to boycott products made in China and India?

[Lowkeyloopy]

So angry that they have watered down an agreement aimed at saving the planet that my (shortly to be born) child will be living in.

Yes people will say it’s unfair that the more developed economies have enjoyed all the benefits of burning fossil fuels and are now dictating that other countries should stop. Well, tough. We are where we are and the world is on fire.

I’m also sick and tired of people saying that individuals can’t make a difference, AND of the government congratulating itself on bringing down our own carbon emissions. We don’t MAKE anything in this country - we ship it in from other countries. If we all stopped buying crap we don’t need that is manufactured on the cheap in those countries, we could actually help ensure those countries cut their carbon emissions and genuinely bring down our own individual carbon footprints.

So I guess I’m angry at China and India for watering down the COP agreement, but I’m angry at us for creating the circumstances that facilitates the attitude that made them do that.

So, I’ll now be even more consciously checking where my products are from and will not be buying anything made in China or India.

Who’s with me? (YANBU)

Who’s not? And why, out of interest? (YABU)

Happy Sunday all…!

Are you going to check the entire supply chain to make sure no components are made or processed there? Good luck! The best option is always to try and buy second hand if possible, and only buy what you need.

@mynameiscalypso

The problem with sanctions and boycotts is that they generally have a disproportionate impact on the poor and disadvantaged.

As will the UK's government's net zero plan.

It will also plunge many more into poverty.

It’s an admirable aim but I agree with others, it’s basically impossible in our current set up. If the products themselves aren’t made in China the manufacture of them will be highly dependent on components from primarily China.

Tbh the best way to achieve your aim is to buy second hand/pre-loved regardless of country of origin. It’s also much more environmentally sound than purchasing new from countries that are ethically sound (which is pretty open to interpretation anyway).

I love the idea. But I don't have the time and money to research and buy things that are 100% ethical. Sorry.

Both

India's per capita emissions are 1/3 of the UK. So until you have cut your own emissions to those of the average Indian YABU.

Chinese emissions per capita emissions are only 20% more than the UK. So not that big a difference. So again YABU.

If you mentioned South Korea or Canada or USA YANBU.

Obviously though on a separate note, it's never a good idea to be so reliant on just one or two countries for pretty much everything we buy and need.

And we should also be seeking to boost our economy and revive our once thriving and sadly now dying manufacturing industry.

As well as providing stable jobs and more self sufficiency, it would have the welcome side effect of helping the environment - due to limiting air miles for at least some of the products we buy.

Do what you want

@Mouseonmychair

The only consolation for me is now India a country most likely to be affected by climate change is responsible for watering down the agreement. It makes me feel guilt free (I'm not making changes if they are not), pull up the drawbridge for climate refugee's, I won't feel overly sympathetic next time Chennai flood's knowing that those two countries have decided to prioritize their economy over the climate it's therefore a problem brought on themselves. Very disappointing result but at least one of the counties likely to be affected the most and will therefore pay the heaviest price were responsible for the deal. India is making its bed today tomorrow it needs to lie in it.

Yes, how dare people in India want to earn money to feed their families and put a roof over their childrens' heads? it's appalling behaviour

@Tealightsandd

A report last week noted that the international - global - 1% are responsible for the majority of emissions.

It's not about individual countries.

And as it happens both China and India have taken world leading measures to tackle the biggest issue relating to climate change and environmental damage - human overpopulation.

China's now abandoned one child policy was much criticised by other countries.

Now a region in India is looking at a similar measure. Incentives will be offered to have smaller families.

Both countries have the right idea. Instead of hurting the poor further by making resources too expensive (and therefore drastically reducing quality of life and standard of living), they looked at the root cause. Reducing demand for those resources through education on and access to birth control.

That last paragraph is absolutely correct. We need to reduce the population and actually the biggest contributes to climate change are the larger families. I massively supported China's one child policy unfortunately human rights orgs and feminists often didn't.

I voted YABU for this rubbish that you said.

We don’t MAKE anything in this country - we ship it in from other countries.

Certainly up until Covid the UK was in the top ten countries in terms of manufacturing. Certainly China and the US dwarf it, but to say we don't make anything is just shite.

www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/02/countries-manufacturing-trade-exports-economics/

Yes, how dare people in India want to earn money to feed their families and put a roof over their childrens' heads? it's appalling behaviour hmm

Indeed but it has consequences and they have to live with them. The real solution is smaller family size which China has known about for decades and has taken much unfair criticism for.

