TV Schedule

Boycotting China harder than you think


  3. Foraggio
  4. related topics
As the Beijing Olympics approach faster than Ben Johnson on the juice, people around the world continue to cry foul over China's record on human rights and the situation in Tibet.

Yet how many of them can truly say they're doing their bit to change the situation?

If you've protested, take an inventory of the everyday things you own and use, and then vow to replace or remove all those that were manufacutred in China. I guarantee some of your favourite things will be in there - iPod is on my list.

Maybe we should protesting in our own backyards in order to get trade out of China by lobbying the big companies that see fit to move their manufacturing to its shores.
Foraggio

21 responses // Boycotting China harder than you think

  • The toughest thing about this is that to companies, our actions speak MUCH louder than our words. We can cry and beg that they start more production here but until they see the dollar flow drop, they're not going to worry much. It's the boy who cried wolf, we always threaten, but as a society, we just can't do it.
    Simply, we either step up and stop buying cheap chinese goods and replace them with higher cost, "Made in USA" goods or we do the same thing the businesses are doing, looking out for your own personal best interest, ignoring subtle, indirect things that "I really can't change anyway."
    In short, you're not too far off, but lobbying does very little until revenues are truely threatened.
    nimby
  • If you look at the big picture, it gets overwhelming. You must start with one thing at a time. For instance, think " children's toys with high lead content". If we just started there, the impact would be tremendous. An avalanche is made up of millions of tiny snowflakes.

    One small act will send a message.

    Andromeda
    andromeda
  • it's not the snowflake that makes the avalanche, it's the momentum. we would need to let the gravity of our belief work by gathering the flakes (no pun intended) and naturally letting the movement advance on its own.

    but it does start with one flake.
    pressrecord
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here and here
    It's a viscious cycle. By boycotting Chinese goods you are in turn boycotting U.S. companies who produce there, and in turn you're causing more pain on the U.S. economy by not consuming. I agree with the protest however boycotts, protests, and strikes always hurt both sides.
    StuntBunny
  • It is all connected, we cannot kid ourselves into thinking that buying goods made in countries other than China do not have some sort of originating component or material that came out of or through China in the first place. All we can really do is be as aware as possible about what, where and how we consume. Consumption of ALL goods, regardless of origin or material, affects us all.
    briaz861
  • http://current.com/items/88902862_undercover_in_tibet
    Watch this documentary called "Undercover In Tibet", then tell me a boycott is not worth it.
    uroborus8
  • Anything that can be done to bring positive change to this situation would be great, the idea of a boycott is nice, to even begin to make a dent in this, the first question that needs to be addressed in the US is when will the Walmarts be closed?
    briaz861
  • If only there were a way to protest a deranged and dangerous government without boycotting the Olympics. Hmmmmm...
    huntre
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here, here and here
    theres nothing really good to come of a chinese boycott from america. the chinese investors are the only reason our economy hasn't completely fallen apart and our dollar is only dropping slowly instead of like a rock.
    diode
  • http://current.com/items/88897990_dude_where_s_my_torch
    Check out this amazing Current pod about when the torch landed in the United States in a small city you might know called San Francisco, CA. Let the drama begin!
    woodywoodbeck
  • This whole thing is frustrating. My personal solution will be to take Mandarin classes at my local JC. Good luck world!
    Erio
  • i've tried learning mandarin...german, french and spanish were much easier. mandarin, japanese and russian are on my to do list but each of those are a long process
    diode
  • http://www.dailymantra.com/2008/04/junk_wars_china_now_...
    Another reason to give China a hard time. They're now the planet's number one polluters.
    AndreaKnoll
  • LOL... where has everyone been for these past few years and decades, this just seems to have snuck up on everyone...?
    briaz861
  • " The 10 major watersheds formed by the mountains above the high Tibetan plateau spread water throughout Asia, serving nearly 47 percent of the world's population. Although this vast volume of water is created mostly in Tibet, only 1 percent of it is used by Tibetans."

    This is what all this comes down to. China frees Tibet, and at least a billion people will be begging for water.
    We can yell out "Free Tibet" all we want, but until China can find away to divert the Tibetan water sources to it's backyard, no ones being set free. It's the sad reality of things.

    http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/08/480D32D5-6...
    Neghie
  • This cartoon illustrates the idea perfectly
    mostro
  • We don't really need most of the 'everyday things' that come from China. Our landfills are overflowing with 'cheap stuff' from China that we throw away within months.
    patsarts
  • everyone just needs to take a look at where their stuff is made. My macbook may come from California, but it was assembled in China. It is a vicious circle, that will take a lot to change!
    christina71
  • It is common sense that the reason China has become so powerful is because of how much the rest of the world relies on it economically. Everything we buy bears the lable "Made in China". Not only is it unsafe because of the high amount of lead in their products but also it is unethical that we are so reliant on a country that promotes genocide and violence. Promote change when it is within your power. Change comes from doing your part to stop injustice.

    --Jade
    addctd2whticnsay
  • why u ppl suddenly care so much about the tibet monks? go visit your local government projects/ghettos. is there anything u can do to change that? maybe u can 'f***' tibet, but the life of many american is still messed up.

    if u are rich, u can boycott anything u want. i am sure the dalie lama can boycott anything coz his bank account is much bigger than yours.
    http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=lL2jF0NuZYs&watch
    bbbbq555
  • ouch, such language.

    The reason the tibetan monks are being killed is because they are they are saying what china is doing is wrong. Plus half of us on this site arent rich and cant boycott everything and anything. Plus why be so judgemental, you dont know us and what we have done to try to better the lives of those in our areas

    --jade. But I do agree that not much is being done here. However tone down the anger. Por favor y Gracias.
    addctd2whticnsay

Add your response

Login/Registration is required to add a response.