It Really Is A Privilege

I saw this picture on Facebook the other day.  For me, it confirms what I had said in an earlier post about the outcome of the provincial election.  Yes the BC Liberals were the successful party, and no I did not vote for them, but that isn’t what really bugs me about the whole thing.  The cartoon also speaks volumes.

The fact that pretty much half of the graph is black representing non-voters is what really irks me.  Half of all registered voters in BC could not bother to cast their vote.  Not only is it a democratic right that all Canadians be allowed to vote, but more importantly, it’s a privilege. 

Thousands upon thousands of Canadians lost their lives for us, so we could have that right to vote and to free speech.  Yet, half of all registered voters in BC could not bother to get off their duff and head down to the voting hall.  Voters in some countries have also sacrificed their lives by showing up to vote.  It’s all taken for granted here in Canada.  I’ve seen so many excuses on Facebook as well.  All of them lame, made by people trying to justify their apathy.

So how do we reverse the trend, and make most of the black go away?  I don’t know.  I wish I had the answer.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

Today is my parents’ wedding anniversary.  Sixty-one years and still going strong!

Barbara and I, and my brother Brian enjoyed a wonderful lunch with them at the Monte Christo On The River Restaurant in Courtenay.  My good brother even picked up the tab.  Thanks very much, Bro’!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!  We sure hope you enjoyed the rest of your day.  We love ya!

Please, Consider Taking A Stand

 

By now, I’m sure most of us are well aware of the tragedy which occurred about three weeks ago at the garment factory in Bangladesh.

A couple of days later, I signed an on-line petition demanding that starting immediately and going into the future, better working conditions and worker safety be a part of the garment workers’ employment.  Today, I received an update to that petition being submitted and progress that has been made since that time.  I have attached the body of the email-update from SumOfUs.org

Please, take the time to read this – it isn’t too long - and also, please consider taking a stand against these corporations which refuse to sign the Building Safety Agreement – I’ve read Wal-Mart is another holdout - by signing the petition and by sending Gap a message.

Thank you.

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Major news: In the last 48 hours, over a half dozen major global clothing brands — from Benetton to H&M to Canadian brand Joe Fresh — have signed the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement.

Their decision to join this legally binding agreement comes in the wake of the worst industrial workplace disaster in history and ensures that Bangladeshi garment workers aren’t forced to work in death traps. A few weeks ago in Bangladesh, nearly 2,000 workers were trapped as the Rana Plaza building — which housed several major garment factories — caved in upon itself. So far, more than 1,100 people have been confirmed killed.

But there are still major brands holding out — and Gap is the most important. Gap was in negotiations with labor leaders to join the Agreement months ago, but then inexplicably backed away. Gap says it will sign the Agreement, as long as it isn’t legally binding. Essentially Gap is saying “we’ll sign, as long as no one can hold us accountable when we don’t follow through”. As consumers, it’s our job to push Gap over the edge!

Signing this agreement would ensure that the workers making Gap clothes have access to fire extinguishers, unlocked doors, and other basic fire safety precautions that we take for granted. The Agreement funds independent monitoring and investments in the most basic safety precautions.

Here’s how to make sure Gap hears us:
	Click here to write on Gap’s Facebook wall. Here are some examples of messages you can leave for the company, or you can write your own. Gap needs to make a stand, right now, to ensure that tragedies like Rana Plaza never happen again. Gap should stop trying to undermine the Agreement by preventing it from being legally binding. It’s time to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement. http://bit.ly/10GoOeh I will not shop at a store that gambles with people’s lives. By refusing to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement, Gap is displaying a disgusting level of greed. Stop putting lives at risk and sign now. http://bit.ly/10GoOeh Gap’s refusal to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement is a disgrace to the company, and to everyone involved in decision-making. Shame on Gap. Stop dragging your feet and join the many other companies that have already signed the Agreement. http://bit.ly/10GoOeh
	Or, if you don’t have Facebook, you can contact Gap at custserv@gap.com. Here are talking points you can use, but feel free to modify them if you’d like: Gap needs to make a stand, right now, to ensure that tragedies like Rana Plaza never happen again. Gap should stop trying to undermine the Agreement by preventing it from being legally-binding. It’s time to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement. I will not shop at a store that gambles with people’s lives. By refusing to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement, Gap is displaying a disgusting level of greed. Stop putting lives at risk and sign now. Gap’s refusal to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement is a disgrace to the company, and to everyone involved in decision-making. Shame on Gap. Stop dragging your feet and join the many other companies that have already signed the Agreement.

According to workers who were on the scene in the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh a few weeks ago, a crack had developed in the building the day before the collapse, triggering an evacuation order. Bank employees were told to stay home on Wednesday, but garment workers sewing clothes for major western brands were ordered to return to the production floor.

The SumOfUs.org community has been campaigning for months for major global retailers like the Gap to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement, which would ensure basic worker protections for Bangladeshi workers. In the wake of the Tazreen fire, which killed 112 Bangladeshi garment workers last November, our community mobilized to show these brands that we are paying attention to the deplorable conditions in their supply chains.

Over 150,000 of us petitioned global brands to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement. Then thousands of us donated to fund a trip by Sumi Abedin, a Tazreen factory survivor, and Kalpona Akter, a Bangladeshi labor activist, to come to the U.S. to challenge brands to take responsibility for their workers’ safety. We even held a rally outside Gap’s corporate headquarters, just days after this latest tragedy — which was covered in the New York Times. Gap might not have sourced from Rana Plaza, but if it doesn’t sign the building safety agreement, a similar disaster could strike a Gap supplier any day.

The bottom line for Gap is this: No one should die making your clothes. It’s time for Gap to sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement.