Perserverance!

Book launch helps charity

This is definitely going to be an event to remember.  How many authors use the launch of their new books to provide funds for charities?
This book APOK, written by an active member of the OPP, primarily while he was convalescing from what could have been a fatal injury and suffering a severe concussion in the process, is being launched on May 26, 2013 in Barrie.
While the paper reporting the launch contains some errors, one being that the author is a former OPP officer, the gist of the story is correct.
Visit the authors page http://www.apok.ca/ or the link for the newspaper to view the details.
What would you do if you were forced into complete inactivity for a prolonged period?  

Are You Contributing to Slavery?

It's sad to think of the Bangladeshi factory workers who died in the factory collapse recently.  Common practices within the garment industry in the East include things we would never tolerate in the West. 

They live, on next to slave-like wages and in squalid living conditions, required to work as much overtime as needed without proper compensation, - if you can call their regular wage proper.  Nor are they given sick days off, provided with proper accommodation or child care as legislated by their government.  Locked gates and doors keep workers in and anyone who may want to inspect the factory, out!

It's common, to avoid paying maternity leave benefits (90 days) if a woman became pregnant, she would be dismissed due to short term contracts provided by employers, geared to ensure workers remain compliant to the factory owner's demands. 

All of this happens because a design house has to get their products made and aren't willing to ensure those who produced them are equitably treated or fairly compensated; to say they don't know what's going on isn't a valid excuse.  Even if they don't know the conditions of the factory, accommodations, wages - they know the amount they are paying per garment to be produced and they know they could never get them made in Canada or the USA for that price!  I know, I have been shopping and thought, 'I could never make it for that price.'    

So, what can we do?  We do hold the power, whether you know it or not! 

First, designers who have their product made in sweat shops should be avoided.  Yes, I know that would knock out a great percentage of designers out of the running. 

Second, look up a local seamstress or tailor and ask them, how much it would cost to have a product made.  This gives you an idea of overall cost, which would include, fabrics, time, fittings etc. Fittings?  You would never get fittings for your product in most stores for free.  

Third, let your favourite designers know of your displeasure with their see no evil, hear no evil approach. These are probably the worst offenders.  Designer products are not inexpensive, so, where is all that money going?  Certainly, it is not the worker.  If they know that they are going to lose their clientele due to human rights issues, they may re-think their manufacturing processes.   

And finally, let your legislators know.  Tariffs are regularly charged by governments on products where the price is not competitive, revealing their maybe either the other government is providing subsidies or possible unethical business practices are involved.  After all, hypothetically, if it costs a manufacturer $2 for fabric and it can be cut, sewn, shipped and end up in the stores for $5, that's a bit of a red light isn't it?