No Sweat

Just before Christmas, I noticed that my sneakers were just about worn out, and I needed a new pair. A pair of black Chuck Taylors would be perfect, so I looked up on the internet how much they cost and where I could find some.

I found out a few things I didn't know:

* Chuck Taylors are now owned and manufactured by Nike.

* Nike produces these shoes in China - in sweatshops!

* The three biggest corporate supporters of sweatshop labor in developing countries are Wal-Mart, Nike, and Disney.

I guess I had been naive in thinking that sweatshops were not really a major problem, but in China and India, sweatshops are becoming the norm instead of the exception.

There are some who say that sweatshops are actually good for developing countries - that they provide jobs where there would be none. I'll let you do the research on your own and make your own decision.

I decided to look for an alternative, and I found a few. I ended up purchasing a pair of shoes from No Sweat Apparel. They cost the same price as Chuck Taylors, they look the same, and they were made by a company that pays their employees a living wage and does not violate international labor laws.

It was only a few dollars more for shipping, but I think it was worth it.