The Veggie Booty recall from a month ago? Salmonella in ingredients from China.
The couch with a racial slur on the label? From a Chinese firm.
Spontaneously combusting Nokias? They contain defective batteries made in China.
I worry for the people of China.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
And another thing
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6 comments:
The thing is, we can't really afford hippie toys. And most of the hand-me-downs we get (for which I am grateful but increasingly suspicious of) are toys that come from China. Along with everything else. That said, I have been paying more attention to the origin of our groceries - especially things like bandaids and toilet paper and so on. It's not really that hard to find a made-in-USA alternative to just about every product made in China.
I should probably explain that when it comes to food, we shop almost exclusively at our local farmers market, even for dry goods, dairy and meat. Of course, this approach really only works during the growing season...
I worry about the people of China also. Actually I worry about the people in many countries of asia, africa and s. america and other countries that are making goods for more "advanced" nations while doing without. We consume and waste their resources while the world watches us on television and wants to be more like us. Which when you think about it is truly disturbing. But the wheel turns; China is the fabulous jewel of the east once sought out for trade because they were technologically and culturally so advanced.
I hear you. Those hippie toys are insanely expensive. But here's what I'm thinking: I buy Thea way too many toys as it is, because she's always so grateful and it's fun for me. But if I keep exploiting her gratitude, I'm going to eff it up.
So, does she need the complete set of Dora figures? No. I bought them for me, a short-cut for me to get to see her exuberant. And each time, her enthusiasm wanes a little, so I try to be more extravagant the next time.
I don't know. I think we do what we can, and do it with our eyes open. What else is there to do?
My neighbors buy all wood, non-China toys for their grandkids. For them it's quality (and money) over quantity. But they only see their grandkids a couple times a week, so it's not the same as keeping your kid well-stocked with toys. And they usually indulge them with animated movies on DVD, so maybe that's their version of exploiting their gratitude. Speaking of which, this a.m. I threw out a beloved Dora figure, just in case (she only has two so far). It was Fischer Price, made in China, came from a yard sale, who knows if it has lead paint? A person (parent) could be really paralyzed by all of this, but maybe you're right - it's an opportunity to reevaluate how we're relating to, and raising (or appeasing), our kids.
Hot tip: anything with "booty" in the title is going to be brimming with fecal coliform bacteria. I READ IT ON THE INTARWEBS!
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