From the Tibetan news website:
Latest threat from China: Toxic Clothes?
Here's a good reason to wash new clothes before putting them on infants and children: A New Zealand television station is reporting that "scientists found formaldehyde in woolen and cotton clothes at 500 times higher than is safe."
UK trading standards are on alert after Chinese-made clothes in New Zealand were discovered to have up to 900 times the safe level of formaldehyde in them. Formaldehyde is used to protect clothes that have to be shipped great distances against mildew. However, long-term exposure to high levels can be harmful, causing problems ranging from minor skin rashes to some types of cancer.
The latest safety alert over cheap Chinese goods was sounded in New Zealand. It has been passed on to trading standards officials in Britain.
"Any consumer worried about harm caused by clothes they have bought should contact the retailer or report their concerns to trading standards," a spokesman for the Government's new department for business, enterprise and regulatory reform said.
For more information you can visit the No More Made in China website
Find more photos like this on No More Made in China
and
Not China Made.net has a list of China-free shopping:
* American Apparel
* American Plastics Toys
* Blessed Nest
* Born Free Baby Products
* Buy American.com
* Corelle (Kitchen-ware)
* Crayola Crayons
* Holgatetoy
* ImagiPlay
* Justice Clothing
* Made In USA Products
* Maple and Mark
* Shop for America
* Still Made In USA .com
* Story Board Toys
* Toys Made In America
* Uncle Goose Toys
* US Made Toys
* Whittle Shortline Railroad
* Zebulon USA
* Zebulon USA- Toys
My reason for boycotting Chinese products is purely political -- I support a free Tibet. Mommy Zabs, who started Not China Made.net, says, "Not everyone may feel led to ban or boycott China. But I am asking you to be aware, read labels, pay attention to just how much we as parents buy from China. It’s alarming."
Yes, it is difficult not to buy things that are made in China, but that's no excuse. I read the labels of EVERYTHING that I buy. I have always said, BE AWARE, READ LABELS, LIVE MINDFULLY. If you think one person can not affect change, you are wrong.
It IS possible not to buy products made in China if one shops mindfully and not automatically. Don't mindlessly hop over to Wal-Mart -- #3 on the Top Ten Corporate Villians of the Planet list -- just because it's "easy" or "cheap." unfortunately, many people sleep-walk through life and don't THINK. they just drink any kool-aid that's handed to them.
Live mindfully, shop mindfully. is that really so hard to do?
I'm all for buying only American, but that isn't easy for most folks who don't have the money to pay the higher prices (I looked at one of the clothing places and a hoodie cost $99). Although some things were cheap, like jeans from one of the places, you have to order on line. Have you ever tried on women's jeans and found out that not one store is the same as the others when it comes to fit? The sizes for womens clothes are crazy!
ReplyDeleteThose who are poor or lower middle class are the one's who suffer the most. They have no choice but to shop at places like Walmart. Many of them don't have computers, so that eliminates all the places on that list that I saw...they only have on-line shopping. I'm not sure if any of them had catalogs or not.
I agree...buy American when you can, but until these trade agreements are fixed, China owns us. The one thing that I would do regarding the Olympics, though...boycott the stations that are showing the events. If no one watches, they lose the money, and there's nothing like sticking it to corporate media, eh?
Oh...and although some of the animal pet food is said to be "made in the USA", most of their product that go into the food is still coming from China. We need a law that says that manufacturers have to point out where their ingredients come from, not where it is finally made. I'm thinking of making my own dog food with fresh foods. I have to find a recipe that will cover all her nutritional needs, though.
Chinese goods can pop up where you least expect them. My son's guitar teacher offered us the chance to buy a made-in-China guitar and save about $200 over a Spanish guitar. I said, no thanks, we don't want to support the Chinese. I don't think he'd thought of it that way.
ReplyDeleteBesides, my husband is Spanish!
ME, don't get me started on Walmart. out in my 'burb I organized a community group against them when they wanted to build a superstore next to a marsh/bird santuary! ahem...we won....
ReplyDeleteand yes I know that many people do not have choices on where they buy stuff, etc. but for those of us who DO HAVE CHOICES, I am saying THINK about where we shop and what we buy.
if it comes down to it, if I think something is too expensive and the only alternative is to buy cheap Chinese made shit, I will go without. It is a no-brainer for me, that's how strongly I feel about, but that's me.
and I made the decision a long time ago that the Olympics will absolutely not be watched in my house. I told my husband he has to go elsewhere if he wants to watch them! see ya!
excellent post and I am passing this information on. We try to NOT buy things made in China but it can get downright hard to do. And I will buy something even if it is more expensive if it is not made in China. People have to make a living wage and have benefits so it's worth it to me. Yes, the Chinese stuff is cheaper but they use slave labor for all intents and purposes and the corporations cut the price a fraction and make large profits. Screw the greedy corporations!
ReplyDeleteI agree that people don't think sometimes. And they also seem to care more about saving a few dollars than taking a moral stand with their money. Sometimes, they don't have the resources to make a decision, because Chinese products are cheap, but for those of us who can, we should choose non-Chinese.
ReplyDeleteWal-mart tried to build a superstore here, too, also next to a wildlife sanctuary. We won, too, even after the City Council voted to approve it. The citizens over-turned their decision. It was a great victory---because you know how much money Wal-mart spends to fight the communities that don't want them.
Great information. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMr. Riot and I have been trying very hard for the past few years to avoid goods and food products from China. We made the decision for both political and for safety reasons. It's actually become a little easier since the pet food and toy recalls and the pressure from consumers that retailers pull many Chinese-made products.
Hi. I just came over from FranIAm's blog. I'm with you on not buying products made in China ... although I have to add that I think our consumerism is killing us, and simply buying as little as possible of anything made anywhere is the route I try to take. But sometimes you have to. The other day I bought a stainless steel water bottle ('cause Nalgenes are now found to leach carcinogens into your water, nice) at my local food co-op, for Pete's sake, and it was made in China! I will be returning it and expressing my disappointment. They should know better.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I like your blog.
I'm just starting to become more aware of the problems associated with the Chinese products that make their way into our society. Problems covering topics from economy to human rights to health and safety and everything in between.
ReplyDeleteI'm now on the growing list of peopel who try to boycott Chinese made products, because of my awareness.
For those of you who say its hard not to buy their stuff, I say HOGWASH. If your North American jeans aren't the right cut and are too pricy, then suck it up and either do without or support your own economy by buying North American made.
By supporting your economy today, you're helping to secure its growth for the future - for your children and their famalies to come.