"Made in China" needs to matter

I work in the footwear industry and most of our shoes are made in China. We don’t currently have a factory base in Chengdu, where the earthquake struck on May 12th but a quick Google search revealed there are about 2000 shoe factories in that area, along with factories and plants that crank out your cars, apparel, furniture, house wares and even your food. I know there is some level of apathy regarding the economic juggernaut that China has become. We tend to view these industries with complacent disregard because it’s easier for us to just go buy that cheap shirt/dresser/rug/drill/cereal/flip-flop/car and not have to think of its origins. The truth is there is a very human side to these industries. I work with a lot of Chinese people, we communicate via email every day and occasionally over the phone. They work hard, really hard. I’m not going into much depth to explain these people’s work habits to you. What you need to understand is how much they impact your lives and how much they need your help right now.

I won’t post pictures of the destruction, of the collapsed school buildings or the wailing mothers grieving next to their children’s bodies. What I am going to do is ask you to think about the items that are surrounding you right now. Your shoes were made in China; I’m pretty sure about that. Some of your clothes were made there as well. Most of the things on your desk are from China. The chair you’re sitting in: made in China. Your keyboard? Chinese in origin. Your phone, pen, stapler, water bottle, scissors, tape dispenser, purse, mouse pad, bulletin board, filing cabinet, carpet, etc…all made in China.

So let’s get to the point here. Please donate money to help the people who supply you with your “stuff” every day. You can donate here. You can also search online for any organization that can help the victims of the earthquake and make a donation. I’m not partial to one charity over another; I just think these people work very hard to supply us with the things on which we depend. The least we can do is help them in a time of need.