Comments for e.c. myers http://ecmyers.net Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:08:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on read an excerpt from Fair Coin by ecmyers http://ecmyers.net/2012/02/read-an-excerpt-from-fair-coin/#comment-2862 ecmyers Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:08:27 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1769#comment-2862 Thanks, Jon! Thanks, Jon!

]]> Comment on read an excerpt from Fair Coin by Jon http://ecmyers.net/2012/02/read-an-excerpt-from-fair-coin/#comment-2860 Jon Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:26:30 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1769#comment-2860 Doing it now! Doing it now!

]]> Comment on cover reveal! by ecmyers http://ecmyers.net/2011/12/cover-reveal/#comment-2784 ecmyers Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:35:11 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1541#comment-2784 Thanks, Donna! Your book looks and sounds creepy, in a good way :) Thanks, Donna! Your book looks and sounds creepy, in a good way :)

]]> Comment on the secret city by ecmyers http://ecmyers.net/2012/01/the-secret-city/#comment-2783 ecmyers Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:14:16 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1749#comment-2783 I'm starting to wonder if that might be an option. Honestly, I haven't looked into what other people are saying about this, if they're holding Apple accountable, and whether Apple has issued a new response yet. But it does come down to a decision as a country, and from corporations, and by people like us every day. Me boycotting Apple wouldn't have much effect since our only transactions are through my occasional purchases on iTunes, but I admire you for making that choice. I'm going to spend more time researching what companies, if any, have more ethical standards, and hopefully they still manage to make good, affordable products... I’m starting to wonder if that might be an option. Honestly, I haven’t looked into what other people are saying about this, if they’re holding Apple accountable, and whether Apple has issued a new response yet. But it does come down to a decision as a country, and from corporations, and by people like us every day. Me boycotting Apple wouldn’t have much effect since our only transactions are through my occasional purchases on iTunes, but I admire you for making that choice. I’m going to spend more time researching what companies, if any, have more ethical standards, and hopefully they still manage to make good, affordable products…

]]> Comment on the secret city by Katie Sparrow http://ecmyers.net/2012/01/the-secret-city/#comment-2781 Katie Sparrow Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:46:05 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1749#comment-2781 My $.02 : It's falling into Apple's game to say that if we want cheap products this is what we have to put up with. Um, no. They could quite easily make less profits. Like, really easily and still be hugely in the black. They choose not to. They choose somewhat higher profits off the back of workers who are being hurt, maimed, worked to death, and driven to suicide. I think being loud and angry about this issue, especially to Apple who is nothing except an image, might very well make some changes. I hope so. And I'm pissed off enough that I'm never buying another apple product until they do. Maybe this is just symbolic. Maybe there's no electronics that are ethically made. I don't know. But Apple's response to all this is despicable. My $.02 : It’s falling into Apple’s game to say that if we want cheap products this is what we have to put up with. Um, no. They could quite easily make less profits. Like, really easily and still be hugely in the black. They choose not to. They choose somewhat higher profits off the back of workers who are being hurt, maimed, worked to death, and driven to suicide. I think being loud and angry about this issue, especially to Apple who is nothing except an image, might very well make some changes.
I hope so. And I’m pissed off enough that I’m never buying another apple product until they do. Maybe this is just symbolic. Maybe there’s no electronics that are ethically made. I don’t know. But Apple’s response to all this is despicable.

]]> Comment on the secret city by ecmyers http://ecmyers.net/2012/01/the-secret-city/#comment-2780 ecmyers Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:21:33 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1749#comment-2780 By the way, we're only getting part of the conversation on this blog. People are also commenting on a mirrored post over at LJ, if you're interested in checking out some other ideas and perspectives: http://ecmyers.livejournal.com/333356.html And thank you, everyone who takes the time to read this, even if you don't join the conversation. I don't have any answers for all this, but we're starting to come up with some good questions. By the way, we’re only getting part of the conversation on this blog. People are also commenting on a mirrored post over at LJ, if you’re interested in checking out some other ideas and perspectives: http://ecmyers.livejournal.com/333356.html

And thank you, everyone who takes the time to read this, even if you don’t join the conversation. I don’t have any answers for all this, but we’re starting to come up with some good questions.

]]> Comment on the secret city by ecmyers http://ecmyers.net/2012/01/the-secret-city/#comment-2779 ecmyers Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:18:23 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1749#comment-2779 Thanks for bringing that up--I hadn't even considered that side of the issue. I just... I need to start paying more attention to things like this. And I think you're right that we as a nation, or as a group of whomever has the buying power that drives the economy, need to play some part in reacting to these kinds of moral and humanistic questions. But I also absolutely understand why so many of us ignore it and say it's none of our business. It's easier, certainly, and we have our own problems. But if we're truly going to shift into a global community, then whatever happens on the other side of the world affects us too. It already does, when there's a shortage of laptops because they can't get the right screens for them and all that, but it has to affect us on a more emotional and personal level too. Thanks for bringing that up–I hadn’t even considered that side of the issue. I just… I need to start paying more attention to things like this. And I think you’re right that we as a nation, or as a group of whomever has the buying power that drives the economy, need to play some part in reacting to these kinds of moral and humanistic questions. But I also absolutely understand why so many of us ignore it and say it’s none of our business. It’s easier, certainly, and we have our own problems. But if we’re truly going to shift into a global community, then whatever happens on the other side of the world affects us too. It already does, when there’s a shortage of laptops because they can’t get the right screens for them and all that, but it has to affect us on a more emotional and personal level too.

