No one is talking about the olympics(china...)

[tc1]

Speaking as one American, what China is doing to Tibet isn't much different from how the US was settled by Europeans. Both group's acts were wrong and repressive, but I don't see how an American's criticism has much credibility here.

I have tried to avoid buying Chinese stuff for years. From over here, it looks like the Chinese government is as repressive to its own people as it is to the Tibetans.

[three]

I would like to see a massive boycott. U.S foreign policy is atrocious, but it is nothing compared to the human rights issues that China has within its own country.

The main reason why no one boycotting them is because they are the new superpower, soon to replace the U.S, and no one wants to ruffle feathers.

Grrr.

[mimitabby]

ironic that we want to boycott the chinese olympics, but most of the stuff we buy was made in china. you name it; it probably says "made in china"

and yes, pot shouldn't be calling kettle black (US vs China)

[KnottedYet]

If you took everything off me that was made in china, I'd be typing on this Chinese computer wearing nothing but my two Ibex shirts and one silver ring.

Edit: (after a trip to the bathroom) oh, no, wait! I'd have my underpants, too. They were made in Costa Rica. How many of us go shopping and *don't* buy the product made in our country because it costs more? Ultimate responsibility for power these days comes from money, and money comes from consumers. What do you consume?

[Trek420]

It's complex, it's the Olympic torch and games not the Chinese torch and games. I feel sad for athletes, if they skip these games to compete in a less controversial locale may not be competitive 4 years from now. To ask someone who's trained and suffered and dreamed of competing in these games to just skip this one or and athlete who knows this may be the last Olympics they'll be competitive to go to the next one ...

As for the human rights aspect who is it that said something like "let he who is without sin cast the first stone"? Our record in this country, not too good. But I think we've come far.

My hope is that China will take this opportunity while the whole world is watching to say something like "we're working on it". That's what I will be watching for a sign of.

I hope this discussion won't become a whole Box Store Bad vs Fair Trade Good thing that we've sometimes had And Chinese people need jobs too but if any of you think your job can not be outsourced .... think again.

It's surprisingly easy to buy stuff made in USA or just ABC (that's Anywhere But China) often it's just reading the label and picking the item next to it.

Read the labels if this matters to you.

[bmccasland]

What they said.

If we really want to make a point, we need to change our buying habits. Does anyone remember when Walmart used to advertise having goods "made in the USA"?

And I remember the older generation refusing to buy goods made in Japan because of Pearl Harbor, or my Jewish friend in high school that wanted a VW Bug, but his dad wouldn't let him have one because it was a German company and they'd lost realtives in the death camps.

If we really want to make an impact, we, the nation, needs to vote with our wallets.

Let the athletes compete. The Moscow Olympic boycot proved nothing.

[Cindyloo]

As for the human rights aspect who is it that said something like "let he who is without sin cast the first stone"?

That would be Jesus who said that.

As for the olympics, I have no idea how China was chosen in the first place.

[Trek420]

That would be Jesus who said that.

Oh right, right, silly of me to forget. But seriously I remember in Jr. High doing a book report on a book about the internment of Japanese American Citizens during World War II and being told by my history teacher "where did you read this fiction? This never happened!!! " This would have been about '70 so only a few decades later.

As for the olympics, I have no idea how China was chosen in the first place.

Money? Could it have been money?

But let's keep this on a positive note. And since this is not a regional board there are folks on the board who don't have easy access to local business shopping options. We've got ourself into this mess where for some saying "buy local from local businesses" is not an easy option.

Politics aside I think it does not make sense to ride my bike to the store .... to buy stuff flown or shipped from overseas. But how do you find local and or greener stuff?

[alpinerabbit]

I would like to see a massive boycott. U.S foreign policy is atrocious, but it is nothing compared to the human rights issues that China has within its own country.
The main reason why no one boycotting them is because they are the new superpower, soon to replace the U.S, and no one wants to ruffle feathers.

plus, or even more important than any political "super-powerness", the US (and all other major countries') foreign policy is doing their god-darnedest to cuddle China because it will be the biggest market. Or is already becoming it.

Which by the way, eliminates any and all efforts we could ever make at environmental protection. The Chinese government does not care a hair's breadth, all the focus is on economic growth.

[crazycanuck]

I agree with Alpinerabbit on this...I like the drawing & would love to see more of the artists work.

I don't think it took a genius to figure out that when the Chinese gov't won the rights to hold the 08 games that they would do anything to improve thier image etc. I will never ever travel to China based on thier human rights record. I don't care if they''ve opened thier doors to tourism, they closed the door on human rights back in '89. I remember watching the Tiananmen square protests when they first started & then the crackdown.

They've threatened to severely punish anyone that gets in the way of the Olympic torch relay when it arrives back in China.

I am angered at the Chinese citizens who say there's nothing wrong happening in Tibet & other areas. Excuse me? If the west wants to demonize China, go ahead.

