books & environmental attention 18 Jul 2007 01:19 pm
Made In China
This experiment was interesting; I’d certainly pick the book up for a read, along the lines of Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses. Someone wondered something (how tied are we to a global economy?), gave it a deliberate try (live without things made in China for one year), to the end of a discovery (buying locally reduces your eco-footprint) and a book, (A Year Without “Made in China”: One Family’s True Life Adventure in the Global Economy).
The kids and I often talk (usually in the car) about the rise of China; they are particularly interested in China’s large military, girls being adopted in America, declining population, and control of our manufacturing. It’s complex, that’s for sure. For now, our focus has not be to avoid things made in China, mostly because they seem so umbiquitous that it would feel like an overwhelming task. Instead, we are buying them second-hand as much as possible so that at least we are changing our mindset from “disposable consumer goods”. It’s a baby step I suppose. But we’ve striven to eat locally for years and this year have given added focus to supporting local business; buying locally made products can not be far behind, ideologically speaking.
Here and there I’ve also read things about toxins and poisons commonly used in China’s manufacturing, lately showing up in the Thomas The Train recall, which directly affected our family. As they surpass us in Carbon Emisssions, it is yet another reminder of the future of America and China connection. Anyone else have any China concerns and the future?
on 19 Jul 2007 at 7:12 am 1.KMH said …
Hi. I have been reading your blog for a little while now. I’m working my way through the archives too. I received a Bloggers for Positive Global Change Award and wanted to pass it on to you.
Kim H
on 19 Jul 2007 at 7:50 am 2.CLM said …
I found your blog recently and have really enjoyed it.
After reading a short article written in the Christian Science Monitor about the “without China” experiment, I have tried to be mindful about buying any items made in China. It effects our economy both in terms of amount of goods imported and the amount of jobs lost here in the US. I have many other concerns about labor and environmental practices, not to mention the amount of energy used to ship goods halfway around the world. My pre-teen daughter is having a hard time with this idea, though I have not stopped buying everything that is made in China, she is now more limited in her selection of goods. Oh well…perhaps there is hope yet, my older daughter who I could barely get to clean her room now recycles everything!
on 19 Jul 2007 at 9:17 am 3.Anne said …
I agree, there are a iot of scares abut toxins added into items that come from China and I am glad that our family’s focus is on locally produced goods. Not sure why it is that we have to add fuel to the consumerist society. We live on less and we have more.
Items seemed to first come form Japan, then Korea, Taiwan and now China. What is wrong with locally produced stuff …..if you want stuff that is.
on 20 Jul 2007 at 3:36 pm 4.dalimama said …
Well, you asked about concerns with China and all I can hear ringing in my ear’s are my Mom’s words which basically are that China is full of men and has a large population. Eventually those men are not going to be happy with the scarcity of women in their country because there isn’t enough women for the number of men… that, coupled with the fact that China produces so much of what we buy, leads my Mom to believe that China will eventually want to perhaps start a war/take over the world/or something drastic like that and will have the man power and money to do at least something in that regard.
Is it paranoia? I don’t know.
on 10 Sep 2007 at 9:59 pm 5.Sixgunsue said …
No dali, it isn’t. Watch and wait. Just don’t buy the goods.
The thing I see everyday here in Ct is the little Chinese trophy babies being wheeled around the malls and parks. Their parents are so proud that they could afford to purchase..er.uh..SAVE a little Chinese girl, and also have a fabulous tour of the Great wall thrown in. Out here it’s a status symbol on many levels.Financial, social, etc.
But we are failing and ignoring the sweet children we have right here in our own backyards who need homes, just for the
“privilege” of being soaked by the Chinese Govt. for babies they don’t care about and aren’t being held accountable for murdering. We are enabling them to make a fat profit off unwanted goods.
AS IF children are a commodity. UUUGGGGHH! I see it every day, makes me crazy. If they don’t want them, give them to people who do. Not that I want babies to die but, when? When will we hold them accountable?