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Trading Away the Health of Our Children
These days my two-year-old son's favorite word is why. Usually I have very reasonable explanations. But when he asked me recently why I was taking away his beloved Thomas the Tank trains, I had no simple answer. After some thought, I told him there was something in the trains that could hurt him, and that it was no longer safe for him to play with them. As he gazed mournfully at his confiscated trains, he asked, "But why?"Why, indeed? In the last few months alone we have recalled wooden trains, Elmo, Dora the Explorer and now Batman. Mattel, the largest toy manufacturer in the world, recently announced another recall -- over 18 million toys worldwide, 9 million in the United States alone -- the second time in just two weeks their toys subjected to a massive recall.
Some of the recalled toys contain small magnets that can come loose and puncture internal organs of children if swallowed, causing serious injury or death. Others were painted with lead which can cause brain damage or behavioral development problems with repeated physical exposure or if swallowed.
That the recalled items are coming from China makes it tempting to simply blame the Chinese and boycott the "Made in China" label. However, U.S. corporations did not outsource millions of domestic jobs overseas because they thought they would get better manufacturing quality - the jobs were outsourced so that products could be made more quickly, more cheaply and with fewer of the environmental and labor regulations important to U.S. consumers. In the race for ever-cheaper markets and the lack of meaningful regulatory standards, subcontractors in China are merely doing what the global economy demands of them - manufacture products on the fly for pennies.
So whom do we blame?
While elected officials and CEO's wring their hands in dismay and call for increased oversight, the reality is that powerful business interests and the politicians who do their bidding have been peddling trade agreements for years that actually limit government's ability to engage in any meaningful import inspections. In fact, trade rules do not allow for higher rates of inspection for products that come from outside of the U.S. than they do for domestic products. Why? Because under the twisted logic of free trade, to do so would be to discriminate against the exporting country, thereby creating a "trade barrier".
In the China toy scenario, for example, even if the U.S. government ultimately decided to enforce stricter inspection measures because of the high incidence of these toys entering the country, China could slap the U.S. with a trade suit claiming that those measures were a barrier to trade and a violation of trade rules. If the suit were upheld, it would mean that the U.S. would be forced to roll back the regulations or risk a heavy fine.
And what about onsite quality standards? On whose watch was lead-based paint used by the vendor in China? Mattel is a multi billion-dollar company, and they don't have enough resources to ensure that lead is not used in the toys they make? No system of double and triple checking? As a mother, I can't even walk out the door without going over my list twice. Keys? Check. Diapers? Check. Snacks? Check. The truth is, these corporations don't want to know. In spite of voluntary codes of conduct and global manufacturing principles that look great on paper, what they really want is to not get caught. Corporations are the driving force behind a globalized system that values economic indicators - financial wealth, rising stocks and high levels of production - over public health, human rights, and the environment.
Recalled toys are just the tip of the iceberg -while the debate about goods coming in from other countries rages on, we have seen recalls on products as varied as toothpaste, pet food, drinking glasses and candles.
On the news lately, there has been story after story about parents frantically clawing through toy boxes in search of recalled toys. Information runs on the screen about what parents can do: where to get your child tested for lead; where to check on the toys for manufacturing numbers; how to dispose of or return the toys. But the threat is much larger than just these toys. Unregulated corporate power and free-trade deals that paralyze corrective action are putting public interests at risk. As parents we need to have a voice in what drives the global economic system. There are pending trade deals with several countries, including Panama, South Korea, Columbia and Peru being negotiated in Congress right now seeking further expansion of these short-sighted free-trade rules. It is time to tell Congress that enough is enough. The safety of our children is simply non-negotiable.
Anna Blackshaw is the mother of a two-year old son and a freelance writer and photographer who lives outside of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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15 Comments so far
Show AllIsn't corporate greed great?
I seem to remember unionists attempting to warn about these 'unexpected' consequences' of free-trade and globalization.
You do remember unions, don't you?
I hope it is not too late to rein in the power that corporations have bought from our so-called representatives in Congress for the last 30 years
As for every penny Mattel loses, I am happy. It serves the right for putting price as the only criteria. It serves them right for off shoring. There is one Vermont toy company whose sales are up as parents replace their kids toys with made in America.
Bring manufacturing back to where the products are sold. Pay people well enough so they can afford to buy the products they make. Henry Ford did all right with the philosophy.
Valid points but at the end of the day it's all about supply and demand. If there wasn't such a pathological demand for cheap goods in the US then these companies could never get away with treating consumers (and workers) as they do. As consumers, we have to take responsibility for our role in allowing these type of things to happen and it's not rocket science - there's never been any mystery about why production takes place in China and who benefits from it. Why do Americans need so much stuff? How about consuming less but of better quality? We can't continue to consume so much and expect there to be quality, safety and fairness. It's just not possible.
If Iran had sold us the toys, then this would be an act of terrorism.
Think of what cheap products have done lately. Killed our dogs, our cats. Remember the petfood made in china. How about the toothpaste with anti-freeze in it? Let's not forget our dear corporate thugs make lots of money off of slaves, and we too lazy to look anywhere else for goods, dutifully go to Walmart and readily buy poison. For the sake of the American worker, for the sake of workers worldwide, and for the sake of Tibet, boycott China.
Bravo! Wind In The Trees
So many progressives (don't get me wrong...I'm not for lead paint) love to get up in arms about everything the government and corporations are supposed to be doing for us!
