Random questions to which you seek an answer
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I can understand your buddy not wanting to support Mugabe, but 'first world' is a somewhat loaded and problematic term, depending on one's perspective. Being from the one of the largest agrcultural regions in the US I can tell you business conditions and the negative influence thereof are often more deplorable in the 'first/developed world'. One of the major issues with Zimbabwe cotton, as I understand it, isn't that it necessarily funds the Mugabe regime, but rather his government and much of the farming community of the nation seem to be at odds with one another, causing problems for many small farmers. Cottco is the private holding company that manages Zimbabwe cotton:
"The Cottco investigation comes after recent criticism of the company by President Robert Mugabe, who alleged that the firm was externalising scarce foreign currency."
From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200401260670.html
Also: If I remember Zimbabwe had insane inflation…so, wouldn't that make their currency (too) plentiful, instead of scarce?@Seul:
My mate asked me this question:
_Those triple work tapered jeans looks killer. I was even considering buying some "premium" jeans to avoid wearing little kid-sewn Levis that I just have to rebuy every 6 months anyway. Then I see that IH uses Zimbabwe cotton. Not into financing the Mugabe regime.
So, any idea which brands I should be looking into if I want first world cotton woven by first world weavers and sewn by first world tailors? Heh._
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Thanks t_w_e!.. My mate's response. Not that I wanna drag this out or make a drama about it (Seth exaggerates the situation a bit in his description), just something I had actually never thought about, but he makes a good point… I'd rather not support a homophobic, racist b*stard such as Mugabi y'know...
_Did some more reading since that first post. The situation for cotton farmers in Zimbabwe is dismal at best. They're waaaay underpaid for their crops, as the exports are either handled by Cottco or Cargill, both huge corporations. So farmers are often paid less than the price necessary to even break even.
As for the US ag industry, I too live right in the middle of it. Your dude isn't wrong; it's not pretty for a lot if families. Corporate exploitation by Monsanto etc, has driven most of them into the red. But that's a rotten comparison. If an American farm family hits bottom, they get food stamps and wear thrift clothing. Maybe lose their home. If a Zimbabwean farm family hits bottom, they die of starvation before the AIDS that a quarter of the country's population has can get them.
I think your guys are probably choosing quality cotton over social responsibility. Which, I mean, is their decision. Just means that I'll have to shop for retardedly expensive jeans elsewhere. Haha. Thanks for the Samurai link, on that note!_
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Thanks t_w_e!.. My mate's response. Not that I wanna drag this out or make a drama about it (Seth exaggerates the situation a bit in his description), just something I had actually never thought about, but he makes a good point… I'd rather not support a homophobic, racist b*stard such as Mugabi y'know...
_Did some more reading since that first post. The situation for cotton farmers in Zimbabwe is dismal at best. They're waaaay underpaid for their crops, as the exports are either handled by Cottco or Cargill, both huge corporations. So farmers are often paid less than the price necessary to even break even.
As for the US ag industry, I too live right in the middle of it. Your dude isn't wrong; it's not pretty for a lot if families. Corporate exploitation by Monsanto etc, has driven most of them into the red. But that's a rotten comparison. If an American farm family hits bottom, they get food stamps and wear thrift clothing. Maybe lose their home. If a Zimbabwean farm family hits bottom, they die of starvation before the AIDS that a quarter of the country's population has can get them.
I think your guys are probably choosing quality cotton over social responsibility. Which, I mean, is their decision. Just means that I'll have to shop for retardedly expensive jeans elsewhere. Haha. Thanks for the Samurai link, on that note!_
Definitely food for thought!!
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I think your guys are probably choosing quality cotton over social responsibility. Which, I mean, is their decision. Just means that I'll have to shop for retardedly expensive jeans elsewhere. Haha. Thanks for the Samurai link, on that note!
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heheehe, i think that Lando and I are quite biased, cant keep us away from Nike.
edit: post 666
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A giant lump of Indian Indigo Dye…
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or to rephrase it - not chainstitching the hem feels like riding a car with 3 wheels
We can do anything
http://bybeatle.com -
Roping is sweet and so chainstitching is crucial.
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needless to say that I'm green with envy - but which island are The Lord and his queen gonna stay at whilst vacating in the Bahamas ?
We can do anything
http://bybeatle.com -
::)
