made in China

Mattel made a HUGE recall of a couple million toys yesterday after finding out that their products - mostly made in China - were faulty and hazardous to young children. Many if not most of the merchandise that we use in our everyday lives here in North America comes from eastern sources - India, China, and other parts of Asia. In a global economy where profits are the #1 priority, it is important to keep manufacturing costs at a minimum so that a company can make money while still keeping their price competitive.

Undoubtedly, this toy recall will spark new legislation about needing new regulations around imported items particularly from China. The exporting industry from China will undoubtedly change and eventually, the cost of products here will increase as companies must now find other - likely more expensive - places to purchase their materials.

It's alarming to me that with all the talk surrounding this issue, it seems to predominantly focussed around us. OUR costs will increase. OUR safety needs to be the number one concern.

What about the widespread exploitation happening in these countries in order that production costs can be kept at a minimum? In Canada, we have no idea what working environments these countries have in order for us to have our luxuries. Very likely, not one of us would work their long hours in the dark, musty dungeons even if we were paid ten times what they made an hour.
What about the global human cost? What about THEIR safety?

And what a global economy does to us here in Canada - where we have regulated safe working conditions and rules around our labor - is that local small businesses cannot compete with their prices. It's visible everywhere that the big box stores open up. The small competition folds up around them.

It's not only up to the government to stop this from happening. Ultimately the reason that these practices continue is because we hold the value that cheapest is best. We don't care where it comes from or how it came to be. If we started buying from the local people trying to support their families with their small business, we become related to what we consume. And ultimately, isn't that what God wants to teach us?