10h 44min, dec 24, 2019 y - Read an Article on Human Rights Violation
Description:
On Tuesday I read an article on human rights violations in Bangladesh for an International Law assignment. The basis of the article was that the fast fashion industry has exploited cheap labour to the point where garment workers in Bangladesh must work up to sixteen hours a day for seven days a week in order to make living wages. In addition to this, the article mentioned that crimes were not only being committed against workers through severely low wages but also against the environment as there are various repercussions to industrialization, especially when it is relentless. There are two primary factors of globalization involved in this event, cultural/societal and environment. However, all the factors of globalization can be related to the event.
In terms of cultural factors, globalization has magnified the number of people and companies one can buy from. This magnification has resulted in competing advertisements and marketing. With each company vying for the top position in the marketplace, looking for a way to reduce costs and maximize profit, globalization of production seems like the best way to go. Through this form of globalization, companies can take advantage of national differences in the cost and quality of factors of production. Most companies exploit cheap labour in undeveloped countries for the reason that this method keeps production costs low and inventory high given that workers are paid very little but are capable of producing hundreds of garments a workday. Fast fashion is a creation of its time, today, most people are not concerned so much about spending ten dollars on a new shirt, so long as it is “trendy,” fueling consumerism culture with every purchase despite intending to. That being said, with globalization, there comes more awareness of global issues as access to worldwide communication is readily available at any time.
The primary environmental issues that have resulted as a result of fast fashion include mass industrialization resulting in high CO2 emissions being produced, and the stripping of natural resources for universal benefit. In India and Bangladesh, the temperature is ideal for growing cotton, retail companies take advantage of the climate and create massive cotton fields which require vital resources, most important of which being water, to maintain.
Added to timeline:
Globalization Timeline
Date:
