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About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2006)
December Forum STUDENTS a bout mmmm m Madison Wegener, sophomore Abercombie: sold in U.S., made overseas C alley L athrop Staff Reporter Abercrombie & Fitch is a brand that runs rampant in our school. Everywhere I walk, there are students with the familiar moose in the comer of their designer shirts. However, I don't think anyone knows that their designer shirts and pants are not "made in the U.S.A.," but made by the hands of sweatshop workers in the Mariana Islands. Most students might think that their A&F products are made in the U.S.A. because the tag on the back says so. That is not the case. According to www. salon, com, in 1944 the U.S. fought ' the Japanese in a bloody battle and gained control of a small group of islands just off the eastern states in the Atlantic. They were named "The Mariana Islands," and made a commonwealth of the U.S. That meant that companies could set up shop there, and labor laws would not fully apply. "I think it's fine, because you have the option to say 'no' to recruitment. You make your own decisions. It's an important cause to consider." "Unless the recruiters target students based on their grades, I don't really think it matters. It's your choice to say yes' or 'no' in the end." V \ \ > * % * Jessica Johnson, junior ■* Among others, Abercrombie began hiring (usually poor) Japanese, Chinese and Filipino workers in their new factories. The migrants were told that they were going to America and would be given good jobs and a better life. Once they arrived, they were housed in barracks that were unsanitary and forced to work up to ten hours a day, seven days a week and were only paid for around six hours. The minimum wage on the islands is around $3 an hour and most of the factories are located in the capital, Saipong. To me, that is the closest it could get to slavery All of this is still going on today and it gets worse all the time. The workers cannot go home; to do so would mean paying around $4,000, money most of them don't have. M a r g a r et A dam s Staff Reporter If you're interested in supporting sw eatshop- free corporations, you m b ìiiiiiip tglP'' ■ *8 I »I » — I Sr, - ' ï I ’I think they should have the ability to get the info ir you show physical scars heal. Their emotional scars probably never will. Abercrombie isn't the only company that partakes of this nearly free labor. Companies such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Polo, Ralph Lauren, The Gap, Sears Roebuck and Co., Nordstrom, Wal- Mart and Target also take part in these atrocities. These companies may not make all of their clothes in the Mariana Islands, but they do make a portion of them. Lawsuits have been filed against the companies and settlements have been paid. Certain laws are in process that should allow workers more rights, but so far none of them have been seriously enforced. I think that, as of now, the government is perfectly happy with the money they are making and so is Abercrombie & Fitch. There is something we can do about this. We, as free Americans, (unlike the garmet workers) have choices. We can choose to buy that $35 shirt, or we can find somewhere else that keeps its factories in the U.S. We have included information on a store that keeps their business in the U.S. Buy their clothes! Another comment I hear constantly is, "Oh, but these clothes are sooooo much more comfortable!" There are a lot of comfortable clothes out there. Just because that shirt has a funny looking moose on it doesn't make it better than others. Lying is wrong, abusing workers is wrong, and ruining lives to make profit is wrong. That is what Abercrombie & Fitch is doing. Their workers in the Mariana Islands came here searching for a better life, wanting to live out the American dream. They came and were given nothing but unsanitary barracks and factories that become their prisons until the day they die. All so we can wear clothing made by the overrated and overpaid clothing store Abercrombie & Fitch. American Apparel offers sweatshop free option Zachary Long, freshman IB » « According to Witness, org, the women in these factories are often forced into prostitution and if they get pregnant, they are forced to have an abortion or go back home. Again, no one can afford that. The workers are often beaten or raped, and cannot do anything about it except let the "We don’t get a say in it, so to me it seems like :i¥v an invasion of privacy. I don't want to be asked or recruited to join the army; It's a very personal decision and a long lasting one." M eet Julio. Am erican Appare!“ can start by checking out A m erican A pparel. A ccording to the com pany's m ission statem ent, they've consolidated all stages of production under one roof at their dow ntow n Los A ngeles factory. Em ployees are allow ed paid tim e-off, free parking, bus passes, on site m asseurs and affordable health care for them and for their fam ilies. Each em ployee is offered year-round em ploym ent at w ages as low as $13 per hour to as high as $27 0 » SW & W fc SWS-WWí SAvC* & *» :« • :¥>.<«* WtSS&SS í £ í -Ufi w irtv* «:• :*> * i-ixoSi-xÿ :<■ ä * :> : .:>x3sSí>:«. >: per hour, as w ell as offering job security. The products are m ostly cotton basics (T-shirts, sw eatshirts, etc.) in a w ide variety of colors as w ell as a "sustainable" line that is produced entirely of organic cotton. If you're into nam e brands em blazoned on your tees, stick w ith A bercrom bie & Fitch because A m erican A pparel is logo-free. These are tw o easy to find Portland locations: A m erican A pparel 3412 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. Portland, Ore. 97214 Tel. (503) 231-0043 A m erican A pparel 1234 S.W. Stark St. Portland, Ore. 97205 Tel. (503) 721-0700 i
