Wal-Mart Christmas or Children’s Sweatshop

Anyone who has seen the documentary, Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, knows that this company is a social parasite and the horrible things it has done to communities and working people the world over.

In an effort to counter act the negative image that Wal-Mart has suffered in recent years, the company launched a new ad campaign with the slogan “Life is pricey. Wal-Mart isn’t.” These advertisements show likable characters, in comical situations searching for the perfect Christmas gift. Unfortunately this warm and fuzzy image of the holiday spirit only exists in the ad campaign and the conditions under which the workers in China produce goods for Wal-Mart are dehumanizing.

Recently, a group of Chinese labourors managed to sneak out video footage and images of young children working upwards of 15 hour days to produce the Christmas ornaments sold at Wal-Mart stores. These children are being paid only $0.26/hour which is significantly lower than the legal minimum wage (0.55/hour) for their efforts and MUST sign a so-called voluntary agreement to work 7 days a week. Workers daring to take Sunday off are docked 2 ½ day’s wages as punishment. And if you thought it couldn’t get worse, it does, most of these workers are routinely cheated out of 25% of their already sub par earnings.

Something to think about when choosing where to spend your money.

Reference:
1) A Wal-Mart Christmas – Brought to You by a Sweatshop in China (I apologize that this links to a slow loading site.)
2) No-one Makes You Shop at Wal-Mart

International Human Rights Day - December 10

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the International Declaration on Human Rights. It is amazing to me that all these years later not only are terrible human rights violations are taking place all over the world we are seeing the erosion of existing rights in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.


Under the auspicious of Homeland security and the so-called War on Terror governments have convinced people to willingly giving up their rights out of fear. But where is this fear coming from? How imminent is the threat? And at what point does this fear become debilitating?


Fear is an interesting thing. The best way to control anyone is to make sure they are afraid. The governments of the day are using the same tactics that are used in any abusive relationship, keep the abused afraid and convince them that the abuse is for their own good.


Every time the United States population starts to relax miraculously another "terrorist alert" surfaces. I keep hoping at some point the American public will catch on... but then again it is much easier to see as an outsider not blinded by fear.