Is there a Fashion Victim? Free Essay Example

Examples of globalisation are big brand names like Nike, Adidas and Reebok. All these brand names are famous around the world, and are all their products are sold in nearly every country. Though these products are not made in MEDC’s where they originate from, they are made in LEDC’s, which lets them exploit their employees because they can give them low pay. Fortunately for the workers, people have stood up for them and realised the injustice of this, so now the workers get paid more, but not much.

What is globalisation?

Globalisation is the process by which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected as a result of massively increased trade and cultural exchange.

It has increased the production of goods and services.

What is changing in the world that has encouraged globalisation to happen?

Globalisation has been taking place for hundreds of years, but has accelerated enormously over the last half-century. This is due to the improvements in transport, computing technology, and the growing economies of many countries.

The LEDC as the victim

The LEDC is the victim in terms of explotation.

The factory workers, in particular get exploited and paid too little. However, the governments of the LEDC’s like globalisation because it gives them more connections to the richer countries, it brings them jobs therefore it strengthens their economy. Workers in LEDC’s may not like globalisation because they don’t get a very high wage and the employer is in control of them.

What issues has globalisation caused in LEDC’s?

One of the major issues with Globalisation in LEDC’s is the widening of the economic gap between rich and poor countries.

This is an issue, because it makes it harder for LEDC’s to establish themselves and get a chance to become a MEDC. Another issue is the aforementioned exploitation of workers. Companies are often paying the workers in LEDC’s a fraction of what would be paid in to workers in MEDCs.

The MEDC as the victim

I do not believe MEDC’s are a victim of exploration by these large global companies because the MEDC’s are the ones exploiting the LEDC’s.

Are we (the consumers) exploited be large global companies such as Nike?

I believe we are getting exploited by these large global companies because if we were to buy these same clothes straight from the factory, it would cost us a fraction of what we pay to these large global companies, such as Nike, Adidas and Reebok. However, clearly, people are willing to pay these high prices, so they are effectively agreeing to be exploited as opposed to the workers who work in the LEDC’s who have to work to scrape a living and buy enough food to not starve.

Are there any good consequences of globalisation for other countries?

Globalization has a positive side as well. Supporters of globalization argue that it has the potential to make this world a better place to live in and solve some deep-seated problems like unemployment and poverty. The marginal are getting a chance to exhibit in the world market.

The proponents of global free trade say that it promotes global economic growth, creates jobs, makes companies more competitive, and lowers prices for consumers. It also provides poor countries, through infusions of foreign capital and technology, with the chance to develop economically and by spreading prosperity creates the conditions in which democracy and respect for human rights may flourish.

According to libertarians, globalization will help us to raise the global economy only when the involved power blocks have mutual trust and respect for each other’s opinion. Globalization and democracy should go hand-in-hand. It should be pure business with no colonialist designs.

Are there any good companies?

Globalisation is having a marked effect on workers worldwide. The advance of deregulation, privatisation and free trade is changing the nature of work and the lives of people everywhere. Trade unions are challenging the adverse effects of this on pay and conditions of employment, while at the same time working to achieve a high quality of life for everyone.

UNISON, working with other trade unions and campaigning groups, is at the forefront of this struggle. UNISON is committed to the principles of fair trade – products which are produced and sold according to international standards which guarantee that the producers get a fair price for their output. They work closely with the Fairtrade Foundation to promote fair trade products in our workplaces, homes, UNISON offices and at UNISON events.

I think if there was to be a victim due to globalisation, it would be our planet. Some may say that the factory workers are the victims because they get exploited and paid too little, but without the opportunities for jobs produced by big companies using factories in these lower economically developed countries, they would have no jobs and therefore no money, so in fact globalisation is helping provide jobs and puts more money into the country’s economy, helping it to develop slowly.

However, the amount of pollution produced my transporting and producing these products is starting to have an effect on our planet. As a result of globalisation a large number of industries were setup all over the world. For setting up of industries newer areas had to be discovered, so people started destroying large forest lands. Rapid destruction of forests caused serious threat to both plants and animals. Many species of plants and animals have become extinct and many are endangered.

The next problem to be taken into account is the industrial waste. Each industry produces a huge amount of harmful waste material every day, and many of them have no proper means of waste disposal. They either dump the wastes into the sea or a river or in some land mostly banks of rivers. As a result the land and water is being polluted. Many of the water resources have been contaminated and become unfit for drinking. Even fish are dying off in mass amount. Also the outlet gases from industries are highly dangerous which includes poisonous chemicals like sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide as well as toxic metals like lead and cadmium. This adds to air pollution.

Globalisation will continue to grow as will economies in many countries. This will have a huge effect on the environment. If industries now can cause this much damage to our planet then when the industries grow and double in size, it will create double the amount of pollution.

I think that for the people involved with globalisation, whether it is the company owners, product designers, factory owners or factory workers, no one is a victim. Some may argue that factory workers are exploited by their employers and paid too little but the factories argue back that it is the big companies using their factories who are responsible for the low pay, as they give the factories such little money. Without the money that these companies are contributing to the economy of these LEDCs these factory workers would have no jobs and no money, and slowly as more and more money is made in these countries their industries will grow and grow until they are as rich as some MEDCs like many countries in Europe and America. To speed up this process, large companies could pay factories a little bit extra money so that they can employ more workers, or perhaps pay the workers more, to help reassure us, as the customers, that the products we buy are made in ethical and appropriate conditions.

My thoughts

I think if there was to be a victim due to globalisation, it would be our planet. The amount of pollution produced by transporting and producing these products has had and is having a stong effect on our planet. As a result of globalisation a large number of industries are setup all over the world. For setting up of industries newer areas had to be discovered, so people started destroying large forest lands such as the Amazon. Rapid destruction of forests caused serious threat to both plants and animals. Many species of plants and animals have become extinct and many are endangered.