Inspired by Alexander Wong’s blog post

 

Apple is ranked the world’s most valuable brand at $145.3 billion. Their logo and name is recognized around the globe and is endorsed by many musicians and artists. They have built an empire on their motto, “Think Different.” But not everything is as desirable as it seems.

applethinkdifferent

Source: http://www.couleurs-cabanes.fr/modules/com_rokcandy/apple-think-different-1761.html

From 2009 to 2011, 18 workers have attempted suicide including one Foxconn employee who “fell from [an] apartment building after losing [an] iPhone prototype.” Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, stated that, “No one in our industry is doing more to improve the live[s] of employees.” They have now installed safety nets to discourage workers from jumping from the apartments.

suicidenets

Source: http://fortune.com/2013/05/20/man-who-doesnt-work-for-foxconn-kills-self-apples-fault/

A few years later in 2014, BBC went undercover to investigate the working conditions in Apple’s factories in China and the results were far from the companies’ values. “Employees [were] falling asleep on their 12-hour shifts” and “workers regularly exceeded 60 hour [work weeks].” To top it off, they are working all these long and hard hours for approximately $1.70 USD.

sleepingworkers

Source: http://www.technobuffalo.com/2012/02/22/foxconn-accused-of-hiding-underage-workers-during-fla-and-nightline-visit/

Many people who buy Apple products do not realize the harsh working conditions in the factories. I believe that many customers would stop buying their products and would only start buying them again once they knew that the factory workers had safe operating environments. Unfortunately, all we can do is keep on eating this poisonous Apple.

badapple

Source: http://www.misterpants.com/clients/ctb/04.12.31/badapple.html

Works Cited:

Bilton, Richard. “Apple ‘failing to Protect Chinese Factory Workers’ – BBC News.” BBC News. BBC Panorama, 18 Dec. 2014. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30532463>.
Cooper, Rob. “Inside Apple’s Chinese ‘sweatshop’ Factory Where Workers Are Paid Just £1.12 per Hour to Produce IPhones and IPads for the West.” Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 25 Jan. 2013. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2103798/Revealed-Inside-Apples-Chinese-sweatshop-factory-workers-paid-just-1-12-hour.html>.
Forbes. “The World’s Most Valuable Brands.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 2015. Web. 05 Oct. 2015. <http://www.forbes.com/powerful-brands/list/#tab:rank>.
France-Presse, Agence. “Apple under Fire Again for Working Conditions at Chinese Factories.” The Guardian. The Guardian, 19 Dec. 2014. Web. 04 Oct. 2015. <http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/19/apple-under-fire-again-for-working-conditions-at-chinese-factories>.