Vanguard | January 09, 2009 | 17 comments

Battle of Saipan- Trailer

Adam_Yamaguchi

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Once the ultimate globalization success story, the island of Saipan now faces one of the fastest economic collapses in history. After suffering a harsh history of military struggles as well as a temporary economic boom after becoming a U.S. commonwealth, the island now stands devastated. Scores of factories remain empty, rotting shopping centers litter the country, and former factory workers turn to the sex industry for survival. Adam Yamaguchi visits Saipan to document the rise and sudden collapse of a tiny piece of America.
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    Vanguard,   Vanguard : Battle of Saipan
  2. tags:
    Economy,  Immigration,  Globalization,  Vanguard Journalism,  3 more
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17 comments // Battle of Saipan- Trailer // Video

  • losttribe
    • 0
      losttribe  

    • This is a great piece. Shows the harsh reality of Globalization and Consumerism. Another great documentary on similar lines is "Life or Debt."

    • 3 years ago
  • Kylli
    • 0
      Kylli  

    • I think it was great people finally get to know the impact U.S. laws have on the chamorros and other territories.

    • 3 years ago
  • debg39
    • 0
      debg39  

    • As PixelFlip stated "I had no idea" until I watched this and wokeup! I gringe at what has become of US goods claiming "Made in USA"-not! Thank you Adam for showing us what we can't always see.

    • 3 years ago
  • nkeg87
    • 0
      nkeg87  

    • One of the many reasons I love Vanguard. 10 steps ahead of other media outlets and reporting things that are going to truly affect us. Cant wait

    • 3 years ago
  • bamboozled
    • 0
      bamboozled  

    • Very telling that he says "Reminds me of Detroit."

      You mean a major city in the "world's greatest country" is a good benchmark comparison for a third-world slum?

      I reckon these things are cyclical. Now that India and China are booming and the U.S. is turning third-world, we will become their garment factory.

      In around 100 years, our standard of living will be back. To where it was at the beginning of the industrial revolution.

    • 3 years ago
  • Perry8331
  • PIXELFLIP
  • prg
    • 0
      prg  

    • What is Wal-Mart, The Gap, Liz Claiborne, Eddie Bower, and all the other clothing industry folks going to do without their made in America slave labor? Oh dear!!

    • 3 years ago
  • elnawal
    • 0
      elnawal  

    • Wow, it looks really interesting, can't wait to see it.
      It seems to be a mini model of the actual big picture!!
      Scary!

    • 3 years ago
  • 316
    • 0
      316  
    • elnawal:

      This so called American Slave Labor happens every where sir. It happens especially in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam & the Philippines. These are the only places where these businesses can survived and not in the good ole USA anymore.

      That is why most of the industries here in USA are packing up and moving to other third countries because of it's cheap labor. Other countries such as France, Germany, United Kingdom & Italy are doing the same thing. I don't know why people are so critical of seeing these U.S businesses operating in the third world with cheap labor.

    • 3 years ago
  • Dmitri_Molotov
  • northerntouchblog
  • skittlebud
  • TabulaRasa
  • halestorm20

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