“A Day Without Dignity.” 11 Apr. 2011. YouTube. Web. 1 Oct. 2011.
This video explains why it is problematic for TOMS to be giving away shoes to people in other countries. It disputes the fact that there is a need for these shoes by presenting images of locals selling shoes in various countries, and does so through the presentation of facts about the detriment of charity.
“A History – TOMS Shoes.” 23 Jan. 2009. YouTube. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.
A video detailing the inspiration and inception of TOMS Shoes.
"Alcoa in Australia: About Alcoa: Bauxite Mining: Environmental Management." Alcoa Inc. –
Primary Aluminum (aluminium) and Fabricated Aluminum Products. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://www.alcoa.com/australia/en/info_page/mining_environ_man.asp>.
ALCOA Australia's web page on the ecological impact of its bauxite mining activities. Useful in how it showed that it had to hold itself up to a standard if it hoped not to invite negative public opinion.
Andonian, Cheryl. “Toms Shoes: The Big Business of Being Good.” Momblebee. 12 Apr. 2010.
Web. 12 Oct. 2011.
This blogger talks about how TOMS one for one philosophy is purely a marketing campaign, as it is not a not for-profit organization.
“Are TOMS Shoes all they’re cracked up to be?” The Greenists. 30 May. 2011. Web. 12 Oct.
2011. < http://thegreenists.com/clothes/are-toms-shoes-all-theyre-cracked-up-to-be/8266>
This blogger points out that she was enticed by TOMS practice of giving shoes to children in developing countries, but was disappointed by the quality of the actual shoes once she had purchased them.
Balfour, Frederik, and Tim Culpan. "Everything Is Made by Foxconn in Future Evoked by Gou's
Empire - Bloomberg." Bloomberg - Business & Financial News, Breaking News Headlines. 9 Sept. 2010. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-09/everything-is-made-by-foxconn-in-future-evoked-by-terry-gou-s-china-empire.html>.
Further discusses Foxconn working conditions and backs up its observations with hard numbers and evidence.
"Bauxite Mining and the Environment." AZoM™ - The A to Z of Materials and AZojomo - The
"AZo Journal of Materials Online" 20 July 2002. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1529>.
A page over viewing the extracting and refining of bauxite ore. I suspect it has been heavily influenced by mining corporations, but the basic data is still sound.
Bauxite Mining Poses Major Threat to Cockpit Country Wildlife and Watershed."
Cockpitcountry Jamaica. 14 Mar. 2007. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://cockpitcountry.blogspot.com/2007/03/bauxite-mining-poses-major-threat-to.html>.
This article expands on the issue of bauxite mining in Jamaica. It gave me the evidence needed to outline the environmental threat of the practice in the region, as well as showing me how internationally involved companies like ALCOA are.
"BBC News - Apple Boss Defends Conditions at IPhone Factory." BBC - Homepage. British
Broadcasting Corporation, 2 June 2010. Web. 28 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10212604>.
Showed Apple's response to deplorable working conditions in Foxconn's iPad assembly lines.
BBC. Sri Lanka tops tea sales. 1 February 2002. Web. 26 October 2011.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1796478.stm>
Found a news article that puts Sri Lanka on top for tea production as of 2002.
Bean, Liam. "Foxconn Explosion Sparks Supply Worries - Loss of Life Not So Much."
LiamBean on HubPages. 22 May 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://liambean.hubpages.com/hub/Foxconn-Explosion-Sparks-Supply-Worries-Loss-of-Life-Not-So-Much>.
The writer of this piece points out western worry over lack of ipad 2 units, and the simultaneous ignorance of western consumers to the deaths of workers associated with the reason for that shortage
Chapagain, A.K, et al. “The water footprint of cotton consumption: An assessment of the impact of worldwide consumption of cotton products on the water resources in the cotton producing countries.” Science Direct (2006) 186-203. Print
This article outlined the impacts cotton growing and production has on water resources in the countries where it is grown. It outlines key points on water use during crop production stage and in the processing stage. The article then outlines what the water footprints are related to the consumption of cotton products. This article helped me understand what consumers generally don’t understand about the impact cotton growth and production has on the environment.
