From Wikipedia...
"A sweatshop is a working environment with conditions that are considered by many people of industrialised nations to be difficult or dangerous, usually where the workers have few opportunities to address their situation. This can include exposure to harmful materials, hazardous situations, extreme temperatures, or abuse from employers. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for little pay, regardless of any laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may also be violated.
Although often associated with poor developing countries, sweatshops may exist in any country. Sweatshops have existed in several different countries and cultures, including in the United States and Europe. Sweatshops usually employ low levels of technology, but may produce many different goods, for example, toys, shoes, clothing, and furniture".
Mr. Kristoff, in his NY Times Op-Ed article and video, offers a very different view to the public's perception of a sweat shop.
http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/opinion/nicholas-d-kristof/1194811622305/index.html#1231545255329
Watch the video. Write a two paragraph (4 sentences for each paragraph) response. In paragraph one, summarize the author's views on sweatshops. In paragraph two, discuss whether or not you think he makes a persuasive argument? Why/why not?
Sign your name to your assignment.
19 comments:
Sweat shops can be both good and bad, it depends on the point of view. This is because in America we think sweat shops are bad and they should be against the law. In other countries like Cambodia people would rather work in a sweat shop instead of some of the other jobs they have there which are more risky and tiring. To them sweat shops are a good thing. Sweat shops can be good or bad, it just depends on who you are asking and what country you are in.
The author in this video talks about the benefits of sweatshops. He starts off by showing us the conditions in Cambodia, because there aren't any sweatshops near. People scavage the dump in order to survive, and a sweatshop job being a dream job. Children also have to take part in the scavaging, but if the sweatshop rules were enforced, they wouldn't have to work in hazerdous conditions.
My opinion of sweatshops is posative. But only if they are done correctly. Sweatshops should offer the same benefits we take for granted here in the United States. The workers should be paid a fair wage and should be given health benefits. No children should be allowed and the sweatshops should have clean, safe, and cool conditions.
The authors approves and disapproves of sweatshops. To him the sweatshops create more jobs. Rather than an alternatives like scavening, and prostitution. He figures the sweatshops are a better alternative.
The author definetly makes an persuasive arguement. I agree and disagree with both sides of the arguement. The people deserve better than both the scavening dumps and sweatshops. At the same time if you could choose one, i would choose sweatshops.
erins comment ^
The reporter believes that sweatshops are important to keep open. He doesnt think good working conditions should be promoted because it affects poor areas around the world. These areas are affected because the working conditions would be too high so companies wounldnt come to the area to open a factory. Allowing no job openings for the poor.
The arguement is wall argued. I think he is thinking more short term then long term unless he thinks they should allow them to stay open for a while then to promote for better working conditions. I think the poeple working in sweat shops are facing about the same problems as digging through the trash because sweat shops can be just as dangerous. So its more of a matter of thinking short term or long term.
The author views sweatshops as an opportunity for people in under developed countries to make a living. Even though the conditions are not good, the people need to make money somehow. He mentioned that Obama wants to do something about tightening the trade with countries with sweat shops and how that would cause more problems. He also talked about how some people would actually like to work in these sweatshops even for the little amount that they earn.
I do believe that this man makes a good point, but it has not persuaded me to think differently about sweatshops. People deserve to get a fair wage with decent working conditions - no matter what country you live in. It may not be realistic to say that, but if we push for better tomorrows today, no one will have to work in horrible conditions in the future. I also think that children need to get an education and I don't think they should have to work in a crappy dump in order to make money for their families.
The author is explaining how these people in lybaria are suffering just to work.he was offering if they rather work in sweatshops than out in the trash.But for me I think sweatsshops are a good thing for these people or just create more jobs.Because outside looking and scavageing like volture for a job in the sun aint that cool. And to see little kids and grown adults that are looking though trash kills me.
Therefore, I feel like we having the good life over here and we need to start helping other countrys though there problems. And we need to live up to are name the United states of America
The author thinks that sweatshops are a good idea. This is because the people rather be inside then outside digging through trash. The poor people have jobs then. Its not very safe digging through the trash because some get hurt.
Yes he made a persuasive argument. I think that because what he was saying made a point. People want safety. They want a steady job.
-Iris Trejo
yes i do think its a persuasive argument. their are more worst things going on than working in a sweatshop.i'm not saying that sweatshop are a good thing every were,but for some people sweatshop are a dream job compare to theirs.
i think the government should look at diffrent situation diffrntly. For some country this kind of jobs are a good thing.and try to creat more jobs in diffrent countrys
Daniel BOku
In the video they talked about the sweatshops around Asia. People have to collect plastic from a dumpster so they can sell them for five cents. Some of the people even live there, around hazardous toxics that burn their eyes. What I don't like about sweatshops is that child labor laws are violated, they have no sympathy for the children; they make them work just like all the other adults. The guy in the video says that if we care about the poor, we should be campaigning for sweatshops and not against them, which I don't understand why. He also had that if Obama rises labour standards he is giving people worst jobs. The author of the video does make a good argument but I don't agree with him because we shouldn't be campaigning something that abuses employers and violates child labor laws.
The author did like the idea of sweat shops. He said that is gives poor people a job. He rather have them working in a sweatshop than digging through trash. He thinks that the sweatshop is safer than other jobs.
