A Year without "Made in China"

[blitzen]

One of my friends is writing a book about her family's experience living for a year without buying products made in China. An excerpt has just appeared in the Christian Science Monitor.

http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2005/1220/p09s01-coop.html


"Last year, two days after Christmas, we kicked China out of the house. Not the country obviously, but bits of plastic, metal, and wood stamped with the words "Made in China." We kept what we already had, but stopped bringing any more in.

The banishment was no fault of China's. It had coated our lives with a cheerful veneer of toys, gadgets, and $10 children's shoes. Sometimes I worried about jobs sent overseas or nasty reports about human rights abuses, but price trumped virtue at our house. We couldn't resist what China was selling.

But on that dark Monday last year, a creeping unease washed over me as I sat on the sofa and surveyed the gloomy wreckage of the holiday. It wasn't until then that I noticed an irrefutable fact: China was taking over the place.

It stared back at me


http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2005/1220/p09s01-coop.html

[Ezlivin]

1. I could do it - but I couldn't give up the Chinese food

Damn, just talking about it makes my mouth water.

I don't need the other crap, though. Just give me my moo goo gai pan.

[Lisa]

8. if it's cooked here, using domestic ingredients ...

... you can have as much as you like! It would only be the information (i.e. the recipes) which is from China ... and since that's been here for more than a century (along with quite a number of Chinese-American families) it is arguably part of our culture by now.

I've noticed that, thanks to the increase in Asian populations in North America, it's now possible to get many foods (such as noodles, rice, and various kinds of fruits and vegetables) which used to be imported. This helps out our farmers, and the local companies which are involved. (For example, there's a company in Vancouver which makes Chinese noodles ... their product costs a bit more than the stuff which is shipped in, but I don't mind paying extra since it creates jobs here. Also, it's fresher, and subject to health and labor standards set by our governments.)

p.s. I can imagine coupling this with an investigation of the environmental and social impacts on China itself ... there's a Chinese economist who works across the hall from me, and she confesses that although part of her is thrilled to see China becoming a prosperous and important country with a diverse economy (providing manufacturing and services for other countries, not just themselves) -- it makes her sad to see the pollution and urban sprawl which have rapidly changed the landscape. We must be careful to show that we aren't being xenophobic about China and other countries which are going through similar changes -- after all, Europe probably felt the same way about the US when they saw how wealthy and influential it was becoming, more than a century ago!

[calico1]

2. I do my best, although it can be very hard.

Recently I needed new socks. After looking at package after package, I was excited to find one that not only was not made in China but was made in the U.S.A. I think they were Nike's. Of course, the 3 pack I bought cost the same as the 6 pack made in China. My walking socks are also made here. They are Thorlo, made I believe in NC. Everytime I find something made here or at least not made in China I get excited. LOL.

[NMDemDist2]

3. i'll bet those Nike socks came from the Marianas or some other

South Pacific sweat shop the is technically a US protectorate, but certainly isn't "Made in the USA" as you and I understand it :cry:

[blitzen]

5. Yes, indeed...

Since I know Sara, I think I can take the liberty of speaking for her a bit on this question. Her book is not aiming to be explicitly "political"--although it is bound up with all kinds of political issues.
It's more about an experiment in living for a year, having made one seemingly small vow--and how difficult that can be. But yes, you're right, "buy America" doesn't mean much when "America's" workers are all over the globe, including in China.

[calico1]

6. Hmmm.... I thought if it said "made in U.S.A."

that meant made here. You are saying that is not necessarily the case? That sucks.

[Lefty48197]

4. I always look at the labels

Sometimes I don't think I have any choice but to buy products made in China, but I am certainly aware of the problem. It pisses me off when I see products made in China priced very closely to the made in America versions. That should be a criminal offense.

[politicat]

7. Sounds like a campaign in the making....

I'll sign up - even to help run the thing. I think we need to get people doing this.

DH and I are already anti-china, but we don't have kids, and are both crafty and big on re-use. I'd hate to have to try to do this with children....