Chauhan, Suresh, and Chandra S. Silori. "Rehabilitation of Red Mud Bauxite Wasteland in India
(Belgaum, Karnataka)." Ecological Restoration 28.1 (2010): 12-14. Print.
A short article outlining the dangers of unrestricted or regulated bauxite mining in India. Discussed some of the main issues with the practice, and went on to explore possible solutions.
China- Cotton production – U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service report. 1991. 23 Oct. 2011 <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3763/is_n10_v91/ai_11897232/?tag=content;col1>
The article on this website was all about China and its cotton production. This article helped to explain some of the manufacturing statistics about Cotton and how important it is to the Chinese economy. This article explained how the cotton textile industry is growing so large that it has desperately strained cotton supplies and it will be difficult to increase the cotton plantation area in the near future with a relatively small amount of cultivated land.
Chipworks. "Teardown of Apple Ipad Tablet Computer." Chipworks.com. Chipworks, 4 Apr. 2010. Web.
20 Oct. 2011. <http://www.chipworks.com/en/technical-competitive-analysis/resources/recent-teardowns/2010/04/teardown-of-the-apple-ipad-tablet-computer/>.
A great source for info on all the basic parts inside the iPad, as well as who is responsible for producing them
Chouinard, Yvon, and Michael S. Brown. Going Organic: Converting Patagonia’s Product Line. California: Patagonia Inc, 1997. Print.
This article is a case study done by Patagonia, a manufacturer and distributor of clothing and gear for outdoor sports. It follows their decision to use only organically grown cotton in their cotton products, and describes the efforts, improvements, and struggle that occurred during this change. This company took it upon themselves to make their product more environmentally friendly.
The Dying Fields: Global Cotton Industry: Cotton Production and Consumption Worldwide. 2007. Web. 16 Oct. 2011
<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/the-dying-fields/global-cotton-industry/cotton-production-and-consumption-worldwide/1946/>
<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/the-dying-fields/global-cotton-industry/cotton-production-and-consumption-worldwide/1946/>
This website was split into five different categories of information: Bt Cotton farming, Farmer Suicides in India, Agriculture in India, Cotton Subsidies and the World Trade organization, and Cotton production and Consumption Worldwide. These articles were helpful in explaining which countries around the world were the key players in Cotton production, manufacturing, and exporting (China, India, and the United States). This website helped explain a variety of different aspects to cotton farming and the economic costs associated with the product.
Ciolek, Dr. T. Matthew. Trade Routes. 17 May 2005. Web. 29 October 2011.
This was a really interesting article discussing historic trade routes that are not so different than today. The difference is in the nearly unfathomable volume that ease in crossing larger distances that have shrunk our planet and devalued many goods.
Environmental Justice Foundation: Cotton in Uzbekistan. n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2011
<http://www.ejfoundation.org/page142.html>
<http://www.ejfoundation.org/page142.html>
This website was created by the Environmental Justice Foundation. There were many links to the production and farming of Cotton in Uzbekistan and the effects it had on the people and environment of the area. This website thoroughly explained how much the cotton industry has impacted Uzbekistan (as well as many other crops around the world) and what needs to be done in order to solve the problem.
Europa Technologies. Google Maps. 2011. Web. 15 October 2011.
<http://maps.google.ca/>
During my trace of the Ceylon Orange Pekoe Tea, I used Google Maps to capture satellite pictures of the addresses involved in my trace, including the container port in Sri Lanka, and a tea growing region near Dimbula. These pictures were put on our blog and could possibly be used for illustrations for our final power point presentation. I also used Google Maps to track the Pacific shipping route from Sri Lanka.
This website is primarily based on the Australian cotton industry but it contains facts and figures about Cotton from all around the world. It focuses on the plant itself as well as the processing and manufacturing of cotton into products. What I used most out of this website was the ‘Fact Sheet booklet’ that explained everything from the origins of cotton, the types of cotton, to the processes used farm and manufacture the material.
