 |
| |
While
we are on the subject of evil... HISTORICAL
EVIL:
"The Triangle Fire," by Leon Stein with a new introduction
by William Greider. (Cornell University Press, 2001.)
EVIL
IN THE RAG TRADE:
"NO SWEAT: Fashion, Free Trade, and the Rights of Garment
Workers," edited by Andrew Ross. (Verso Press 1997.)
BORDERLINE
EVIL:
"Border Witness," by Maureen Casey and Brian Casey. (The New
York State Labor-Religion Coalition, 2002).
COSMIC
EVIL:
"Evil in Modern Thought: An Alternative History of Philosophy,"
by Susan Neiman. (Princeton U. Press, 2002.)
|
|
|
|
 |
|
> NO SWEAT NEWS >
NEWS ARCHIVE
"My Fashion Statement."
Jeremy
Larner wrote the screenplay for "The Candidate" (1972) and won an
Oscar for it. Now, with a remake of that movie in the works, he
talks about dress codes and social justice.
FASHION STATEMENT
Jeremy Larner won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his
classic study of presidential politics, "The Candidate," (1972).
With presidential politics more dysfunctional than ever (and a remake
of "The Candidate," once again starring Robert Redford, in the works),
Larner reflects on political challenges past and present.
To me, the anti-sweatshop movement of the past few years is the
most encouraging political development of a barren and divisive
time. Its aim is not to divide the righteous from the sinners, but
to insist that this country extend its principles to workers everywhere.
It is the model of an answer to those who say that the only way
to lift all ships is first to lift the gilded barges of the world's
elite. It is a statement that greed is not a sufficient agent for
human progress and prosperity, but a fixed-sum game that will perpetuate
and exaggerate inequalities and bring out what is most desperate
and vicious in human nature.
It's inspiring to me that people of various backgrounds and political
beliefs can agree on this: that corporate profit built on a systematic
exploitation of the world's workers is neither desirable nor acceptable,
and can only lead to ever-greater discrepancies of wealth, to accumulation
of unearned fortunes, to disastrous economic crashes, to sickness,
despair, anger, demagoguery and war!
There is no simple formula to turn this around, no model of a state
which transcends the interests of its elites. There is only the
ongoing effort to expand the least-bad idea of social and economic
democracy, wherein cooperation is given equal standing with competition
as an engine of progress.
One shining example of that ideal is that American clothing corporations
must not sub-contract to third-world operatives who build profit
in the American market by chaining workers to ghastly and demeaning
and destructive working conditions.
It will not do to set up sham foundations, to donate scoreboards,
hold conferences, bribe celebrities and give awards.
The only outcome that will enable truth, health and survival is
the creation of fair wages and decent, safe conditions for all workers
everywhere.
That we can all agree on.
That we can insist on.
That's what it means to me to join the anti-sweatshop movement.
It's clear I will never organize my fellow workers in a life or
death situation -- but I can support those who do!
I know full well, by the way, that lives of workers and their children
are at stake in every country of the world. We don't have to look
far to find such conditions -- but we must unite to make sure the
world is informed about each and every instance.
And in the meantime, we will buy no clothes made in sweatshops.
That's easy enough -- if organizations like No Sweat will help us
to tell the difference.
Every paper and magazine I read tells me how important it is to
make my own "fashion statement" -- yet the ones they offer are all
the same. They have nothing to do with any human reality I would
write about or care about. In fact, the advertisers are wrong to
assume that very many are satisfied with a world based on the sterile
distinctions of consumer choice.
I'm amazed and delighted that a movement has sprung up to permit
me a genuine choice in the world of buying patterns and focus groups.
By not buying clothes unless they are made in conditions where workers
can respect themselves and share in the benefits their work creates,
I connect myself to everything that is positive and creative in
human endeavor, everything that is on the side of mutual satisfaction,
communication and decent work -- without which, I'm afraid, this
world will not survive.
So here's my fashion statement. If I can't buy goods that are made
by workers who are treated as my equals, I'd rather go naked!
Better to be stripped of brand-name clothes than to be stripped
of the dignity that makes life worthwhile!
Jeremy Larner March 19, 2003
|
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
