Debate About The Global Market Place Timmerman Summary

1) What debate about the global marketplace does the author identify? Who is doing the debating and why?

The debate about the global market place Timmerman presents is the topic of Globalization and whether it’s good, bad, or both. Globalization is merely, the political, economical and social integration and interdependency of different societies around the world. The people arguing about the topic of Globalization, “take place in books, politics, boardrooms, at universities, and in shopper’s minds” (Timmerman: page 8). This helps illustrate that the debate for or against Globalization is being talked about among businesses owners, politicians (most notably Congress and The Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act), students

With the different worker laws in other countries, companies might be able to exploit and underpay their workers in other countries easier than if in the United States. This leads to an ethical dilemma of profit over what is humane, right and just. Politicians are talking about Globalization because they want to end the selling and buying of sweatshop made goods. Finally costumers are a key component to the Globalization process. Many customers, including myself, look for the “best deal”, without looking to see where it was made, or if it was made in an anti-sweatshop. As long as costumers will pay for sweatshop made clothing, will sweatshops continue to work and create profits. The debate of Globalization is one being talked among costumers so they can find out more easily where their clothing was

What purpose did that protest serve? What is the purpose of protests in general? Have you ever protested for or against anything? Why did/didn’t you do it ?

The protests in Minnesota were fought by the International SweatFree Communities conference protesting against Coca-Cola for the deaths of some union leaders in Colombia. The Protestors at this conference were angry about the denial of human rights to the union leaders and workers in Colombia. Overall, the purpose of protests is to rise against an institution that is limiting and denying a person or group of their inalienable and natural rights. Inalienable rights mean that the laws, rights and freedoms are given to everybody in the world, no matter what race they come from, socio-economic status, or where they live in the world. Natural rights, a product of the Enlightenment, are rights that everybody is born with. Protests are key mediums where groups of people can publicly acknowledge how an institution is exploiting and denying certain people of their rights. Implicitly suggested in the beginning of Chapter 3 of “Where am I wearing?” is the fact that the Coca-Cola company was more motivated to make a profit than creating a safe work space where workers get well paid, work reasonable hours, and most importantly, having a workplace where workers are safe, and their life isn’t seen as second hand to making a profit. In high school, I protested with many other students