Foxconn Technology Group. 2007. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <http://www.foxconn.com/>.
Foxconn's company web page. It doesn't have much in regards to usable info, but what it does provide to show off its company 'campuses' was great to reveal some hypocrisy.
Gordon, Jacob. “The TH Interview: TOMS Shoes.” TreeHugger. N.p., 18 Sept. 2008. Web. 2 Oct 2011.
This is one of the most comprehensive interviews with TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie available. He discusses how the company was founded, what their goals are, the manufacturing process behind the making of the shoes, and how TOMS appeals to its consumers. Despite being 3 years old, I still found it to be the most informative interview with the man behind the brand.
Hanson, James, et al. “Risk and Risk management in organic agriculture: Views of organic farmers” Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 19.4 (2004) 218-227. Print.
This article explains the benefits associated with organic agriculture as well as the risks and hardships involved in cultivating organic crops. The article covers the risks of weather, harsh climates, reliance on irrigation, and the issues of diseases and insects. Organic crops are known to deny the use of pesticides and harmful chemicals and so the farmers must rely on cultural practices to prevent pest problems from developing.
"How Aluminum Is Produced." Rocks, Minerals, Fossils and Earth Science Supplies. 16 May 1999. Web.
28 Oct. 2011. <http://www.rocksandminerals.com/aluminum/process.htm>.
A short page outlining the process of creating aluminum. Highlights for me included the section on how it takes ridiculous levels of electrical current to produce the necessary reaction that creates aluminum.
Hoye, Megan. “Are TOMS shoes best fit for philanthropy?” The Falcon. N.p., 14 Oct. 2009. Web. 12
Oct. 2011. <http://www.thefalcononline.com/article.php?id=6589>
A student opinion piece that discusses the appeal of buying TOMS shoes as a form of charity and how this is not necessarily a bad thing, but that it does also serve as a social and marketing tool.
Ippolito, Joe. “The TOMS Shoe Model: Meaning or Marketing?” Good Business. 28 June. 2010. Web. 12
Oct. 2011. <http://www.good.is/post/the-toms-shoe-model-meaning-or-marketing/>
A blog arguing that charity is not the primary reason behind the TOMS philosophy. States that spending $160 another way (the cost of two pairs of shoes) would have a greater impact than simply buying a pair of TOMS.
International Labour Rights Forum: Creating a Sweatfree World: 2010 Sweatshop Hall of Shame. 2010. Web. 16 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.laborrights.org/creating-a-sweatfree-world/sweatshops/resources/12211>
<http://www.laborrights.org/creating-a-sweatfree-world/sweatshops/resources/12211>
This website is dedicated to exposing the apparel and textile companies that use sweatshops, as well as other human right violations in their global production. For my research I used their “sweatshop hall of shame” article that outlines exactly which companies are violating workers rights in order to ‘cut costs’ of production and manufacturing. This article helped me understand corporate responsibility and how many companies try to keep their methods secretive and hidden. The “sweatshop hall of shame” outlined how three companies – Gymboree, Hanes, and LL Bean What I find most interesting about this fact is that the companies only made a change to caring about human rights when it affected their customers directly.
Kloer, Amanda. “Victory! Gymboree Bans Use of Uzbek Cotton.” Change.org. n.p. May 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2011 < http://news.change.org/stories/victory-gymboree-bans-use-of-uzbek-cotton>
This website was dedicated to explaining how Gymboree, a children’s clothing manufacturer changed their policy on using cotton from Uzbekistan. This article showed how when consumers come together and work towards fighting a certain cause (in this cause the use of child labour) a difference can be made.
Lai, Richard. "The Fate of a Generation of Workers: Foxconn Undercover Fully Translated (update: Videos Added)." Engadget. 19 May 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/19/the-fate-of-a-generation-of-workers-foxconn-undercover-fully-tr/>.
An undercover investigation of Foxconn's factories that dealt with how horrible the working conditions really were.