]]> Comment on the secret city by ecmyers http://ecmyers.net/2012/01/the-secret-city/#comment-2778 ecmyers Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:12:24 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1749#comment-2778 Government pressure would carry more weight, but am I being too cynical if I also argue that the corporations pressure the government? I do want to think the best of corporations like Apple, and in the consumers who give them their money. Because you're right, if you'll pay $500 for an iPad, you can probably manage $510 without blinking too much. Government pressure would carry more weight, but am I being too cynical if I also argue that the corporations pressure the government? I do want to think the best of corporations like Apple, and in the consumers who give them their money. Because you’re right, if you’ll pay $500 for an iPad, you can probably manage $510 without blinking too much.

]]> Comment on the secret city by ecmyers http://ecmyers.net/2012/01/the-secret-city/#comment-2777 ecmyers Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:09:17 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1749#comment-2777 I hadn't seen that photo, but I bet that's an eye opener. Boycotting is so unfeasible, not least because we, unfortunately, do depend on these devices today. But I hope that opening the discussion will have some impact and apply some pressure to the corporations to increase their efforts. The problem only "goes away" if we forget about it. I hadn’t seen that photo, but I bet that’s an eye opener. Boycotting is so unfeasible, not least because we, unfortunately, do depend on these devices today. But I hope that opening the discussion will have some impact and apply some pressure to the corporations to increase their efforts. The problem only “goes away” if we forget about it.

]]> Comment on the secret city by Tara http://ecmyers.net/2012/01/the-secret-city/#comment-2776 Tara Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:51:54 +0000 http://ecmyers.net/?p=1749#comment-2776 Great post, Eugene. I am also way behind on my TAL listening, but I'll have to make sure to catch that one. Another issue that's related to the ones you discuss here is the need for rare-earth minerals for phone and computer batteries and other components that can only be found in conflict-torn places like the eastern DRC in Africa. (Some more info in this article: http://www.enoughproject.org/publications/mine-mobile-phone) Environmental impact of mining these minerals aside, it's almost impossible to ensure that the profits from buying them don't go to fund armed conflict and genocide. And if a company just says "OK, we'll stop buying minerals from the DRC completely," that creates a new set of problems: 1) thousands of the poorest people on earth, formerly employed by the mines, suddenly lose their only possible source of income, and 2) as big companies pull out of the country, there's even less of an international community to bear witness to the crimes that may take place there. It's a tough issue. International corporations can bring jobs and (relative) prosperity to developing nations, and what seems like a terrible, abusive job to us in the west is, for some people, the only thing that stands between them and starvation/abject poverty. When different cultures with different norms come together, someone's sensibilities are going to be offended. But I think that it just all comes down to economics in the end. If everyone in factories or mines had better hours and benefits and higher wages for less work, less stuff would get produced and it would cost consumers more. Which is fine by me, but would most of rampantly-consumerist America accept it? I hope that, as our population gradually becomes more aware of environmental and human rights issues, they will take these issues into account when making purchases, but it's going to be a slow shift. As for putting pressure on foreign governments, a strong central one like China's would have the power to set higher standards for workers and enforce them if it wants to, so it may be worth continuing to place pressure there...but a place like DRC barely has a central government, so any sort of changes in practices in a place like that are going to have to come from the private companies themselves. Great post, Eugene. I am also way behind on my TAL listening, but I’ll have to make sure to catch that one.

Another issue that’s related to the ones you discuss here is the need for rare-earth minerals for phone and computer batteries and other components that can only be found in conflict-torn places like the eastern DRC in Africa. (Some more info in this article: http://www.enoughproject.org/publications/mine-mobile-phone) Environmental impact of mining these minerals aside, it’s almost impossible to ensure that the profits from buying them don’t go to fund armed conflict and genocide. And if a company just says “OK, we’ll stop buying minerals from the DRC completely,” that creates a new set of problems: 1) thousands of the poorest people on earth, formerly employed by the mines, suddenly lose their only possible source of income, and 2) as big companies pull out of the country, there’s even less of an international community to bear witness to the crimes that may take place there.

It’s a tough issue. International corporations can bring jobs and (relative) prosperity to developing nations, and what seems like a terrible, abusive job to us in the west is, for some people, the only thing that stands between them and starvation/abject poverty. When different cultures with different norms come together, someone’s sensibilities are going to be offended.

But I think that it just all comes down to economics in the end. If everyone in factories or mines had better hours and benefits and higher wages for less work, less stuff would get produced and it would cost consumers more. Which is fine by me, but would most of rampantly-consumerist America accept it? I hope that, as our population gradually becomes more aware of environmental and human rights issues, they will take these issues into account when making purchases, but it’s going to be a slow shift. As for putting pressure on foreign governments, a strong central one like China’s would have the power to set higher standards for workers and enforce them if it wants to, so it may be worth continuing to place pressure there…but a place like DRC barely has a central government, so any sort of changes in practices in a place like that are going to have to come from the private companies themselves.

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