My car was made in the UK. My clothes are made in the UK ( but expensive) I buy locally grown food in season. Britain makes a lot we just need to buy less and buy British.

@Mouseonmychair

Yes, how dare people in India want to earn money to feed their families and put a roof over their childrens' heads? it's appalling behaviour hmm

Indeed but it has consequences and they have to live with them. The real solution is smaller family size which China has known about for decades and has taken much unfair criticism for.

That's a very privileged, Western way of viewing things.

What do you think the solution is for Indian families in poverty? Do they just starve and live in the streets to save the planet because a Westerner has decided that them working in a factory that produces too much pollution is bad for the planet?

’The real solution is smaller family size which China has known about for decades and has taken much unfair criticism for.’

‘Unfair criticism’ for forced abortions?

@Mouseonmychair

The only consolation for me is now India a country most likely to be affected by climate change is responsible for watering down the agreement. It makes me feel guilt free (I'm not making changes if they are not), pull up the drawbridge for climate refugee's, I won't feel overly sympathetic next time Chennai flood's knowing that those two countries have decided to prioritize their economy over the climate it's therefore a problem brought on themselves. Very disappointing result but at least one of the counties likely to be affected the most and will therefore pay the heaviest price were responsible for the deal. India is making its bed today tomorrow it needs to lie in it.

You are an awful person. Gloating over people drowning who almost certainly have a smaller carbon footprint than you do.

"Made in the UK" just means "assembled in the UK".

Most of the elements of "UK made" products are still imported from China, India etc.

@Mouseonmychair

My car was made in the UK. My clothes are made in the UK ( but expensive) I buy locally grown food in season. Britain makes a lot we just need to buy less and buy British.

Every single last part of it? I doubt it!

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/14/india-states-considering-two-child-policy-and-incentives-for-sterilisation

Forced abortions were terrible but that doesn't mean it was wrong to promote smaller families.

With India:

The state government said the bill was due to the “limited ecological and economic resources at hand” which made it “necessary and urgent that the provision of the basic necessities of human life are accessible to all citizen”.

Some of the ideas being looked at in India are controversial but campaigners there are on the right track...

focus on contraception and education means of population control.

YABU
It’s the buying of stuff that adds to your carbon footprint. Buying something made in UK instead of China isn’t going to reduce your carbon footprint because the parts and materials will have been bought from China anyway. It doesn’t matter where the item is assembled, it still has the same carbon footprint. You simply should buy less stuff full stop.

As others have said it would be impossible to buy things not connected to China or India in some way.
What I’m trying to do is to reduce my overall consumption. So when I’m thinking of buying something ask do I really need this as apposed to want it? Can I buy it second hand somewhere?
Could you try that?

@icedcoffees
The real solution is smaller family size which China has known about for decades and has taken much unfair criticism for.

Most of the criticism was regarding the surge in female infanticide when the one child policy was in force. Are you saying it was unfair to criticise the murder of baby girls?

So actually India is trying to tackle the issues - in a way that won't plunge the poor into even worse poverty, through limiting access to essential resources.

Much kinder to promote smaller families than make essential resources too expensive for those with less money.

The UK should take note.

[quote PlanDeRaccordement]@icedcoffees
The real solution is smaller family size which China has known about for decades and has taken much unfair criticism for.

Most of the criticism was regarding the surge in female infanticide when the one child policy was in force. Are you saying it was unfair to criticise the murder of baby girls?[/quote]
The way the policy was implemented in some regions was terrible. But that doesn't mean the actual idea of smaller families was wrong.

Do what you like but I do hope that includes getting rid of your phone etc. Over 300m Indians live on less than a dollar a day so I very much doubt they own as much shit as you do or cause as many carbon emissions and yes hearing rich westerners preach to developing countries is offensive.

On India's fertility rate. "Most Indian states are expected to hit replacement fertility levels of 2.1 children per woman by 2021. Fertility rate has already declined to an average of 2.2 in 2017, according to a government survey of 22 major states, while urban fertility has already fallen below replacement level, to 1.7 children per woman. "

e360.yale.edu/features/why-india-is-making-progress-in-slowing-its-population-growth