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Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#431

Post by TheKarateKid »

powerapple wrote: post #188

1) Is there a shortage of labour in China? 2) Why do you setup a factory in areas far away from other factory and transport the components far away to Shenzhen assemble and export? 3) Were these workers paid? And were they paid fairly? I can understand the situation. The Chinese government is trying to improve the economy in Xinjiang and encouraged companies to setup factories there. Ruled by a communist government,…

Please re-write your comment in the same vein, except this time about Pre World War 2 Germany and Hitler, and let me know if you have the balls to hit the submit button.

Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#432

Post by cutemonster »

nobodyandproud wrote: post #270

I’ve minimized my consumption of meat over the years, because the way we treat animals in the factory farms is too cruel. It’s not perfect, because I eat dairy and eggs which introduce their own set of cruelty. Likewise, I’m severely disappointed by Apple. I’ve switched from Android to iPhone because I like Apple’s stance on privacy. I’m extremely bothered that Apple with its resource is not lobbying to change the pl…

Maybe you'd be interested in a Fairphone

Another vegetarian here btw; I also didn't go all the way to becoming a vegan

Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#433

Post by jimbob45 »

christophilus wrote: post #226
fhrow4484 wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if a phone is made 100% in US or Europe, the raw materials for it like Cobalt is probably not immune to other types of human rights abuse: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/dec/16/a... https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/oct/12/p...

Sadly true. Years ago, I watched a brutal documentary on a mine where the life expectancy of the workers was insanely short. Their primary industrial clients were electronics manufacturers. I don’t know what I can do, though, as programming is my living. I like the suggestion of always buying used goods. But obviously, a secondary market still encourages the primary market. It’s not a perfect solution.

Just take care of what you own and don’t needlessly buy additional electronics.

Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#434

Post by say_it_as_it_is »

henvic wrote: post #426
say_it_as_it_is wrote: post #218

There's a Netflix documentary about the garlic industry where among other concerns journalists reveal that peeled garlic from China is the product of prison slave labor. Many of the prisoners work their hands raw and continue to cut garlic ends with their teeth. Prisoners have a daily quota with punishment for not meeting it. I haven't come across peeled garlic that wasn't from China or was unlabeled. So, I stopped b…

Thanks for the insight. Do you have a great reference? https://www.ft.com/content/1416a056-833b-11e7-94e2-c5b903247... might be a reference.

Netflix show "Rotten", Season 1, Episode "Garlic Breath". It's been a hotly contested episode. I haven't seen any debate about the peeled garlic, though.

Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#435

Post by jkestner »

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #405
jkestner wrote: post #210

As long as I have to buy products built on human rights violations, I wish someone could sell me the equivalent of carbon offset credits.

You can do that. There are charities that literally buy slaves in order to free them. Be aware, though, that there are people who criticize such practices as 1) accepting and giving legitimacy to the concept of slavery, and 2) increasing the demand, which tempts others to find ways to increase the supply. Personally, I don't find the first argument convincing. The second I could see being a legitimate concern. https:…

I can understand that. I was thinking more along the lines of helping people break out of the conditions that force them into terrible work environments, though of course the nature of that depends on the country. Could be anything from direct cash payments to funding education or groups working to change policy. I just want to be able to pay for all the externalities, but it's extremely hard to know where the issues are let alone the people equipped to address them, for each item.

Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#436

Post by raffraffraff »

geodel wrote: post #319
izacus wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple's supply chain is more than 1,000 companies. Do you really think Apple has the expertise and personnel to replicate what 1,000 companies have spent decades mastering? Not likely. As one of the richest corporations on the planet which always smugly tells everyone how nice they are and how much they respect people? Yes, fuck yes. They're not a mom and pop shop. They're a corporation that finds millions to lobby…

> As one of the richest corporations on the planet .. Huh, they are richest because they are not swamped with mass manufacturing and all issues that come with it.

As the Daleks put it, "EXTERNALIZE!"

Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#437

Post by [deleted] »

duxup wrote: post #56

I fault companies like Apple for doing business with companies who do these things. But I'm not sure if anything changes if local governments aren't interested in stopping it (or actually support it) either. Markets don't care about human rights... and if the local government supports this (in this case China, but other places too). I don't see how this ever changes.

[deleted]

Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#438

Post by mrkstu »

diebeforei485 wrote: post #172
mrkstu wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, switch to an actual Chinese phone then? About the only 'safe' phone would be a Samsung phone, but the likelihood that some parts are still sourced from un-vetted Chinese parts supplier is high. Apple is far from perfect, but they do more than 99% of manufacturers. Even the most 'woke' fashion brands are now having to deal with the fact that much of their cotton is coming from Uyghur forced labor. I applaud this k…

Samsung is one of Lens Technology's biggest customers, according to the New York Times[1]. This is the company in today's report , so I'm not sure why you think Samsung is safe. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/business/international/ho...

So you're making my point for me? Even the most vertically integrated manufacturer, who tries to avoid Chinese dependencies for strategic reasons, can't avoid it.

Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#439

Post by [deleted] »

whiddershins wrote: post #245

I flagged this article and I really would urge everyone to actually read it before commenting. I am very very concerned about China’s disregard for human rights, and I believe continuing to do business with CCP controlled companies is immoral. That said, this is unsubstantiated accusations against Apple, which Apple directly contradicts. I believe Apple has a lot of leverage and resources and probably doesn’t want to…

[deleted]

Re: Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China

#440

Post by nobodyandproud »

cutemonster wrote: post #432
nobodyandproud wrote: post #270

I’ve minimized my consumption of meat over the years, because the way we treat animals in the factory farms is too cruel. It’s not perfect, because I eat dairy and eggs which introduce their own set of cruelty. Likewise, I’m severely disappointed by Apple. I’ve switched from Android to iPhone because I like Apple’s stance on privacy. I’m extremely bothered that Apple with its resource is not lobbying to change the pl…

Maybe you'd be interested in a Fairphone Another vegetarian here btw; I also didn't go all the way to becoming a vegan

When Arstechnica reviewed it last year, it was only available in Europe.

I’ll keep a lookout.

Edit: It’s manufactured in China, so there’s still a risk and it’s still supporting an authoritarian government.

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