Lee Valley Tools Ltd. Lee Valley & Veritas. 2011. Web. 19 October 2011.
To further complete the trace of the tea as a product I consume, I ordered the tea online. I also used Lee Valley’s web site to read about tea. I also used the printed information on the actual tea tins when they were delivered.
Look Up Lands. Sri Lanka Property Directory Tea Cultivation Areas. Web. 26 October 2011.
<http://www.lookuplands.com/articals/Tea-Cultivation-Areas-Sri-Lanka.asp>
To pin point the specific region where Lee Valley’s tea is grown, they boast it is grown at 5,000 feet above sea level, making Dimbula the most likely area where the leaves are grown. It is perhaps the most famous name in Ceylon Tea, as it was one of the first areas to be planted after tea took over from coffee in Ceylon in 1870's. The area covers the extensive western slopes of the tea planting districts. The standard definition of this district embraces plantations from around 3,500 to 5,000 feet above the sea level.
Luke, Timothy W. "The (Un)Wise (Ab)Use of Nature: Environmentalism as Globalized Consumerism." Alternatives: Global, Local, Political 23.2 (1998): 175-212. Print.
A great article outlining the perceived 'responsibilities' of corporations, and where their interests truly lie. I may end up citing it in our final presentation.
"Mac Pro - Designed with the Environment in Mind." Apple. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://www.apple.com/macpro/environment.html>.
An example of Apple showing its tendency to associate aluminum with environmental friendliness.
Naik, Gopal, et al. “Bt Cotton Controversy: Some Paradoxes Explained.” Economic and Political Weekly 40.15 (2005) 1514-1517. Print
This article was based on a series of studies conducted to explain and resolve the debate surrounding the economic benefits of Bt cotton to farmers in India. It reports on both the positive and the negative results of the studies. This article helped explain what the concerns farmers had with Bt cotton were and what results had come from the genetically modified seed. The survey concluded that Bt cotton leads to significant pesticide reductions, yield gains, and income increases but not every single farmer will achieve these results based on the degree of heterogeneity among farmers.
New York Times: China, the Sweatshop. 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/06/opinion/06tue2.html>
This website from the New York Times focuses on the manufacturing and exportation of materials in china. It gives insight to the use of sweatshop labour among many industries located in China. The article explains that China exploits workers by having poor working conditions and cheap, underpaid wages for employees. This article was beneficial to me because it helped explain some of the harsh working conditions that occur in the Cotton manufacturing business that many consumers hear about, but don’t do anything to stop it. Many companies deal with these issues in harsh manners and it seems that most corporations generally do not care about their workers if it is not made public to their customers the background to their product.
“One for One Movement.” TOMS Shoes Canada. n.d. Web 1 Oct 2011
<http://www.tomsshoes.ca/our-movement/>
This section of the TOMS shoes website describes the company’s philosophy and how the movement to give away shoes started with founder Blake Mycoskie’s visit to Argentina. It also explains why the company has chosen shoes as its primary donation: they prevent cuts, stop the spread of disease, and allow children to go to school.
Organic Trade Association: Cotton and the Environment. 2011. Web. 3 Oct. 2011
<http://www.ota.com/organic/environment/cotton_environment.html>
<http://www.ota.com/organic/environment/cotton_environment.html>
This website is dedicated to the growth of organic materials and how it relates to the environment. The article explains how Organic agriculture practices can protect the health of the people as well as the planet by reducing the overall exposure to toxic chemicals from synthetic pesticides. The website outlines how many hazardous materials are used and added to the product during manufacturing and processing.
Palmer, Virginia. "Bauxite Controversy Produces Leadership Divisions." Dazzlepod. Wikileaks, 30 Aug.
2011. Web. 15 Oct. 2011. <http://dazzlepod.com/cable/09HANOI537/>.
A short cable involving itself with internationl issues arising from bauxite mining in Vietnam. It was useful in getting an idea of the global character of the ore, and how its processing affects the countries involved.
