Firestone: Helping or hurting Liberians?
Is Firestones work in Liberia good or bad for Liberians? Discuss today's Blowback.
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From the Los Angeles Times
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Shamefull, Mr. Adomotis, shamefull! Will be making sure our company doen't buy Firestone brand again.
Canadian Patriot @ 10:29 AM PST, Jan 31, 2008
Why is Firestone hurting librarians! What's wrong with books? This is outrageous!
Rosana Dana @ 7:41 AM PST, Jan 31, 2008
It was nice of the Times to allow Firestone the free advertising that this puffy "rebuttal" amounts to. In the spirit of equal time please be sure to check out DZ's latest book "Terrordome," which blows the roof off of other corporate poisonings in sports.
exploding tires @ 3:24 PM PST, Jan 30, 2008
The dismissals were due to "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted", and jurisdictional matters (whether the anti-slavery 13th Amendment applies outside the US or to lawsuits). Firestone never disputed the factual allegations of abuse, and neither does Adomitis. He is disingenuously trying to imply the judge dismissed the claims because they weren't true (the judge in fact wrote, "the court must assume as true all well-pleaded facts set forth" in the lawsuit). Adomitis' cynical manipulation demonstrates the truth of Zirin's claims, and Firestone's shamelessness. http://www.iradvocates.org/Order_on_Dismissal_Motion.pdf
Drew Poe @ 9:02 AM PST, Jan 30, 2008
Funny thing, but when I read rebuttals by corporations I realize just how cynical I've become. Having watched the juggernaut of the corporation grow and consume like the viewers on Super Sunday I find myself thinking, "How in my lifetime did things get so out of control and at exactly at what point did, the bottom line really become everything". How do we turn an oil tanker with a row boat? Without compassion and kindness we have absolutely no chance of survival OR of even being deeply happy.
Davy Jones @ 1:01 AM PST, Jan 30, 2008
this really speaks to the savagely racist nature of western imperialism and the pitiful apologists in the american corporate structure. mike vick gets sentenced to jail for killing dogs, while the nfl's key endorser runs slave plantations in Africa. hypocrisy and double standards abound!!
shalin @ 9:10 PM PST, Jan 29, 2008
Adomitis fails to mention that Firestone is trying to divest itself, i.e. sell-off to private investors, all the schools and housing he proudly points to. If this happens, conditions will rapidly deteriorate but Firestone will be able to point a finger elsewhere. Anyone who cares about fair labor and human rights should keep an eye on Firestone. They've had their way in Liberia for a hundred years and aren't likely going to change. Bridgestone should really honor the Liberian rubber worker at their half-time ceremony.... but this is about as likely as a Giants victory.
mihailovitch @ 1:26 PM PST, Jan 29, 2008
According to the workers, the quota is 750 trees, with half tapped twice. At two minutes per, this actually comes to 37.5 hrs/day. Why doesn't he clarify the quota now that he's not on the air? It would be useful for the union and public to have matching.information. Also, during the war, Firestone hired Adolphus Dolo, Charles Taylor's close ally, as the head of security. Firestone is suspected of using their shipping channels to bring in arms later given to children, who were drugged to commit atrocities. In "playing the game of...life in Liberia," Firestone should be penalized for war crimes. With friends like this, who needs enemies?
tereza @ 1:09 PM PST, Jan 29, 2008
Dionysis, there are very, very few other jobs upcountry. Sometimes the truth does not lie in the middle. People there work not for iphones, but so that their children will eat. No job, no food. So Firestone gets to do whatever it wants to upcountry, as it has for decades. Myrle, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Liberia
Myrle @ 12:48 PM PST, Jan 29, 2008
i thought it was a silent admission of guilt when the prez of firestone writes: Firestone is currently making a substantial investment to construct a new wastewater treatment plant .... because why are they just NOW constructing a NEW plant and they've been there almost a CENTURY!!!? i thought the president was stupid to word this that way ... he's dumb ... he should have said we JUST found out there was contamination ... but it takes a dumb person to dehumanize thousands of africans for almost an entire century.
may @ 10:17 AM PST, Jan 29, 2008
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