i will insist in the human-rights though, particularly in the child-labour theme.
i would hate that a 10 years old chinese (as an example) boy could be responsible for the production of a toy that my 10 years old child would play with.
China actually does have child labor laws. The factories we are talking employ adult laborers. Labor is quite tight in China right now, especially the skilled labor to work in factories that compete for western dollars.
Starving peasants don't make the best workers for a highly efficient, modern factory. China has a pool of experienced laborers that is growing tighter and more expensive as competition for their services increases (to illustrate: business is shifting to Indonesia because China is becoming expensive).
Granted, these adult workers tend to work grueling hours (10-14 hour days, often no holidays except Lunar New Year, May Day week, and Republic Day week).
But, again, it is better to take these jobs away? Would these people benefit? What do they want?
I've traveled around China pretty extensively. Child labor is illegal and not behind the economic boom. A slave ring was recently busted in north west China that enslaved men, women, and children. But this organization worked outside the law (it was a brick factory I think), and was raided by the police.
But, again, I'm a fellow who believes in compromise! I'll support your desire for socially responsible factories so long as we don't go green!
Think: "edible Playmobil"
"And when your wonderful young ones have finished playing, they can feed their wonderful toys to the little birds, who will chirp thank you, Geobra, thank you for respecting carbon quotas."
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I forgot to add: many of these "factories" aren't what we think of. For example, the workers who paint smurf figurines take a box of figures home, which they are accountable for, paint them, and bring them back. They get paid for the number of figures they paint.
-Tim
