workers. Who will
speak for these people, when real unions are banned? I feel we must let the large
consumers, the companies that buy these products know that we are unhappy with their
acceptance of blatant human rights issue. Those young men and women deserve better, and
better is possible.
4/4/07
Sudea
Redding
I watched a brief part of the TV segment. I do want to say it is hard to see the injustice
in our world. There is a cycle for one person to request an order for a low cost and then
the boss of the jeans shops wouldn't want to pay the workers for what they deserve. It
sounded like he would make about $40,000 in US dollars off of the order. I would never buy
the Vigaze Jeans because of the injustice of not paying for what the jeans are worth for
the materials used and workers in that shop. It was very upsetting to see that sometimes
the clothes we get cost us nothing but an hr in the office or whatever...I am more careful
to watch my steps and choices so I don't breed injustice by consuming things knowingly
like vigaze jeans. I am not sure if this all makes sense but I just wanted to get my two
cents.
4/4/07
Well, it doesn't surprise me to see good old Wal-Mart,what ever happen to "We buy
American" I bet you Sam Walton must be turning in his grave. But the people to blame for
this is the American consumer, we love sending are jobs over seas and still think we are
getting a deal when we shop and get low prices?? makes you wonder why are education is so
far behind, do the math,i see this in juarez,mx were they pay people 40.00 a week, this
jobs used to belong to American workers, but the companies decided to move to MX, to save
on it's labor cost, yet they send their product back to the USA for people to buy them,
guess why? because the people that are making the product can't even afford it.And you
know whats funny about this is that Mexico is loosing jobs also because companies are
moving to China because they are still cheaper than Mexico's ,40.00 dollars a week pay??
So keep shopping at good old Wal-Mart were prices are cheap, and workers wages are
low. Like their slogan says Wal-Mart always Low Prices with their happy yellow face.
4/4/07
Emery White
Chico, California
The problem doesn't lie with the corporations buying the jeans, watches, shoes,
whatever..., it lies with the form of government in China. What would correct the problems
is allowing the people in China the freedom they tried to get back at Tianaman Square i
their Democracy Movement. Communism has brought only poverty and slavery to the people.
Jasmine and her friends work in those factories because they have no other options in
their lives.
Countries from all over the world have products produced in China because the people are
so poor they have no alternatives than to work in those factories. If they had the freedom
and options, they would walk away from those factories, or at least refuse to work until
they got decent wages and hours. Until that time they have no choice.
4/4/07
Angela Smith
Mesa, Arizona
I read through many peoples' posts and I would have to disagree that it is slavery or even
as horrific as was said. This is simply how it is in China. Should it remain this way? Of
course no. There must be continual improvement? Still, to judge so quickly is
hypocritical. What were the conditions like during the Industrial Revolution and how hard
did we have to fight to get better conditions. The last 10-20 years IS China's Industrial
Revolution.
As I see it there are two things that need to change. We, the buyers of Chinese imports,
must be more aware of the world and not just ourselves. We have to be willing to make the
situation known and create enough noise so that China's government can not ignore. We have
to organize and actually DO something instead of just talking. Second, the Chinese people
have to be willing to sacrifice in order to persuade the government to change. I can
guarantee that if they, the people, do not press for change, the government will never do
so.
4/4/07
Angela Smith
Antioch, IL
While watching China Blue, I became repulsed to learn of the way America does business.
Anyone who watches this film and does not feel ashamed, is inhumane and hard hearted. We
would not over work Americans in this way, nor should we expect anyone else to do so. The
Chinese businessmen or disgusting as well. The reality, that this film allows us to see,
is horrific. Pleas air this again, at an earlier time slot...So that more people can be
informed about where their clothing comes from. It may change things for the workers in
China. Great piece.
4/4/07
Christine Maar
Antioch, IL
I own shopelement.com and we offer fair trade products, but I never really knew the
importance before last night when I saw China Blues. I was horrified by what seems to be
legal slavery. China Blues was an incredible eye opener. I'm more proud than ever to
provide fair trade products and I will absolutely purchase only fair trade clothing in the
future. Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront.
4/4/07
Susan Stratton
Corinna, ME
Have you shown this DVD to Walmart and the other stores mentioned on the site? Also, I
agree with one reader here that finding options to buy is not presented. My family live in
a trailer and barely make ends meet each month, we have shopped at dept stores because of
their low prices but I certainly don't want to support slave-like labor like this. What
are our options as consumers? How can we affect change? Also, is there a way to help
Jasmine who is presented in the film? Perhaps a fund could be set up to provide her with
money to leave the factory, return home and go back to school. She is too young to be
wasting her life in that environment, just like a lot of poverty-stuck teens in the US do,
stuck in minimum wage jobs. I was stuck for years in those bottom-of-the-barrel jobs in
the US myself because I was never given the opportunity to go to college. Perhaps
consumers who watch this show can at least help Jasmine who stars in this film. She and
her teen friends deserve a chance. I'd love to be given an address to send donations for
the teen.
4/4/07
Cindy Weber
Broomfield CO
I watched it last night and couldn't believe it... What CAN we do?
4/4/07
I, B.
What an eye-opener documentary. I wish I could one day show it to my students. I agree
with the postings before... is there anything that can be done? where to start? Regarding
the film, the last frame was so fast that I couldn't read what happened to Jasmine, only
that they authorities stopped them and such... can someone post here what I missed? Thank
you for a wonderful job in opening the West's eyes to some of the problems of
globalization.
4/4/07
Elizabeth
RACINE, WI
What a horrible reality, I knew this was going on but I really don't know how can I help.
