(CNN) -- Last week, The New York Times gave us an inside look at what it's like to work at Foxconn, the manufacturing company that owns several China-based factories that crank out Apple's iPads, iPhones and iPods by the millions.
The story is full of examples of horrifying working conditions in Foxconn's factories that would never fly here in the United States. Here are some of the more troubling ones from the Times story:
Foxconn is a 24-hour operation. Employees work six days a week, sometimes in 12-hour shifts. They're on their feet for so long that their legs begin to swell. There are underage workers. They live in crowded dorms on the factory's campus. In recent years, there have been reports of workers leaping from buildings in apparent suicides.
And so on.
The story even describes the gruesome death of one Foxconn worker after an explosion in a facility that made iPads in Chengdu, China. The worker's "skin was almost completely burned away" by the blast, the Times reports. He died a few days later with his family by his side.
Foxconn denies the reports that working conditions are like what the Times describes. Apple refuses to comment on the record, but a leaked e-mail from CEO Tim Cook to all Apple employees says the company is committed to worker safety and that it takes all those claims very seriously.
So knowing all that, should we be concerned about where our iPhones and other gadgets come from and how they're made? Or is the human cost so far removed from us here in the United States that we're willing to look over it in favor of whatever fancy new touchscreen gadget Apple releases next?
The issue even has some people throwing around the idea of a boycott. One effort, hosted on the website Change.org, has collected more than 145,000 signatures from people calling on Apple to better protect its workers.
While those efforts sound noble, there's no way boycotting Apple gadgets will actually work.
Let's start with why people keep snapping up Apple's iPhones and iPads by the millions each week in the first place.
When it comes to smartphones and tablets, Apple still makes the best there are. With the iPhone and the iPad, the company set a new standard that other tech giants such as Google and Microsoft are still struggling to imitate. Apple can't make them fast enough. On launch days, people queue up in massive lines so they can be one of the first to get a new iPhone or iPad.
Even if consumers do know about what it took to make their new gadget, as many likely do thanks to the widespread reports on working conditions overseas, it's obviously not enough to keep them from getting caught up in the fervor of an Apple product launch.
I can't see that ending just because of a new story in The New York Times or a proposed boycott.
But it's not just about the massive popularity of Apple's gadgets that keep people buying. It's the price.
The latest and greatest iPhone model, the 4S, costs $199. iPads start at $499. One of the biggest reasons Apple can sell its stuff at such low prices is because they're produced on the cheap in China, sometimes by sacrificing good working conditions to make it happen. (If you believe the reports.)
Those cheap production costs are why a lot of the anger comes from the fact that Apple is a massively profitable company. Right now it has almost $100 billion sitting in the bank. It could use some of that cash to put more pressure on Foxconn and others to improve working conditions overseas.
A successful boycott could force Apple to make those changes, but consumers will have to sacrifice something, too.
In a poll from the Times that ran with its Foxconn story last week, most consumers thought companies such as Apple should make products in the U.S. but still absorb the added manufacturing costs.
In other words, consumers don't want to pay more for iPhones and iPads than they already do just to ensure factory workers get better working conditions. It's all about money.
So even if Apple moved production to the U.S. or managed to heavily invest in China and improve working conditions there, it would likely result in higher prices for consumers. For a profit-driven company such as Apple, there's almost no chance it would want to absorb those costs itself.
Yes, a lot of the heat on this issue has been put on Apple. But keep in mind it's not alone. Foxconn and similar manufacturers in Asia make gadgets for several other major consumer brands. It's not like suddenly switching from the iPhone to another smartphone will improve the lives of those who make it.
You may feel guilty buying an Apple product, but the problem won't be fixed until all electronics makers change, too.
In the end, consumers would be the ones who have to pay to make working conditions better for the people who make your iPhone. And it seems unlikely there are enough of you out there willing to do that.
Comment:
I think Apple should be good with their workers. They should pay more to the people. Workers have to have better protection when they are working on the tablets and phones. I think apple doesnt has to put the products more expensive because people wont buy it.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
RODRIGO VILLALBA
Not all sushi restaurants break the bank -- in Tokyo, there's a slice of awesomeness for all budgets.
The best sushi restaurants in Tokyo
Get your raw fish fix at the capital's sushi institutions
Ask five Tokyoites to name the best sushi restaurants in the city, and you’re likely to get five different answers -- the old "how long is a piece of string?" quandary.
That's because the sushi experience is a very personal one that can include not only raw seafood, but also things like unmatched service, chefs whose skills were honed by years of apprenticeship, an atmosphere that screams “traditional Japan” and, in many cases, a whopping bill.
Because of all this, any one traveler’s favorite sushi experience is going to largely depend on budget, interests and previous experience with the cuisine.
