Life and death in Apple’s forbidden city • Hacker News Board

Re: Life and death in Apple’s forbidden city

#81

Post by icu » Sat, Aug 19, 2017, 7:43 PM UTC

simonh wrote: post #71

icu wrote: post #69

As consumers we have the power to vote with our wallet. I'm actually proud to say that the last Apple product I bought was the iPad generation 1 for these exact ethical reasons. I'd really encourage others to look at the companies they buy from and see if they align with your morals before making a purchase.

What phone and/or tablet do you use? Clients of Foxconn include Amazon, Microsoft, Cisco, HP, Dell, Huawei, Nintendo, Sony, Toshiba, Motorola, Blackberry and many more. They don't just make iPhones. Next time you look at an XBox or Switch, guess where it came from? Do you know that workers prefer to work on the Apple lines because Apple has greater say in the factory conditions than the other clients and pays the wor…

I use a Fairphone based on Ethical Consumer's research (http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/mobile/phonebroadband/mobilep...)

I still have my iPad Generation 1 as my use case for it is reading epub and pdfs and that hasn't changed since 2010. Also my ethical stance with regards too my consumerism is something I've been doing since 2014.

Granted my laptop is a Dell XPS 15 9550 and while the machine itself is very environmentally friendly Dell's ethical practices leave a lot wanting but so do the other ultrabook manufacturers. In my line of work I am often client facing therefore I need form and function. I'm at least aware of the trade off and my eyes are open with regards to whom I'm supporting with my money.

To answer your question about how far I go, I rely on Ethical Consumer a lot and my own internet searches before making a purchase. Of course I'm also on the lookout for reputable news articles that are focused on this area good or bad.

Re: Life and death in Apple’s forbidden city

#82

Post by icu » Sat, Aug 19, 2017, 7:58 PM UTC

peterburkimsher wrote: post #77

icu wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I'm trying to go to NZ because it's the fastest way for me to get Permanent Residency. I can't have kids until I get PR, because British-by-descent only goes one generation." Are you talking about passing on your British citizenship to a child born abroad? I'm interested to know how getting a New Zealand permanent residency helps?

Everywhere is "abroad". I have no connection to the UK. My girlfriend is from Taiwan. It's easier for me and her to go together to NZ than for me to take her to the UK. NZ PR is permanent - I can leave and go back any time. It also allows children born in NZ to get citizenship. Taiwanese or Canadian PR is not permanent - if you leave for a few years, you lose it. Therefore I would need to get citizenship before havin…

Yeah New Zealand is a fantastic country for raising a family... but I'm biased as someone who grew up there.

Having said that I personally think it is a low horizon trap for many entrepreneurs which is why I left.

In NZ there is a saying along the lines of, "entrepreneurs don't go further than the 3 B's: the Batch, the Beamer, and the Boat."

Re: Life and death in Apple’s forbidden city

#83

Post by simonh » Sat, Aug 19, 2017, 9:51 PM UTC

icu wrote: post #81

simonh wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What phone and/or tablet do you use? Clients of Foxconn include Amazon, Microsoft, Cisco, HP, Dell, Huawei, Nintendo, Sony, Toshiba, Motorola, Blackberry and many more. They don't just make iPhones. Next time you look at an XBox or Switch, guess where it came from? Do you know that workers prefer to work on the Apple lines because Apple has greater say in the factory conditions than the other clients and pays the wor…

I use a Fairphone based on Ethical Consumer's research ( http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/mobile/phonebroadband/mobilep... ) I still have my iPad Generation 1 as my use case for it is reading epub and pdfs and that hasn't changed since 2010. Also my ethical stance with regards too my consumerism is something I've been doing since 2014. Granted my laptop is a Dell XPS 15 9550 and while the machine itself is very environ…

Well, personally I have no problem supporting highly sought after jobs in China, and industries that have helped raise hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and transformed the country into a modern advanced nation. If you'd seen what China was like the first time I went in 2001 and saw it again today, you might understand.

Re: Life and death in Apple’s forbidden city

#84

Post by icu » Sun, Aug 20, 2017, 10:31 AM UTC

simonh wrote: post #83

icu wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use a Fairphone based on Ethical Consumer's research ( http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/mobile/phonebroadband/mobilep... ) I still have my iPad Generation 1 as my use case for it is reading epub and pdfs and that hasn't changed since 2010. Also my ethical stance with regards too my consumerism is something I've been doing since 2014. Granted my laptop is a Dell XPS 15 9550 and while the machine itself is very environ…

Well, personally I have no problem supporting highly sought after jobs in China, and industries that have helped raise hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and transformed the country into a modern advanced nation. If you'd seen what China was like the first time I went in 2001 and saw it again today, you might understand.

Yes I've been to China and in a way I supported China's growth by founding a sunglasses marketing and distribution company when i was 18 that grew exceptionally well in New Zealand (50% market share for under $20 price point).

Our manufactures were in Guangzhou and Xiamen.

One thing that struck me when I was in China once was that human life didn't seem as valued as in the West. This planted a seed that had a profound influence on my thinking.

At that time I didn't think about ethics in our supply chain, my focus was solely on survival and then growth... but as I've gotten older I've seen how that's part of the problem. Consumers generally don't see the whole picture and they largely don't care. The theory goes if consumers did start to care, and changed their purchasing habits accordingly, the whole supply chain would be forced to change.