I hope there's more disruption of the torch relay when it arrives in Canberra. The Chinese guards dressed in blue need to be challenged.

One less person interested in the 08 games-it's all commerical this year & companies with their heads up the chinese gov'ts behinds trying to pretend there's nothing happening.

Rant over...I'll stop now..

[kat_h]

One less person interested in the 08 games-it's all commerical this year & companies with their heads up the chinese gov'ts behinds trying to pretend there's nothing happening.

I think it would make sense to boycott some of the major advertisers.

[Trek420]

As long as they know that is why you're not buying. The bitter part of me says I don't think most would notice the blip in sales.

One thing that will get noticed is there is this thing we call an election. I don't care who you vote for (well, yes I do but this is a neutral board) but vote check your candidates stance.

How will they bring jobs back home and help local economies? What's their stance on human rights? On climate change (c'mon, this is a neutral board but I think we share a common love of the outdoors).

Do you like it? If not change your vote.

Meanwhile how do we shop?

[smilingcat]

We've told the managers at different Trader Joe's that we are not buying produce grown in China. They told us that number of customers have complained and that TJ is actively reducing the number of items from China. And when we did notice the change, we thanked the manager for finding alternative sources. Ginger is now coming from Thailand and Hawaii. yayy!! And it wasn't that much more expensive.

We are learning to be frugal and more careful about our buying habbit. I've heard that consumers typically throw xx% of our produce away after it comes home. We are okay but could be better at it.

Why is edamame grown in US so hard to come by?? Most of what we see in the store are "organic" grown in China. After my avatar cat died from the melamine poisoning, I have zero confidence from them or for that matter our govt. for food safety. We buy local whenever possible.

smilingcat

[shootingstar]

I think the peaceful public protests in public areas, should continue if people wish to actively participate.

I haven't kept on the top of the developments between China and Tibet, but China has in the past few decades, proven to be a deliberate aggressor to Tibet. There are times I question if the vast majority of CHinese even care about Tibet/know much about Tibet. They're probably like us, lost in living daily life and trying to earn a living.

Real trade boycotts perhaps become more effective, if tariffs are slapped on goods.

This is my buying pattern with Chinese products...

I probably might sound jingoistic, but reality is that my personal financial well-being is partially tied to how my country's (Canada's) economy is doing..

*I am Canadian nationalist, wherever I can be, in food buying for fresh products and for my financial investments.

In the past few decades, I invest in Candian companies, as my no.1 priority with a focus on Canadian companies that have international markets/services. Investing outside of Canada is focused on a generic group of companies in a particular industry or based on a financial index.

I will still end up buying products from China, because let's face it, some dried Chinese products just aren't produced in North America. Yes, one has to be careful the type of products and their safety if standards are somewhat slack.

I probably will end up buying a piece of clothing --if by coincidence it's made in China and if it's reasonably priced. quality, fit and colour are my criteria. Country of origin is 2nd. If it's made in Turkey, India, no problem either..I mean...I'm sorry, the Canadian federal government caved into NAFTA...etc...and this decimated a thriving garmet industry in Toronto and Montreal. I remember 20 years ago, happily shopping and buying at near wholesale prices, new clothing from the retail outlets tied to the factories in Toronto's downtown garmet district....beside Chinatown. I should know this because I had cousins who worked in these Toronto factories and also had friends who were active union organizers among the factory workers.

So what should I do as an aware consumer, unhappy how my own government handled the trade agreement? I might as well be abit more intelligent as a consumer and buy at least, products that are safe/meet standards, if a North American company has struck a deal with a Chinese company to manufacture, then it benefits both Canada and some other people in another country to earn money. Example: MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) store has a number of products under MEC brand, made in China.

Now, pray tell me that all of REI products are produced in the U.S.? Impressive if they are...

Unless we can convince more locals to work on our farms to sustain /keep those farms from being sold off to developers, convince locals to work in factories, build up our manufacturing, garmet plants ...we will be faced with buying and wearing alot of foreign made products.

Of course, some of us used to sew our own wardrobe..like me...before cycling passion overtook me years ago.

But others here on the forum, are even better to have their own little veggie/fruit plots.

Sorry for the jumbled rant..

[Trek420]

As some of you know I'm midst of a remodel and I thought to my self "self?" I thought "this is the biggest investment I'll ever do till the next house. It's my time to make a difference".

Sure I buy some things at a box store but for most purchases whether it's appliances, materials, financing I researched companies and products and bought smaller local suppliers where I can.

It not only feels good but I've saved LOT$. One source I use is

www.bluefund.com/why-blue/blue-companies

Now TE gals and guys don't take this the wrong way. This isn't a plug for the Demo's (though I am one). You could be a dyed-in-the-wool-lifelong Republican and find good info on this site. After all I think these are values we all share.

Regardless of who you vote for and whether you buy, online, local store, farm market, box store check the manufacturer's stance on human rights, enviornment, labor practices etc.