Preventing a Possible Disney Buyout

[JamieDenny]

"Disney bashing is popular right now."
Would it help if I said I bashed them before it was fashionable???
Jamie

 

[Cantus' Ghost]

For the record: you're not evil if you like Disney movies. Let's not confuse fans and American employees with the exceedingly wealthy corporate executives who make insensitive decisions that doom the people being used as cheap labor. Why would you be at fault if you had no idea what really went on? The thing is that Disney knows exactly what's going on. They always have known. They've never once denied the validity of their opponents. Nor have any of the organized protestors ever been sued by Disney for slander, libel, defamation, etc. Disney did try to stop student groups from circulating "MISERY" in traditional Disney typeface around college campuses, but all of this was done within copyright laws.

Disney bashing IS fashionable, and, yes, there are tons of other U.S. corporations who use sweatshop labor, but that does not give the largest American entertainment conglomerate the right to do whatever they please. The whole concept of capitalism is to make as much money as you can. Fine. Go ahead & make as much as you can but there is a growing movement that says you have to take responsibility for your work force and your products, beforehand. Does that really sound crazy?

If Disney or Universal or Viacom or whoever decides to use foreign cheap labor to make their diddly crap and 'apparel,' they should consider the consequences of doing so. These people in China, Haiti, Bengladesh, Vietnam, etc. are miserable. Sure, the cost of living is less in these countries is less but corporations like Disney do not pay their foreign workers living wages. I would like to see a Disney exec survive on the 17 cents an hour he paid to workers in Bengladesh. Either here or there, not one of them could do it. Neither can their employees around the world. When the workers try to unionize- as was the case with Disney's factory in Bengladesh or Nike in Cambodia- the corporations decide to up and leave. Now, their workers who lived slightly above the poverty line are back where they started. Wow. Doesn't it strike you as odd that Disney, the paragon of everything wholesome could be so contemptuous?

Yes, many corporations would have you believe that they are vehemently opposed to sweatshop labor. Some companies like Nike have even adopted their own code of ethics, stating so. But in a 2000 investigation by the BBC (click here), it was found that they were abiding by their own code of ethics only after the BBC found out that they weren't. Sweetums argued- and I respect his opinion no matter what- that companies "send people to check on conditions and that everything is okay." Then, why would literally thousands of people ( a great deal of student organizations, in particular) protest Disney if the conditions didn't exist. If companies do send representatives, they either must be blind or heartless. Besides, when did American corporations become so trustworthy?

Similarly, Disney claims to be involved in an international, non-governmental group who monitors their factories. This Swiss group actually a for-profit group that makes profits in the billions. When Disney investors began to question their foreign labor practices, the VP told them they would NOT look into the matter "because it would be inappropriate to for us to be involved in the social and economic agenda of other countries." Isn't tat an admission of guilt? (read the link to salon.com in the beginning of the thread.)

Oh, and for the record, Sweetums, I do not own one article of clothing or accessory made by the Gap, Nike, Reebok, etc. It's not because of the sweatshops; it's because its overpriced crap which the company tries to market as the next fad. It's garbage. There are very few clothing manufacturers in the U.S and corporations carefully conceal what goes on in their foreign factories. It is impossible to find out under what conditions every article of clothing I own was made. I just buy what looks cool and what is cheap. I can't understand why Sweetums and towels (who told me to educate myself before rallying for a cause) do not consider the sources cited as reputable. The Nat'l Labor Committee isn't reputable?? Salon.com (which features pieces by professional journalists whose corporate employers chose not to run) isn't reputable?? If you're waiting for CNN or MSNBC to break this story, you're in for a long haul; they have corporate sponsors to answer to and advertising revenue to be made. They will withhold the truth in order to secure that oh so precious revenue. Perhaps, this is why they consider Jennifer Lopez' exploits "newsworthy."

The reason for starting a petition is because Disney (as well as Viacom, Universal, WB) are interested in buying the Muppets. This is a Muppet forum. Disney is just a start, and, considering the current situation, I assumed this wouldn't fall on deaf ears on this forum. But it has. You guys keep saying "that's how it is," "every company is like that," etc. That doesn't make it right. We're the ones who provide revenue for the Henson Co; why shouldn't we do everything possible to prevent a buyout from multi-billion dollar corporations who feel no shame in treating people like they do?

So, I will ask yet again if someone will help me out with starting a petition? If you do not agree with it, don't sign it. Just don't be fooled into believing everything the richest people in the world will tell you in order to protect their massive profits.

