 |
|
|
|
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? >>
05/15/2009
JLO
New York, NY
The problem is that labor costs and regulations in first world countries are excessively high and too strict driving up the cost of clothing which the ordinary public cannot afford to buy. This forces manufacturers to look for more cost effective means to produce their goods. I've known many factory owners in New York who flourished in the late 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's, but to ultimately close shop due to tightening profit margins and high operating costs. Some of these factory owners have even reverse immigrated to China and other countries to set up shop. WOW what a double whammy! We not only lost the manufacturer but also the domestic factory owner to another country. Also, what about all the unemployed domestic factory workers? So who is to blame???? Hmmmm.
05/15/2009
JLO
New York, NY
It is a "catch 22" situation. If you boycott the clothes made in cheaper global markets in hopes of better conditions for workers, manufacturers will just go to another country. The result? No jobs and no work and thus making a bad situation even worst. Yes, I agree the situation is ugly, but then again in the minds of impoverished migrant workers, its better to have work than no work at all. I think to relieve some of the injustices, perhaps inspections should be done more on a "surprise" basis as oppose to an announced basis.
4/4/07
San Francisco, CA
Thank you. Communication, and exposure of very real and human realities are what change
thinking from impossible change, to possible new solutions. The more people see alternate
realities, not fantasies, the more they have to align it with their own, and the human
spirit WANTS to create a new vision that would work practically in the existing world.
Keep at it.
I think that the English buyer shouldn't have had so much sway with the police chief boss
on lowering the prices just because they were late last time...Business can be
cutthroat/savvy, and still obey human rights conditionals. Seems like many factors go into
their production rate, and low/non-existent wages, threating graffiti in the workplace,
and other 'abusive' motivators are not just country and class-related. They seem to be
chiefly personality-motivated by the boss' own way of operating his business and his
personal relating skills. And boundry setting, respecting, etc. Bad businessmen, in
efficacy and morality, exist everywhere, but it is up to the consumers to set the pace by
what they will pay for and what they won't.
Is there a way (?) to list on a website EVERY known manufacturer in China, or other
places, too--the name of the factory, the owner/operator, who they sell to, and the number
of employees...Word of mouth can be a powerful start. Sometimes, just putting an initial
identity to the supply end of what we Americans consume makes us, and the world, more
invested in the rights and well-being of other country-men, where it can be
regulated/observed. There are plenty of travesties in the world that can't be made public/
held accountable, but certainly the ones that can, through dollar-tracking what-have-you,
really just need a contextual reference point to begin with.
4/4/07
Frances Hixenbaugh
Tulsa Oklahoma
It was difficult to keep back the tears watching those poor girls work as long as 20 hours
a day===all so people around the world can wear jeans. Well, if I had to go naked, I would
never, never buy a pair of jeans AT ANY STORE. I shall tell family members who DO wear
jeans about this documentary. We should all protest to any company who sells jeans, about
the working conditions in these sweat=shop countries. And we as Americans, if we consider
ourselves moral people, should take an active stance on this. If I could donate money to
alleviate these horrible working conditions, I would. But where? I buy very little
clothing because i don't have a great deal of money. This documentary makes me want to go
naked!
4/4/07
Edward
United States
Wow, I can't believe modern day slavery exists. I knew of sweatshops and such but to see
it live was not only heart breaking but as a human, very shameful.
4/4/07
DANNY
TEXAS
HOW ABOUT A PIECE ON OTHER COUNTRIES, WORKING THEIR EMPLOYEES, LONG HOURS, FOR SO LITTLE.
MEXICO, ETC, HARD TO BELIEVE IN THIS DAY AND AGE WHY ARE YOUNG GIRLS AND BOYS DOING
WORKING, THEY
SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL, SHAME ON THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANYS THAT EMPLOY THESE WORKERS, PAYING
THEM SO LITTLE, AND THEY HAVE SO MUCH, I SAY WE BOYCOTT BUYING BLUEJEANS, I WISH JASMINE
WELL, HOW CAN WE HELP HER, CAN WE HELP HER?
4/4/07
Kishore
California
Are there brands which are not guilty of these practices? Can we protest by not wearing
jeans? Will jobs be lost in China (more hardship) on account of reducing demand due to the
protest? What option do we have? Lots of questions but very very difficult answers. We
have celebrities endorsing PETA but I haven't heard of any support for PETH.
4/4/07
Charles Moscatello
Walnut Creek, CA
I was able to watch the last 20-30 min of the show. Information like this needs to be
broadcast over and over and over, until the only thing you can think about when buying
clothing is WHO MADE THIS!! It REALLY made me sad to see Jasmine dealing with such poor
living conditions and working conditions. Not even being able to see her family during the
new year. The boss really *issed me off when he started talking about the criminal
tendencies of some of his employees, really showed what a hypocrite he was.
4/4/07
Heidi Kray
Sonoma, Ca
I watch documentaries like this one and I'm moved to do something, but I don't know what
to do! If you could please provide information on what we can do to put a stop to this
(i.e. Which companies should we buy from? Petitions, a mailing address to send letters,
e-mail... etc.) it would be very much appreciated. Thank you for making this information
known.
4/4/07
David Deutsch
San Francisco, CA
Are there jeans that are produced more fairly? If so, I'd gladly pay substantially more
for them. What resources are available for finding fairly produced jeans and supporting
those practices?
4/4/07
Rich
Sarasota, FL
I was shocked to see such harassment not only of workers but 14 year old worked to death
for no money workers! I want to do something about this crap. The intimidation of the
workers with that sign that read; "if you do not work hard today you will be searching
hard for a job tomorrow" turns my gut. Walmart and every buyer in America and other
countries needs to held accountable PUBLICLY. If anyone wants to assign me a task please
email me. By the way. keep up the great consciousness film making. Rmsulli3@mail.usf.edu
4/3/07
Elizabeth Reynolds
Simsbury, CT 06070
While appreciating the views of shows exposing such horrific conditions as Chinese (and
other) sweatshops, I have yet to learn how to find, e.g.,jeans, which are an appropriate
part of my daily life, not a fashion statement, and which are made by companies using fair
labor and wage practices, and for which I might therefore pay a reasonable, if not the
lowest, price. Perhaps what is needed is more focus on such positive aspects of an issue,
putting pressure on retailers so they find that dealing with such manufacturers is not
worth their while. I believe this is part of the community engagement you refer to.
4/3/07
Janice E. Cox
West Boylston MA 01583
I found the China Blue piece shocking and a read eye opener. My first reaction was to
email the CEO's of Guess? Levi etc. to express my disapproval. The piece would have quite
an impact if you would please PROVIDE THE EMAIL ADDRESSES within the script. Maybe, just
MAYBE, it would help facilitate change if these unethical companies were inundated with
emails from caring Americans. Thanks for your good work.
2/23/07
Lavinia
Romania
Incredible, what can I say???Modern slavery, this is what it is...my question is WHAT CAN
WE DO ABOUT IT?? Not buying China made things is a solution.....WHAT ABOUT JASMINE? For me
she is the heroine of the entire film...what happened with her? It is not possible that we
all see the movie, we all agree that this is monstrous reality, and than go back , sleep
tight, imagine that Jasmine is some Hollywood actress who is fine where she is...WELL SHE
IS NOT....It is true that we can't save the world.....but at least let's try to help
her..she deserve a better chance....she deserves good education...she deserves to achieve
her dream of writing... For me ''China blue'' is Jasmine. Where is she gone?? Where have
we lost her???? Is she just some part of a statistics......If so....we don't deserve to be
called humans....
|
|
|
