Hi MrJ - just to say nothing I said was aimed at you per se. And I am also glad we can disagree without being disagreeable
My post was simply a commentary on the way I percieve the current economic model, I am very much in agreement with Kayu's posting above.
Gobal trade, yes, trade is good - but profit without principle, as we have seen with unrestricted globalisation and the banking crisis, is like building a house on quicksand.
I would not say that my views encourage protectionism, but I am genuinely concerned with workers rights and exploitation.
I do feel that when workers rights are in question, the EU, the US and other countries do have rights and even a moral imperitive to impose tariffs until such time as those concerns are addressed.
On the other hand whereas workers rights can, and have, been used as a tool for those who are protectionist, one could say that the concept of the free market ideal of unregulated free movement of trade can - and has - been used to exploit people in the most insideous ways.
In Thailand the example of strikes and movement towards workers rights is a good example, and I welcome it.
But Thailand is a relativly democratic country where people power has effected change.
The biggest producer is the Peoples Republic of China, and we saw where a move of people power ended there in Tiennamen square. If items we bought were made in the DPRK it would be the same issue for me.
Just to say a company such as Cobra are Thai, and therefore has a right to do as they wish in their own country is a fair point, but as the consumers of the end product - as with every other thing in life - should we not consider the effects our actions - and purchasing power has?
I do not believe that the west has reached prosperity through capitalism - I think social cohesion has had a more marked effect - whether that is European social democratic choices on education and health care or the New Deal or Grand Society policies in the US, these have had long term benefits.
I live between Ireland and Holland, but my work takes me all over the world. I have a modest standard of living and admire anyone who wants to better their standard of living in an honest and productive way.
Also, based a lot on John Greys studies, the notion that the East/Africa are behind is based on definition which is something we have established. There are areas all of us can improve, regardless of where in the world.
A scientist I admire greatly is Mr. Ainea Kimaro - a Tanzanian engineer
I agree with you on wetsuits, but the way I see it the illusion of capitalism giving consumer choice is demonstrated as false with that one example, rather than choice, we have simply seen a race to the bottom.
I dont try to enforce or impose standards on anyone, and I resent that suggestion, we all have the ability to choose.
I do my best to exercise a pragmatic set of choices that are further restricted by the so called free market. And if that has an impact on any Asian business who mistreat workers, then I hope that they will see that if I am sure that those practices are unacceptable to me, and others, then things will change for the better.
If you feel that I implied that you have been sucked in by labels and the surf industry (or in the words of Glenn Henning - the garment industry with a good hook) I apologise, that was not my intention - I simply wanted to point out that many people are.