Qaim, Matin, et al. “Adoption of Bt Cotton and Impact Variability: Insights from India.” Review of Agricultural Economics 28.1 (2006) 48-58. Print
This article focuses on the impacts of Bt cotton in developing countries. It explains how in some parts of the world, Bt cotton has shown remarkable benefits for some farmers but there have also been reports that question these results. This article further explains what Bt cotton is and what exactly it is supposed to do. It explained that when using Bt cotton farmers experienced higher costs in growing the genetically modified cotton, but it produced higher yields. There was also the added benefit of less spraying of harmful chemicals. This article backs up the information found in the article by Gopal Naik.
Renton, David. "Economic Globalisation versus Social Justice? Rosa Luxemburg and the 'frontier of
Control'" Society in Transition 34.2 (2003): 221-32. Print.
This article helped me to better understand the theory behind the globalization of economies, specifically in how it affects the individual. I didn't actually reference it in anything I did, but it did help give me perspective.
Robbins, Bruce. “The Sweatshop Sublime.” PMLA: Publications of the Modern Language Association of
America 117.1 (2002): 84-97.
Robbins draws our attention to commodity chains and how we are oblivious to the origins of the products we consume. He also discusses that even when we have this realization, there is a second realization that knowing where the things we consume regularly will not result in any action.
Shiva, Vandana. “The Suicide Economy of Corporate Globalisation.” Z space: A community of people committed to social change. n.p. 2004. Web 3 Oct. 2011
<http://www.zcommunications.org/the-suicide-economy-of-corporate-globalisation-by-vandana2-shiva>
<http://www.zcommunications.org/the-suicide-economy-of-corporate-globalisation-by-vandana2-shiva>
This article written by Vendana Shiva was perhaps the most influential article on the devastating impacts of cotton farming in India. It outlines the crisis that is happening in India around the rapid increase of dept in farmers. Shiva outlines that when Bt cotton was first introduced, “the farmers lost Rs. 1 billion due to crop failure. Instead of 1,500 Kg / acre as promised by the company, the harvest was as low as 200 Kg” this decrease led to a substantial increase in poverty. The farmers feel that their only way to provide for their families is to commit suicide so their family can collect subsidies from the tragedy. This article outlined the harsh realities of life that many consumers do not realize and perhaps do not want to think about when buying clothes made from Indian Cotton.
“Simpsons: Banksy.” 10 Oct. 2010. YouTube. Web. 16 Oct. 2011.
Sri Lanka Port Authority. Sri Lanka Ports Authority. 2007. Web. 15 October 2011.
<http://www.slpa.lk/>
I used the Sri Lanka Port Authority web site to get their address that I could look up on Google maps to get a satellite view. #19, Chaithya Road, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka, (twenty-ninth busiest port on the world)
The Story of Cotton. n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2011
<http://www.cotton.org/pubs/cottoncounts/story/where.cfm>
<http://www.cotton.org/pubs/cottoncounts/story/where.cfm>
This website provided a variety of facts about cotton from its history to its whereabouts in the world. It explained, and backed up my information, on where the major cotton growing and producing countries were in the world.
SweatFree Communities: A Network for local Action Against Sweatshops. 2010. Web. 23 Oct. 2011. <http://www.sweatfree.org/shoppingguide>
This website was created by the International Labor Rights Forum. It is a list that identifies a variety of corporations that condone sweatshop free, ethical, and worker-friendly conditions in the production and manufacturing of materials. This website makes it a little bit easier for the average person to become a conscience consumer.
Timmerman, Kelsey. “The problem with TOMS shoes and its critics.” Made in America. 6 Apr. 2011.
Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
This blog contemplates TOMS business model in terms of the preconceptions it gives the consumer about the origins of TOMS shoes. Because TOMS are being giving to countries like Argentina and Ethiopia, as the consumer we assume that the shoes we are buying are also made there. But in reality the shoes that come to North America are made in China just like everything else.
