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Monthly Archives: September 2014

Just a day ago, a referendum took place in the UK that could have changed it forever – Scotland nearly became it’s own country. The main argument of the impassioned Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), argued that Scotland could prosper on its own with its rich oil reserves, more on it can be read here.

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Despite these attractive numbers, if Scotland independence did occur, I believe there will be several detrimental side effects.

For starters, the SNP seems to propagate that independence will bring an invigorating effect on the economy. While it is true that oil can be a major industry for Scotland, there are other more threatening issues that can overpower the effect.

 

For example, if the new Scotland decides to keep using the pounds system of currency, then monetary policies from England and Scotland will clash with one another. In addition, where will corporations decide to base: in England or in the new Scotland? Will there be enough resources, besides oil, to keep the new country self-sustaining? Most importantly, Scotland would need to devote significant resources to Screen Shot 2014-09-19 at 8.16.36 PMstrengthen its army.

In my opinion, a better approach would be to seek more independent governing while remaining as a part of the union.

 

crackIn 2013, the Rana Plaza, a large garment factory in Bangladesh, collapsed leaving 1,129 people dead and several thousand injured. More about the article can be read here.

If we trace the problem further, I believe the roots are deep inside the western corporations who ultimately purchase these garments. Corporations turn a blind eye on something that is a clear ethical violation of human rights in first world standards.

Hence comes into play value-based judgements. While the western corporations may understand their value proposition which is to provide cheap, affordable and stylish clothing, it is taking advantage of vulnerable people in doing so .

However, there is another side to the story which I must acknowledge – if western corporations do take a stand against these factories, which causes them to shut down, thousands of workers will be jobless and displaced.

We need to do more than just stand up against it; we need to do something about it. While I am not sure what that something is right now, I will be trying my best to find it.

To end my first blog, I want to share an interesting quote I read today:

“We treat humans as just numbers, or as simply ‘cheap labor’ within a global supply chain that feeds the consumption patterns of the United States and European Union. ”                                                                                                                                       -from another blogger.

 

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