I think that he make a persuasive argument. He changed my mined about sweatshops. I guess that it is safer to work in a sweatshop than other job.
Lisa Watts
In the view of Mr. Kristoff sweatshops are a good thing because, if people don't get to work in factories with small pay, than they will work in the dump picking up recycling goods risking everything. Not that sweat shops are good but it's a better alternative. Though sweatshops have their risks, working in a dump with all the diseases and horrible conditions are bad but people have no other options but to work there. So are sweatshops really a good thing?
Well the author makes a really good argument. I rather work in a dangerous sweatshop than work in a dump. But, I still believe sweatshops should be taken seriously and should be banned. It seams like the author is trying to encourage sweatshops, but there should be a better way to give ADULTS a job with good pay so the children won't have to work anywhere and the adults with the job shouldn't have to be at risk and shouldn't do it illegally. Maybe this is me thinking of a perfect fairytale world but this is how it should work.
Tenbit Melesse
The author went to Cambodia to make this short video, and show the world what's happening in these poor countries. Some people work for just a nickle all day at a dump. I think that in a way, he's trying to make people realize that it could be much worse for everyone, and we should appreciate that we live in this completely different world.
I think, that sweatshops are good in a way, and also bad. They are good, because the low salary benefits the economy, but those people can't get enough money, even though they work all day. They should give then opportunities to work in factories, and raise their salaries.
The author has very different views on sweat shops. He thinks that sweat shops are a better alternative than some things that many native people are doing in there countries. For example digging around in trash trying to make a living while they are hurting themselves. In America we think sweat shops as being bad in other countries they think sweat shops are good.
What I don't like about sweatshops is that child labor laws are violated, they have no sympathy for the children themselves. At first i thought the guy was crazy but then as he expanded i started to understand where he was coming from. At the end i thought he did do a good job persuading me. Now i have a different views on sweatshops than i did before.
The reporter in the video makes a compelling argument about sweat shops and how he feels they are important to stay open. The working conditions in sweat shop areas are at a high injury risk, and a factory would a better work enviorment than they current conditions.That is unfair to not have jobs avaiable for the less fortunate. they should just give the workers better working conditions and then your worker will be able to work longer cause they wouldnt have major body injuries like they do now.
The point of view i have on the reporter is that he is invisioning short term plans rather than long term. i dont support sweat shops but if theyare going to be around they might as well have health benifits for their workers. The management incharge of sweat shops should seriously change there workers enviornment so that they can be safe for one and number two so that they can be treated equally as other people over here with similar jobs. such as a trash man who get way more benifits for the relatively same job.
George Owino
It shows two veiws of sweat shops. In a way the author thinks sweat shops are good or productive. In the U.S. we view sweat shops as cruel or unusual labor/ punishment. In foreign countries sweat shops are favored because its better than doing construction, scavenging for plastic or prostitution.
The author states that if Obama highers the standards for labor than theere will be more sweat shops in foreign countries.
- Sam Henderson
The author of this video seems to be both in agreeance and disagreeance with the idea and reality of sweatshops. He opens up by giving the viewer a taste of what Cambodia is like, and how people are forced to live in poverty there. The living conditions of most Cambodiansis utterly disguisting. The video shows families that have lived in trash dumps all their lives scavenging for life itself. If sweatshops were a option, these families would not have to scavenge in the basement of the business world any longer. In my opinon sweatshops are bad, but there are worse things, such as the things that were shown in the video. There is a woman in the video that states that if sweatshops became an option, she would deffinatly take advantage of the opportunity. I get this type of vibe throughout the entire Cambodian population. What needs to be done is simple. We need to outlaw scavenging in dumps, and implement jobs in sweatshops (or better). If it is illegal for the people to scavenge, it will stop most of it all together. It's all about trying to raise the basement of the workforce, even if that means an inch.
-Chris Hook
please disregard my last post. i didnt separate the paragraphs. he is the new version.
Chris Hook
The author of this video seems to be both in agreeance and disagreeance with the idea and reality of sweatshops. He opens up by giving the viewer a taste of what Cambodia is like, and how people are forced to live in poverty there. The living conditions of most Cambodiansis utterly disguisting. The video shows families that have lived in trash dumps all their lives scavenging for life itself. If sweatshops were a option, these families would not have to scavenge in the basement of the business world any longer.
In my opinon sweatshops are bad, but there are worse things, such as the things that were shown in the video. There is a woman in the video that states that if sweatshops became an option, she would deffinatly take advantage of the opportunity. I get this type of vibe throughout the entire Cambodian population. What needs to be done is simple. We need to outlaw scavenging in dumps, and implement jobs in sweatshops (or better). If it is illegal for the people to scavenge, it will stop most of it all together. It's all about trying to raise the basement of the workforce, even if that means an inch.
-Chris Hook
The video explains the poor working conditions in Cambodia. He thinks having a sweatshops are good because it allows jobs. For the poor digging through trash constantly, even having the oppurtunity to get such a job is a dream. The kids suffer along with their parents while it really being a horrible area for them to grow up in.
When i first began thinking about sweatshops i thought they were very disgusting and against human rights. After watching this video i think it makes more sense to live inside a place rather than in the scorching sun. At least the enviorment will be a tad bit better for the children. Although, they do need to be a WAY better conditions.
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