I come from Peru a Latin country and my people are exploited in the same way. Maybe we
don't do jeans but we grow fruit and vegetables and the labor conditions are the worst.
Jazmine , JAZMINE what an amazing girl, she is a heroe. what happened with her, is she
still working there??? please tell me you gave her some money and now she is with mom and
dad. Im crying right now. I have a 6 months ol baby and I don't see my daughter been as
strong as Jazmine, she is unique, what an example.
4/4/07
Amanda
What can I do to help these people? The factory owner needs to pay the works more and work
them less. The big chains as in Wal-Mart make a large profit when selling their products
to consumers. The factory owner/manager needs to stand up for his workers and demand
higher amount for the product.Do you think he would let his children work under this kind
of direct hostile environment? I don't. I saw on t.v. what he did while the under waged
workers worked, he just sat at his desk talking on the phone. You would think that he
would want to be on the floor helping his workers. Keeping everyone in good spirits. So,
we should boycott the huge chains and stand up for the rights of the workers over seas.
4/4/07
Gregory Cooper
Oklahoma
After watching this episode on child labor the first thing I asked myself is what can I do
and how can we make people care about not only the people in the documentary, but world
wide child laborers and underpaid laborers. My response to my own desire to help, is like
Andrew's response in John 6:9 when the little boy gave his lunch of five loaves and 2
fishes to Jesus to feed a multitude, Andrew's reply to this was, �but what are they among
so many? So I guess my question is, where do I start in making a difference?
4/4/07
John Builes
Easton, PA
One day people like the owner of this sweatshop in China is going to give an account to
his creator, weather he believes in a creator or not. I heard him say in the film: "I will
do anything to make money". This owner as well probably the rest of factories in China,
are greedy and money hungry, selfish people that live the good life on expenses of others
peoples sufferings. These greedy people live fancy lives without caring one bit to the
injustices they commit. As it is written in the bible: "the love of money is the root of
all evil" I also blame the people who buy from them. They are the ones who really get the
bulk of the profit, like Walt-Mart who made I believe in 2005 or 2006 250 BILLION dollars
in profit and this with the inhumanly working conditions of all these poor people. No
wonder Walt-Mart has a successful business and low prices. They make their profits out of
the misery of desperate poor people. SHAME ON YOU WALT-MART AND THE OTHER COMPANIES THAT
ARE PART OF THESE ATROCITIES. ONE DAY WE WILL ALL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO OUR CREATOR
AND GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT WE DID IN OUR LIVES AND WITH OUR LIVES.
4/4/07
Sarah
I think I'll learn to sew so I don't have to buy from the big companies so much. I don't
want to be responsible for funding slavery.
4/4/07
Leticia Madrid
LC, NM
It is so sad the work and life conditions they are forced to have. Watching China Blue
changed my attitude towards the all industry. I feel so powerless on how or what to do
with my shopping habits. It would help a lot to post emails and addresses of the
industries that allowed this type of work ethics. So sad!!!
4/4/07
Janice Pitts
Odessa, Texas
It is important for Americans and people in other countries who buy products from China
and other countries who exploit workers to see how these people are treated and how the
products that we buy are created. For real change to take place, there has to be
enforceable laws that provide for rational and fair treatment in those countries. That is
how the U.S. had to do it. Historically the U.S. had garment factories that were
exploiting people but only when laws were enacted and enforced did this stop. It is a
human rights issue that many countries do not take seriously enough but they will need to
take it more seriously for any change to ever come about.
4/4/07
Stacy
I knew that the Chinese work ethic is different and that a lot of people there do not get
paid enough ...but this film in particular has really put reality in point blank range. I
was just completely stunned by what I was watching and the "story line" about the girl is
really what got me thinking. Living or should I say: Spending your teenage years like that
thinking that that is the best chance you might get ... ? Anybody that has watched this
show will know what I mean when I say:
"I am sure nobody would want to imagine this for themselves or their loved ones and those
people suffer like that because people like me and you want to save some change, rather
than MAKE A CHANGE!!! I will admit, I bought at least one Item today that was made in
China (really not even thinking about it then) but up until now I thought that buying
things from countries like that would help the people / they would get paid better etc.
but I'm glad in this case you where a real eye - opener because really it doesn't take but
a second to check the label maybe an hour longer at work to buy what you want because it's
a few $ more but think about what that means for them...! SPEAK UP !!!!!!!!!
4/4/07
Jake
Buffalo NY
Good piece. China Blue is unique in its depth. It is relevant to consumers everywhere,
especially those whom have more discretionary income. USA had similar Labor issues in the
early 1900's, perhaps a solution might be found in what worked here(USA). I liked that the
film remained objective, and allowed the viewer to consider the complex issues. Thank you
for the superb documentary. Good luck to Jasmine and her friends.
4/4/07
Wendy Anderson
Dallas, TX
OMG....that is horrible and that sad excuse for a man Factory Owner ought to be SHOT! How
dare he say he treats h is workers well and that he has to "keep them in line"!!! They are
just children, they should be doing things that children do! Please, PLEASE tell us who we
can contact and what can be done to STOP this!!! I cannot believe my favorite Jean Co was
mentioned, I am going to send them an email and let them know I will NEVER buy another
pair of their jeans as long as they are buying them from there!!!!
4/4/07
Becky Phillips
Crystal River, FL
I want to thank the makers for this film. It is a great service to all who love freedom.
It has given me information to make choices with. I will be paying much more attention to
where the products I buy come from. I will also try to think of ways I can go further and
advocate for human rights. I hope this film will be seen by our youth, to help them
understand their position in the global marketplace. Advertising has warped their
perceptions. Films like yours can help them see more clearly.
|
|
|
