Thoughts on Apple’s Human Cost.

The recent articles on Apple’s human cost of their products had me put off by my gadgets for a while. It’s forced me to realise how far removed our lifestyles are from the harshness underlying its creation and maintenance… and how quickly we can realise the harshness and put it aside.

But let’s be realistic, as a few of my friends have made me realise, most of our modern comforts ahve these costs attached. We’ve seen it all through the late 90′s and the last decade.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you should read Naomi Klein’s "No Logo".  Occupy Wall Street did not spawn from nothing. There are deep frustrations here and we need to be aware that our lifestyles and comforts have costs above and beyond the money in our pockets.

I’m not saying we should give up all the things which make our lives easier, but my solution to this is that we need to be more aware, and even more important, ACT to make some change.  We should be taking a stand against Apple and making forcing them to make changes which would help the people who make their products.

I echo the sentiments of David Chen on this issue…

They don’t [make better working conditions], because no one cares. They don’t because the voices of their shareholders are louder than the voices of their consumers (who are voting with their dollars and buying products left and right).

But our comforts are too important to us and we’re not willing to fork out more cash so that other people might live just a little bit better.  If the iPhone suddenly jumped by a 100 bucks, we’d opt for Samsung smartphones… and what would any self-respecting capitalistic corporation do? Lower prices to compete, and the cycle starts again.  It will take a very revolutionary change across entire industries to see the change which will result in better treatment for those in the countries which hold our comfortable lifestyles on their shoulders.

How can the idea’s behind Occupy Wall Street not make any sense to you now? The current state of capitalism is rotten, something needs to change.

Tags: Apple, Human cost, Capitalism, Lifestyles, modern life

Gentlemen, A Call to Arms! The Expendables vs. Eat, Pray, Love.

I Love this. How absolutely honest. So enough bitching on Facebook and Twitter about the nauseating sparkly vampires and how your wife/Significant Other has forced you to watch yet another one of the barrage of chick flick which have flooded the scene.

It’s time you got off your ass and put your money where your mouth is. Prove you’re a man!

Gentlemen, it’s time we get out a bit more. By its 2nd week Rambo was beaten by 27 Dresses and Hanna Montana. Stallone ripped a man’s throat out with his bare hands! We can’t let this happen again.

We Will Not Go Down – Michael Heart

This song continues to inspire me… Michael Heart’s "We Will Not Go Down" www.michaelheart.com

Irreconcilable Differences

The Judge walks in and everybody instinctively rises. I suddenly feel like I’m back in primary school and you had to stand every time a teacher or the principal came into the class and greet them loudly, unquestioningly. I know it’s a matter of respect and it does have its place but I have this innate problem with authority, especially authority which enforces rituals instituted by archaic social conventions.

So I grudgingly stand as the judge, a very chubby man of about 50 years old, walks to his seat. His impossible to hide double-chin depresses as he lifts his head from his notes and calls the first divorce case for the day, “Case two-oh-three-four, two thousand and seven, Mr James and Ms Jackson.”

The lawyers constantly refer to the Judge as “Your worship…” which irritates me again but I’m just an observer here. They bow as they leave the room, the judge doesn’t notice this at all and this indicates to me how ingrained the behaviour is amongst lawyers and people in general. Is this part of the curriculum at law school? “Etiquette and behaviour in court” or something similar? I wonder…

No doubt, social convention has its place. The masses are fucking idiots… just look at the lyrical content of the top 40 hit countdown and suddenly social conventions to keep people in line and instil some sort of structure makes sense. But then again, it’s the same system purveying the culture of self-gratification and delusion anyway. Which is why, from an overall perspective, the whole thing grates against my being.

Yes we need some form of authority and structure, but I reserve my right to question it and wholeheartedly disagree with it.

Yeah Baby! Social Media is the New PUNK ROCK!

I’ve always seen Punk as a philosophy rather than a once off bunch of noisy kids with spiked hair and bad attitudes. It was about standing up to the establishment, breaking the rules, going against the norm.  They are the ultimate modern form of talking straight back with their own interpretation of how to talk back in the first place.  Hence, the below video, is a bit misplaced with comparing punk rock only to social media… it’s bigger than that.  The philosophy, I believe, transcends all media because it addresses the underlying intentions behind WHY we communicate.

So if you question the norms, don’t agree with them and voice your opinions with any media whatsoever… you are a PUNK.  Word… Enjoy the video :)

Technorati Tags: Punk, Punk Rock, Music, Philosophy, Social Media

How Israeli’s are ‘Helping’ Iran

Everyone knows that Israel is most definitely NOT a friend of Iran in any way or form.  Given the current circumstances in the country and the media coverage around Iran and Election, in our information age, it goes without say that there would be spin from either side regarding the coverage.