C. Ghost

 

[Drtooth]

I still can see where you're coming from Cantus Ghost! But I still think that any company who buys them uses sweat shops! EVERY COMPANY USES SWEEAT SHOPS!!!! They took jobs away from Americans, they enslave the populous to make stuff for sale, yadda yadda, you get the point.

It won't stop me from picking up Lilo and Stitch or NBX bean bags, however. Besdies, they were already made! It's like my thoughts on Vegetarianism. I agree with them, but the animals are already killed, so the meat will go to waste anyway! Of course, meat helps farmers who can't grow crops, so my POV is changed a little.

Though I agree fully that corporate greed is evil, I don't think there's much I can do!

 

[Sweetums74]

CG-
You misunderstood my statements completely and obviously took them as a personal attach which I clearly stated that it wasn't.

I did question if you were doing your own research or if you were just taking what you were reading off your cited websites as fact. Here is why I questioned this- take any controversial subject- any subject that has strong supporters on both sides- look at their websites. Their websites are *only* going to provide information that will support their side of their argument. They may take items out of context. They may not fully expound on a statement that they make. They may take 2 unrelated issues and combine them in a way that will support their side. There isn't anything wrong with going to one of these sites and reading what they have to say... but one should also take the time to follow up and see if what is written is a concrete fact or if it is an opinion or possibly a completely untrue statement.
Special Interest groups are always going to take information that supports their interest and shove it in your face. They will also take information that does not support their interest and bury it. You are quick to point out that corporations do this, and many probably do. Special Interest groups are just as guilty.

I was wondering if you were actually doing this type of research yourself or if you were just believing what someone else was telling you. So far all I've heard you say is 'If It's on the Internet, It must be true'. This salon.com story that you are so adamently promoting has 2 major issues with it. The first being that it is from May 1997 which makes it 5+ years old- so this may or may not reflect anything that is currently happening- you don't know. The other is that the author, Bruce Shapiro, makes statement after statement after statement, but no where does he cite his sources of information. So while one could and should look into each and every statement that is made to support Shapiro's overall idea, one doesn't have the opportunity to see if Shapiro actually researched this information himself, if he did do his own research what were the sources that he used, were they reputable sources or were they propaganda? Did he take a tid bit of info and twist it so that it would support his overall idea? It is impossible to tell anything by just reading this.

"Sweetums argued- and I respect his opinion no matter what- that companies "send people to check on conditions and that everything is okay."

Actually, if you had read my statement carefully, I never said that this was my opinion. In fact, I said I have no opinion on the matter. I'd like to form one, but I'm yet to find (yes, I am and have been doing my own research because I'm interested in seeing what the big deal is- specifically why with all of the other domestic issues that are in the U.S. that offshore labor is taking precedent over issues in ones own backyard) anything compelling to sway me either way.

You can read my direct quote in my previous message- if you read between the lines, I was asking "Which side should one believe?" The anti-offshore labor websites all have major inconsistencies in their facts. Large Companies who utilize offshore labor all claim that they do check labor conditions. So which side is telling the truth? Can I trust websites whose "facts" fall apart when you look into them or who aren't current? Can I trust large companies who are in business to make money to satisfy their share holders? Both sides can't be lying. Both sides can't be telling the truth.

As I understand, you want to start a petition that basically states "Disney should not purchase the Muppets because Disney will utilize 'unethical' offshore labor to produce Muppet products and contribute to the overall poverty of a third world country".

You are not being vocal about the production of all of the new Muppet merchandise (t-shirts, underwear, shoelaces, keychains, watches, die-cast cars, pez heads, bobble heads, etc.) that are out now.

Am I safe to assume that you have found that these items are all being produced under conditions that you feel are safe and that all of the workers are being compensated for their labor appropriately?

In short- if Disney buys the Muppets, the way Muppet merchandise is currently being produced now will change and it will be a change for the worse.

Like I said, since offshore labor utilization is obviously something you feel very passionately about, get out there and do what you can to make a change. If you are going to target Disney, Aol-Time Warner, or any other company-- do your research first, organize your statements, and be able to back them up with concrete proof.

You could also go about it another way- figure out which company fits your ideal criteria as the purchaser of the Muppets and then rally support for that company. I bet if you take a more positive spin on your quest and can clearly explain why one company is better than all of the others, you may get a little more support.

Right now what I'm seeing is that you know where you want to go with your idea- you want the purchaser of the Muppets to have labor standards that meet your ethical and moral standards. You are just in a struggle to figure out the way to get there with your idea.

It's almost like you lost your sense of direction....

 

[Drtooth]

A little off topic, but Talk about mood swings. Read my first post, my second post, and my third. THE OPINIONS ARE ALL DIFFERENT!!!!

I just want to point this out, before someone else does and makes me look like an idiot. More so...