“TOMS Manufacturing.” TOMS Shoes. n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.toms.com/manufacturing-practices>
The section of the TOMS shoes website dedicated to their manufacturing practices, explaining that their shoes are made in Argentina, China, and Ethiopia. I found this problematic because although they say their factories are audited, when I clicked on the link to the company that does their auditing, it did not lead to any kind of report.
Torelli, Carlos, Alokparna Basu Monga, and Andrew M. Kaikati. “Doing Poorly by Doing Good:
Corporate Social Responsibility and Brand Concepts. Journal of Consumer Research (2011). JSTOR. Web. 15 Oct. 2011.
This article discusses how brand concepts have become centered on the idea of corporate social responsibility because consumers are attracted to this kind of message.
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Role of Tea in Development
in Sri Lanka. Volume III. 1994. Web. 26 October 2011.
<http://www.unescap.org/drpad/publication/integra/volume3/srilanka/3sr01a.htm>
An amazing amount of good information about tea in Sri Lanka including a great graph that could be used for our power point presentation, even though Wikipedia reports Kenya and Sri Lanka have changed positions.
United Parcel Service of America. UPS Canada Tracking. 2011. Web. 26 October 2011.
<http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/OnlineTool>
After calling Lee Valley Tools and confirming their tea is shipped from Sri Lanka across the Pacific to Vancouver, I used the online UPS tracking service to follow my tea order back to BC from the Lee Valley store in Ottawa.
"USGS Minerals Information: Bauxite." USGS Mineral Resources Program. Jan. 2009. Web. 28 Oct.
2011. <http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/bauxite/>.
A document providing hard numbers for global bauxite production.
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia Apparel industry of Sri Lanka. 22 June 2011. Web. 26
October 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparel_industry_of_Sri_Lanka>
To relate to Shauna and Robyn’s products, cotton and Toms shoes, the design, manufacture and export of textiles and apparel products is one of the biggest industries in Sri Lanka, and one which plays a key role in advancing the country's economy. The apparel industry of Sri Lanka employs about 15% of the country's workforce, accounting for about half of the country's total exports, and Sri Lanka is among the top apparel-producing countries in the world relative to its population. Even though Toms aren’t made in Sri Lanka, Tommy Hilfiger clothing is, and all these products join each other in the container shipping lanes bringing products from the east to the west. I wanted to use a public source like Wikipedia for my trace of this tea, because it would represent information that is readily available to anyone.
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia Economy of Sri Lanka. 14 October 2011. Web. 26 October
2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Sri_Lanka>
To put the Ceylon Tea imported by Lee Valley Tools into the perspective of its country of origin, I researched that the main economic sectors of Sri Lanka are tourism, tea export, apparel, textile, rice production and other agricultural products.
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Lee Valley Tools. 12 September 2011. Web. 27 October
2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Valley_Tools>
I used Wikipedia to look up information on Lee Valley Tools, which a Canadian business (not publically traded) specializing in tools and gifts for woodworking and gardening.
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia List of world's busiest container ports. 29 October 2011.
Web. 29 October 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world%27s_busiest_container_ports>
I used Wikipedia to use statistics on container volumes at various ports to supplement the trace of the tea as it joins many other products on the trade route across the Pacific.
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia Tea production in Sri Lanka. 24 October 2011. Web. 26
October 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_industry_of_Sri_Lanka>
To delve deeper into actual tea production in Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, I found out it is of high importance to the Sri Lankan economy and the world market. The country is the world's fourth largest producer of tea and the industry is one of the country's main sources of foreign exchange and a significant source of income for laborers, with tea accounting for 15% of the GDP, generating roughly $700 million annually. In 1995 Sri Lanka was the world's leading exporter of tea, (rather than producer) with 23% of the total world export, but it has since been surpassed by Kenya.
Wood, John. "(Un)managing the Butterfly: Co-sustainment and the Grammar of Self." International
Review of Sociology 12.2 (2002): 295-307. Print.
This article mainly discusses what green consumerism entails, and why it has come to be such a factor in modern society. It helped give me a perspective to examine the situation from.