Case in point, from a social media perspective, is the website helpiranelection.com On the website it shows the man behind it all to be “Arik Fraimovich, friendly web-geek.”

and.. here’s the guy’s personal website…

Notice… Israeli Military Consultant… You can’t tell me this doesn’t tarnish the intentions behindthe websites intent on helping the Iranian people. This also makes me question all of the media surrounding this issue. This post is not about standing behind any particular side but it is an attempt to get people to look a bit deeper and bit further than what we get force-fed over News websites and TV journalism.

WE seem to slip back into complacency a lot when we see a lot of our friends following a trend on Twitter or wherever, and quell the urge to question the nature behind the source of all the information.

It’s not a great place to be when people’s rights are curtailed for the benefit of the few, but the lines which are drawn are far from black and white. The shades of grey behind the so-called good intentions of some people need to be made a bit clearer. Because, unfortunately, the one’s with the worst intentions know how to play the system and the shades of grey tend to spiral more toward darkness.

All I’m asking is that you question… question everything, don’t blindly believe.

Technorati Tags: Iran, Israel, Websites, Support

Just how bad is the Cholera Situation in Zimbabwe

A reader, Abdoul, of this blog who works for Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders in London ad left comment on my previous blogpost on Blog Action Day, mentioned the deteriorating situation which they are facing in Zimbabwe with the Cholera situation.

The situation is even worse for the lack of sanitation and water. There are also concerns with the start of the rainy season and the shortage of drugs.

They are in desperate need of any help they can get, please contact him via their website which covers all their work in the area and the challenges they are facing. I feel this is really important from a humanitarian perspective, we all have a responsibility as human beings to at least contribute in some way. For anyone who is able to assist them in their endeavours, please visit their site and contact them urgently!

You can’t afford it…SO DON’T BUY IT! You Idiot.

I think this is a pretty cool reminder from Consumer Reports to all credit card holders over the festive season.  Especially in America… and especially given the trillions already tolled in American debt.

IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT, DON’T BUY IT! YOU BLOODY IDIOT.  I have this deep sadness for people who can’t see past their own short-term actions and then find themselves, over-weight, under-paid, swimming in debt and facing another mid-life crisis.

Big Up to Consumer Reports for the reminder… No Bailouts in the Credit Card Contract… you will be paying ALL OF IT back.

Link

Technorati Tags:
Credit Cards, Consumer Report, Bailout, Holidays, Christmas, Spending, Debt, American

Blog Action Day: Conquering Poverty in South Africa

Today is Blog Action Day: The Conversation on Poverty

With regards to the current context in South Africa, poverty is ,and always has been, a very big problem.  Most people even point this out as the source of all the other problems which South Africans face on a day-to-day basis.  Things like violent crime, lack of education, corruption, etc. are all rampant in South Africa at the moment.

But let’s not all this deter us from one simple fact: WE ARE DOING NOTHING! except, ofcourse, COMPLAINING.  Right, get off your asses and high horses and do something concrete to uplift your communities.  There are NGO’s and other institutions available and you also have your own God-given brain to figure something out to help out people who really do need helping out.

So if you never gave a 5cent piece to the guy at the traffic light begging for change, make a change and start with that. however, I do urge you to aim a little higher ;)

Here’s some South African Welfare organisations which are pretty active in helping out the indigent…

• Gift of the Givers Foundation – The Waqful Waqifin (Gift of the Givers) Foundation is a humanitarian relief organisation supporting the impoverished worldwide.

• Al Imdaad Foundation – The Al Imdaad Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian aid organisation, registered in South Africa.

• Muslim Hands (South Africa) – Muslim Hands is an international relief organisation. Website features reports from projects. Online donation system available.

• Islamic Relief – Islamic Relief provides you with an opportunity to support the poor locally and internationally, by assisting widows, orphans, disabled and the illiterate.

These are the Muslim organisations I could find off hand which are doing really good work in South Africa to alleviate poverty, not only from helping people out, but also from upgrading their skills and education to help them help themselves.  Please send me links so I can add to this list of other organisations in South Africa so that we can get moving with uplifting communities out of Poverty!

The Conversation Agent site gives 3 things we can do to alleviate poverty in one way or another:
1) Volunteering
2) Mentoring
3) Giving

Let’s try and do at least one of these things on an individual level to help those less fortunate than us.

Peace.
: Activism, South Africa, Blog Action Day, Volunteering, Giving, Mentoring

Duality of Humanity Exhibition

Obey has this cool new exhibition in the spirit of Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket i.e. the peace sign with “Born to Kill” next to it.

The title of the show is the picture above called “Duality of Humanity” of a kid soldier with a flower in his hat.

Very interesting imagery and something I love… Artistic criticism and commentary, all in one. The website looks pretty cool too :)
: Art, Activism, Obey

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