After reading the article written by Bob Jeffcott, “Sweat, Fire and Ethics”, I was left feeling as if his claims were mostly effective in persuading me about his intent. The author describes of how sweatshop abuse is still an ongoing problem, and proposes a way that we, as consumers, can help with the matter. Although Fairtrade cotton is becoming more available throughout the world, Jeffcott tells of what happens when the cotton goes downstream, and how very little is being done about the conditions the way the sweatshops are being managed. He suggests that we as citizens find ways to support the workers’ rights. His concern about the conditions the workers of the sweatshop factories are working under seems sincere. The sincerity and concern he seems to have, convinces me to believe in his argument.
The author works with an organization, Manquila Solidity Network, which is a labor and women’s rights organization. With his work for the organization I find that his credibility is legit and trustworthy. He describes how the cotton is to be monitored after being sent downstream by a third party. Jeffcott then states that the audits being done are “notoriously unreliable”. With that being said, the Fairtrade organic cotton t-shirt, could have been sewed in a sweatshop by a young female, being forced to work long hours for low wages, in a dangerous setting. I
When the writer describes an incident that happened on April 11, 2005, I think he is reaching to the audience by emotions. He tells the story of how the structure of a sweatshop in Bangladesh collapsed and killed 64 workers, and leaving many others injured. The factory added extra stories to the building and put heavy equipment on the floors against better judgement.Jeffcott also reported that prior to the incident the workers complained of seeing cracks in the structure. That gave me the impression that it could have been prevented, and over a neglected matter, people...