But the great thing about Tokyo is its sheer breadth and depth of choice when it comes to eating out.
Sushi is no exception, and at least one of these five restaurants or chains is sure to please just about any hungry visitor.
Just don’t expect to be chowing down on California and spicy tuna rolls, OK?
The breakfast choice: Sushi Dai
Get your fish on -- lines at 6 a.m. are nothing unusual at Sushi Dai.
Anyone dying to try the sushi-for-breakfast experience need look no further than Sushi Dai, located just steps from the Tsukiji fish market, which arguably serves the freshest seafood of anywhere in the world and is the unanimous choice as one of the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo.
After wandering through all the chaos and wonder that make up the Tsukiji market, visitors head to Sushi Dai to sample some of the very fish they’ve just seen being sold to chefs and restaurant owners from across the city.
But if a Sushi Dai breakfast is what you crave, then cancel your morning meetings -- the wait for a seat in the restaurant often lasts two hours or more. However, most who have dined there agree that the subsequent feast is worth the tedious queuing.
- More on CNNGo: How to eat sushi
In addition to the extreme freshness of its fare (often items like clam are still moving when the chef places them on the counter in front of diners), Sushi Dai also boasts relatively reasonable prices.
The most popular item is the chef’s special course of 10 nigiri and one roll, as well as one nigiri of the diner’s choice.
At ¥3,675 including tax, it makes a delicious meal any time of the day, and won’t break the bank.
Sushi Dai, 6-21-2 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku; +81 (0) 3 3541 3738; Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m.-5 a.m. the next morning; Sunday and holidays 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
The lunch choice: Sushi Saito
The lunch set at Sushi Saito is one of Tokyo's hidden gems.
This tiny, unassuming sushi bar opposite the U.S. Embassy in Akasaka has many devotees and is booked out just as far in advance as Sushi Mizutani. It’s up to individual diners to decide which restaurant they prefer when on the hunt for the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo.
For a master sushi chef, Takashi Saito is young, surprisingly outgoing and friendly. Despite the local feel (there are only seven seats here), the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the chef makes an effort to tailor the courses to individual diners’ preferences.
- More on CNNGo: Organic sushi in Shibuya
Like Sushi Mizutani, Sushi Saito has been awarded three Michelin stars, but its lunch course may nonetheless be one of Tokyo’s best-kept dining secrets. At ¥5,500 yen it’s certainly not cheap, but the tender, flavorful seafood and perfectly seasoned rice are worth every penny.
Prices for dinner courses start at around ¥15,000. Chef Saito speaks a small amount of English and will do his best to communicate with each customer, but diners who don’t speak Japanese are advised to reserve via a hotel concierge or other Japanese-speaking person.
Sushi Saito, 1-9-15 Akasaka, Minato-ku; +81 (0) 3 3589 4412; noon-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-11 p.m., closed on Sundays and some national holidays.
The value choice: Fukuzushi
Fukuzushi -- don't even think about reaching for the soy.
A family-owned establishment since 1917, Fukuzushi has occupied a quiet lot in the back streets of Roppongi for more than 40 years.
Unlike the plethora of tiny sushi bars that spans Tokyo, this restaurant is spacious (it even has a bar and lounge area), making it great for families, groups and business meetings.
Regular customers include many of Japan’s well-known entertainment personalities and celebrities drawn to one if the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo.
The current owner and master chef at Fukuzushi is George Fukuzawa, who honed his skills while studying the craft under both his father and grandfather.
Watching him and his assistants at work is half the fun of the experience, so small groups should opt for seats at the counter if possible.
Fukuzawa aims to please his customers in any way he can, while still maintaining the sense of pride for which sushi chefs are known.
He carefully seasons each piece of nigiri with exactly the right amount of wasabi and soy sauce, so don’t dunk yours in more shoyu unless you want to offend.
Careful attention is paid to every detail, such as cutting nigiri into two smaller pieces for women, so that they don’t have to struggle to try to bite them in half or chew on a huge piece of fish.
For one of Tokyo’s most popular sushi restaurants, Fukuzushi is priced slightly lower than many others. Lunch courses start at ¥2,625 and dinner courses go for ¥6,300 and ¥8,400.
At least two people need to order the dinner courses, but an à la carte menu is also available for solo diners.
Fukuzushi, 5-7-8 Roppongi, Minato-ku; +81 (0) 3 3402 4116; 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m., closed on Sunday and national holidays.
MY OPINION
I THINK THAT ALL THE RESTAURANTS OF JAPAN ARE BERY GOOD BUT THIS RESTAURNTS ARE EXTREMELY COOL ,THERE ARE MANY CLEANNING IN THIS RESTAURANTS THE RESTAURANTS ARE VERY VERY FAMOUSE !!!
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