Dear Apple. Check Your Factories

I admit that I own an iPhone and I love, but I also admit that they working condition issue that came up in recent news is giving Apple a bad rap but also must be addressed. While Apple did inspections on the factories which did the final 'construction,' as you might call it, of their products they failed to look at the factories that produced the components for these technology wonders. There were shocking reports of things which, according to

A spate of suicides at Foxconn Technology Group factories in 2010 and the illnesses of workers at Wintek Corp., in 2011, which were thought to be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals, both created bad publicity for Apple.

Recently Apple has switched from auditing their own factories to bringing in a third party. This is a wise move for Apple due to the fact when an individual company audits their own factory there is no one to keep them in line or prevent them from lying. It is stated in the CBC article that

The audits will include interviews with employees about working and living conditions, including health and safety, working hours and wages, along with inspections of manufacturing and living areas and examination of employment-related documents. 

Let this be a sign to other companies, no matter what they produce in their factories, that in order to protect their business it is important to run audits on their factories to ensure worker safety/

China Apple Factories FLA Audits
Petition: Apple CEO Tim Cook-Protect Workers Making iPhones in China
Behind the News: 02/11/2012
FoxConn Raise Wages Apple Contractor?
Do Apple Users Care Enough to Protest Chinese Working Conditions
FoxConn Wiki Page

A New Leader in North Korea

Eward Wong recently reported that with the death of Kim Jong-il the successor, his youngest son, may be facing difficulties with the opposing groups. It is argued, however, that the twenty some years of training that Kim Jong-Um received have prepared him to face these conflicts. Other factors, such as a nation in great need of food for its citizens make it near impossible for an uprise to occur.

North Korea has successfully retained its ruling regime by cutting themselves from the outside world, their primary ally being China. This including controlling the lives of its citizens to an extent which is imaginable in many other locations. It is feared that to prove his worth, particularly to opposing countries, Kim Jon-Um may be compelled to prove or demonstrate the military power that North Korea holds. This could pose a threat to its own people and neighboring countries. There is, however, very little fear of a colapse of the regime but gradual change is possible.

If the gradual change can allow peace within the peninsula it may allow for outside forces to bring the much needed food to the citizens of North Korea. While this is far fetched, to some degree, it is always possible for gradual change to a push a country to a healthier economy by supporting its citizens and generating trade with other countries.

There is more coverage on this at CNN.com and other news locations.

Articles from New York Times and CNN.com

North Korea: Should We Fear Change? -- Jaime A. FlorCruz and Peter Wilkinson

China Moves to Ensure Stability in North Korea -- Edward Wong