I agree that, by and large, they're thieves, but there is also every indication that the provision to everyone of excellent quality health care, clean transportation, excellent nutrition, higher education, all of the other trappings of our inflated standard of living is simply beyond sustainability.
These things are called "rights" but ultimately we are still just animals living off the limited resources of this planet, and the Earth may not be able to provide all we're asking for.
Politicians and CEOs may put themselves forward as the guarantors of these "rights". 50 years ago, when we were all ignorant about the limits to growth on Earth, this may have seemed reasonable, but now, we are fools if we believe them, for even if their intentions were honest, they cannot guarantee our health, safety, and wealth! No one can!
To my dear friend shankari25:
A very disingenious attack on China. Evidently you didn't read the article very carefully and were just looking for another reason to bash China.
As the writer clearly asks, "So whom do we blame?" referring to the cheap labour U.S. corporations find in China. And when China smartens up (as it's doing now) then it'll be India or Africa next providing the cheap labour for U.S. corporations.
It'd be far more accurate to say boycott the U.S. for the sake of the WORLD.
And as some posters here imply, maybe americans should boycott 'themselves' to save America (and the world!).
You forgot someone to blame. How about yourself. You chose to buy cheap toys. Come on!! Didn't a tiny, wintsy little voice in your head say: "how can they make this Thomas the Tank so cheap?" Didn't give it a second thought, I bet.
The great thing is there are plenty of great local, ethical and quality toy makers...and food processors...and farmers....and coffee shops. And get ready, because there are more coming.
Support local business: don't buy the crap. Low prices usually means cut corners. Open your eyes.
You will see more scandals and more recalls; the only alternative to buy local. Go today to your local farmers market and buy local food.
DEATH TO WALMART
A few additional thoughts, as this topic really encompasses much more than toys... the pet food industry in the US is totally unregulated! Basically, the companies making pet "food" are free to use any ingredients they choose. There's a book called "Food Pets Die For" which clearly details exactly what is being used as ingredients. It's somewhat horrifying.
Furthermore, the perfume industry is also entirely unregulated! Simply bottles of synthetic chemicals of which many have never been tested for safety. This includes air fresheners! Dangerous chemicals - plain and simple.
And cleaning products? Same story - made up of so many synthetic chemicals but because they are sitting on market shelves we assume they are safe. Absolutely untrue.
The responsibility falls on us consumers whether it be for toys, perfume, pet food, floor wash or certain laundry detergents: if we refuse to purchase these products then companies will discontinue them. As stated before - it's not rocket science! Companies like Mattel are about maximising profit (whatever happened to just making a happy, healthy profit?!!) so if product X doesn't sell they'll discontinue it. Supply and demand people, supply and demand. Alternatives for responsible, sustainable consumption are out there everywhere - you just have to be curious enough to find them and care passionately enough about the future of this planet and its inhabitants to commit yourself to change.
What struck me in the TV coverage I saw, was the excess of toys -- roomsful -- in America's homes. Can this be right? Children have dozens of every toy there is? In a world where so many millions of children and families want for sufficient calories in a day, our children have more toys than they can play with in a lifetime. And don't tell me they "play with them all." A few, good quality toys are all a child needs at a time. Let their imaginations use their toys to invent new games to play with them, rather than to imitate the latest cartoon or movie story they watched on TV. If we focused on providing quality "toys" for our children, we wouldn't have to worry that the toys be cheap so that we can by more, and more, and more. Just as we fill our guts with junk food to the point of obesity, we're filling our homes with junk toys that don't nourish our children's imaginations or creativity.
A ludicrous idea in this country is that their is some kind of Government oversight that will intervene for the most basic of needs. The Government is owned by corporations, this is the key to understanding why you don't live in a Democracy.
There are many people in this country who struggle to survive, to pay their bills, to buy medicine. The 3rd world is here and it's right now, let's not forget this. In one person's house (they work for Perot Systems for example, which part owns the NIAID) you have splendor and food and toys from China, that happen to be lead coated. In someone else's house that you won't see on TV you see squalor, sick children and lack of clean water, both are here in the USA.
It is the people elected to government in this country who have failed. Their oath of office and duties should have caused them to have installed an effective regulation and inspection program for all products. They have NO EXCUSE.
As citizens we need to fire the elected officials who are responsible at the next election. We have no excuse.
Ask yourself if you know how your representatives voted on these issues.
Whats the big stink about lead???? Lead will only affect one generation of children! Just wait for all the new nuclear power plants coming your way courtesy of Cheney's clandetine energy policy that will affect your children's children's children's, children's, children's, children, and then some.
Our concept of childhood is being redefined, against our very will. I wasn't able to recreate anything close to my childhood experiences for my children. Not that these experiences in themselves were so valuable but that they were a vital part of childhood. But the TV and moving to the suburbs allowed for a different kind of childhood. In our attempts to protect their physical well-being we made them afraid. You can't really enjoy childhood if you are afraid.
Hoa binh
luketemp August 17th, 2007 4:42 pm
"50 years ago, when we were all ignorant about the limits to growth on Earth"
Not so fast!
The Conference of Governors met on May 13-15, 1908 to discuss this problem as it related to industry and natural resources in the United States.
President Theodore Roosevelt was very concerned with this topic.
http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/PS1908Roosevelt.pdf
TR was not just interested in parks as our history teachers taught us. He understood the sustainability problem and was concerned about future generations.
I also wonder if Henry David Thoreau and some native Americans also had an understanding of sustainability.