the continuing reality of a t-shirt in the global economy

Colleen Fitzgerald
2/18/09
QU301
The Continuing Reality of a T-shirt in the Global Economy
In Pietra Rivoli’s book, A T-Shirt in the Global Economy, Rivoli brought up two clear points that help explain the meaning of economic freedom. One of Rivoli’s points was that economic freedom includes freedom from exploitation. Rivoli as well as myself live in the United States where we see and benefit from economic freedom, however this is not the case for many nations. One such nation who has suffered for over 500 years is the continent of Africa. During the slave trade millions of Africans were hunted down and sold as slaves to Europeans. While slavery has been abolished in many countries, Africa has fallen victim once again to exploitation, this time Africa’s resources are the target. In the Final Call news article, The Exploitation of a Continent, Ashahed M. Muhammad and Brian E. Muhammad explain how companies are abusing their powers and hurting the African economy and its peoples. Some of the key resources in Africa are oil, coltan used in electronics, cobalt and natural gas just to name a few. Ashahed M. Muhammad and Brian E. Muhammad explain that companies are “financially exploitative relationship using child labor” and “without paying proper taxes to the government.” In Rivoli’s book, she explains exploitation of a weaker state or government by powerful nations or companies. In her book, the United States cotton growers have an unfair advantage in the world market that is exploitative for other cotton growers across the world.
Another key point Rivoli makes in her book is the problem of the ‘tenured professor’ where people with power make laws and rules to keep themselves in power. One such example of this was shown in the New York Times article, Chávez Looks Beyond 2013 as He Faces Serious Challenges, by Simon Romero. Just recently Chavez pushed a motion forward that would enable the presidency to be a life term. Chavez had tried in the past to pass this motion but had lacked votes, however this past week Chavez succeeded. Rivoli would point to Chavez as a tenured professor trying to keep his power and wealth by creating laws to protect himself. With this consolation of power, Chavez can now look to gaining more prestige and wealth for himself and his country through the exportation of oil. Both these examples show the truth behind Rivoli’s book about the exploitation and mis-use of economic freedoms. However with these injustices out in the open, knowledge can be gained with the hopeful result of change.
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_5661.shtml
by , Ashahed M. Muhammad and Brian E. Muhammad of the Final Call
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/world/americas/17venez.html?ref=world
by Simon Romero of the New York Times