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makeITfair
It’s hard to imagine a world without electronic gadgets. We all rely on Information Technology-IT everyday. In fact, IT has improved our lives in many different ways. But it has also created many new problems around the world.
Samsung and Apple almost certainly use tin in their mobiles that's come from Bangka Island - where tin mining is ravaging forests and coral reefs, injuring miners and destroying fishermen's livelihoods.
As part of the Make IT Better campaign of Friends of the Earth, thousands of people have forced Samsung to confirm it uses tin from Bangka Island, Indonesia, where tin mining is destroying tropical forests, coral reefs and livelihoods. You can now write to Apple to do the same: http://www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/make_it_better_action_37571.html
News
Who will take responsibility in the mobile jungle?
In 2009 Fair Trade Center, makeITfair partner in Sweden, reported on corporate responsibility among Swedish mobile network operators. The organisation now has published an update report examining how the operators have dealt with the shortcomings identified in the previous evaluation and also examines the new challenges that have emerged since.
Foxconn workers making parts for the iPhone 5 involved in riot
Foxconn has shut its factory in Taiyuan (79,000 workers) for some days because a riot broke out last night reportedly over guards beating up a worker. As many as 2,000 workers were involved in the riot that drew 5,000 police officers to the site that allegedly is making parts for Apple's iPhones 5 and hardware for other companies.
New iPhone, old abuses: Have working conditions at Foxconn in China improved?
Whenever there are new products launched by Apple, consumers are thrilled. All over the world they queue up outside Apple stores in order to have their beloved products immediately. At the same time, workers who are producing iPhones are queuing up for the company bus and lining up to swipe their staff card at Foxconn, but without similar excitement. When the peak season comes, they are tied to the production lines with just 1 day off in 13 working days, or no rest day at all in a month, all to cope with the public demand for the new Apple products. It is sad to say that to some extent, workers also yearn for the peak season because their base pay is insufficient to meet their basic needs, especially for those who have to support their dependents.
Corporate responsibility among mobile network operators in Germany Germanwatch
The study 'Noch Keine Fairen Handys' showed that mobile network operators were taking increasing responsibility for social and ecological problems in the mobile network sector and were taking measures to improve the situation. However, there is still a long way to go before achieving a sustainable sector with fair and sustainable mobile phones.
Forced internships at Foxconn
6 September 2012 - Thousands of students in an east China city were forced to work at a Foxconn plant. Classes were suspended and the students were driven to the factory.
