Chinese Workers Harmed by GE "Green" Product
Posted by Kaz at 4/2/2008 10:58 AM and is filed under labor,Bush,greed,Global Engagement,Bushites,Government 
Yesterday I wrote about the Bush administration's terrible record regarding workers' safety in this country and how its (de)regulatory agencies placed corporate profits ahead of the lives and health of workers. Bushites also do nothing about the awful consequences of corporate offshoring of American jobs.
Jonathan Tasini wrote about the lack of workers' safety at a plant in China in which corporate giant General Electric has a big stake.
"A report released a few days ago by Policy Matters Ohio investigated production of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at a plant in China in which GE has a significant stake. It’s a great notion to replace the energy-sucking incandescent light bulbs with CFLs but what is the price:
He continues, "I’m going to guess that the top brass at GE would be shocked, shocked to hear about these abuses. I’m even going to believe that they don’t consciously know that Chinese workers are probably dying or will live shorter lives because of their exposure to deadly chemicals."
Somewhat comparable to a description by Tom Hartmann about US bombing in Iraq and Afghanistan: "On the other hand, no one in our world considers drone warfare in a similar context, [inflicting "collateral damage" on civilian populations] though armed UAVs like the Predators and the newer, even more heavily armed Reapers are generally "flown" by pilots stationed at computer consoles in places like Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas. It is from there that they release their missiles against "anti-Iraqi forces" or the Taliban, causing civilian deaths in both Iraq and Afghanistan."
Both GE and these particular US military "pilots" are probably less aware of the ramifications of their "product" on human lives because they are separated by thousands of miles from the reality of the deaths their "product" causes.
Then Tasini concludes, "But, this is how the wonders of global capitalism and so-called "free trade" operate. Create partnerships with far-away companies who do the daily dirty work of policing workers. That guarantees that Chinese workers don’t show up as faces in the spreadsheets of GE that show increased "efficiency" and "lower prices". It is all very distant and invisible. And no one holds GE executives accountable. And, then, GE (like its other corporate counterparts like Wal-Mart) can promote its wonderful contributions to the American lifestyle because, praise the lord, we are now more "efficient" and we benefit from "lower prices".
"This is one of the challenges we face with "corporate greening" efforts. What exactly is a "green" job and what price will workers pay for a cleaner environment?"
Which brings up another question. In my community, there is no place to drop off the mercury contained "green" compact fluorescent lights (CFL) for safe recycling or disposal. This mercury then must go into landfills and garbage dumps where some (how many?) may break and leech into the soil and groundwater.
Did the manufacturer's consider this problem? Probably not seriously; only the profits if the disregard for the health and safety of the manufacturing workers in China is any indication. And many US consumers and communities are not aware of the breakage and disposal hazards.
Sounds eerily like the promotion of "clean" nuclear energy, where the dangers of nuclear radioactive waste (depending on the waste it can remain radioactive for periods of hundreds of thousands of years) and its disposal seems like an afterthought...a dangerous afterthought for the environment, the planet, and its inhabitants.
Jonathan Tasini wrote about the lack of workers' safety at a plant in China in which corporate giant General Electric has a big stake.
"A report released a few days ago by Policy Matters Ohio investigated production of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at a plant in China in which GE has a significant stake. It’s a great notion to replace the energy-sucking incandescent light bulbs with CFLs but what is the price:
"Tasini also includes a list of other labor violations."CFLs contain mercury, like other fluorescents, in order to function. Mercury is a well-known toxin, and mercury vapor can cause serious damage to the central nervous system. Though the amount of mercury in a CFL is small, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends opening a window and leaving the room for at least 15 minutes before beginning clean-up of a broken bulb.Yet workers at the Topstar plant do not receive "a detailed account of work dangers" as their contracts stipulate, receive little safety training and often do not know basic facts about factory safety.
The majority of workers interviewed told researchers they had no idea that the company was using mercury, or how to protect themselves. Told the meaning of the character for mercury, or gong, they said there were many plastic barrels on which "discarded objects containing gong" was written in red. The barrels were filled with CFLs and often were open or not properly sealed.
Experienced workers end up with swollen fingers from repeatedly pricking themselves with electronic components they are plugging in. Workers reported that when they finish their shifts, they ache all over and their legs have gone numb. One veteran worker said, "Ah, after more than a year [here], I am more or less numb all over and have become a machine!" Other workers interviewed made similar comments.
He continues, "I’m going to guess that the top brass at GE would be shocked, shocked to hear about these abuses. I’m even going to believe that they don’t consciously know that Chinese workers are probably dying or will live shorter lives because of their exposure to deadly chemicals."
Somewhat comparable to a description by Tom Hartmann about US bombing in Iraq and Afghanistan: "On the other hand, no one in our world considers drone warfare in a similar context, [inflicting "collateral damage" on civilian populations] though armed UAVs like the Predators and the newer, even more heavily armed Reapers are generally "flown" by pilots stationed at computer consoles in places like Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas. It is from there that they release their missiles against "anti-Iraqi forces" or the Taliban, causing civilian deaths in both Iraq and Afghanistan."
Both GE and these particular US military "pilots" are probably less aware of the ramifications of their "product" on human lives because they are separated by thousands of miles from the reality of the deaths their "product" causes.
Then Tasini concludes, "But, this is how the wonders of global capitalism and so-called "free trade" operate. Create partnerships with far-away companies who do the daily dirty work of policing workers. That guarantees that Chinese workers don’t show up as faces in the spreadsheets of GE that show increased "efficiency" and "lower prices". It is all very distant and invisible. And no one holds GE executives accountable. And, then, GE (like its other corporate counterparts like Wal-Mart) can promote its wonderful contributions to the American lifestyle because, praise the lord, we are now more "efficient" and we benefit from "lower prices".
"This is one of the challenges we face with "corporate greening" efforts. What exactly is a "green" job and what price will workers pay for a cleaner environment?"
Which brings up another question. In my community, there is no place to drop off the mercury contained "green" compact fluorescent lights (CFL) for safe recycling or disposal. This mercury then must go into landfills and garbage dumps where some (how many?) may break and leech into the soil and groundwater.
Did the manufacturer's consider this problem? Probably not seriously; only the profits if the disregard for the health and safety of the manufacturing workers in China is any indication. And many US consumers and communities are not aware of the breakage and disposal hazards.
Sounds eerily like the promotion of "clean" nuclear energy, where the dangers of nuclear radioactive waste (depending on the waste it can remain radioactive for periods of hundreds of thousands of years) and its disposal seems like an afterthought...a dangerous afterthought for the environment, the planet, and its inhabitants.
Comments