Re: Toy Recalls

Not all of the recalls have been for toys made in China. Of the 72 toy recalls for 2007 listed on the CPSC web site, only 69 of them were for toys manufactured in China. Two were for toys made in "Hong Kong" (which, last time I checked, was returned to China by the Brits in 1997 -- Gordon Brown didn't take it back while I wasn't looking, did he?). One recall was for toys made in Mexico.

Now to be fair, about 80% of toys sold in the U.S. are made in China, so you would expect a larger percentage of the recalls to be from that part of the world. Also, the manufacturers are not entirely to blame. The toy companies that have outsourced their production to a country with a history of extreme poverty, corruption and lax regulatory enforcement are primarily responsible. If they're going to make things over there, they need to spend a lot more money on quality control. When you pay your workers $1.50 an hour, you should be able to afford to fork out a little more for safety! And speaking of lax regulatory enforcement, the CPSC has one (yes, one) employee testing toys -- independent labs are identifying many more dangerous toys than our own government regulators (do those who believe in small government, free trade and letting industry police itself still think these are good ideas?).

See http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/toy-country-47110....

I am also responsible. In the past, I have bought most toys and other things without thinking where and how they were made. I have looked for the lowest price without considering that the price tag doesn't include the social and environmental cost. I have invested in companies without becoming familiar with or questioning their business practices. Not anymore. I'm making a pledge to consume less and buy green whenever possible.

Please buy green toys and products to the extent you are able, don't feel guilty when you can't, enjoy life, and love one another this holiday season and always.