Have You Seen This?

Updated on August 19, 2011
A.C. asks from Keller, TX
6 answers

Thought of this question after reading the one about the USA becoming a "3rd world" (or more correct term: developing nation). There were 2 AWESOME television series: one is called "Blood, sweat, and takeaway", and the other was called "Blood, sweat, and t-shirts". Either on BBC, Nat Geo, or Planet Green. Awesome shows! Refreshing twist on the "reality" show format. They took some young people from England who love to shop (for quick cheap food, or those who consider themselves fashionistas) to a place in Asia where they had to do the work and live like the people, to see HOW MUCH goes into the shrimp they eat, how the people live for all their hard work.......and another group to India I think, for a reality check on what went into a work day (and daily life away from work too) to make cheap clothing. A little bit of other sides.....they did a neat job of showing what happens to these people (which makes you upset and you don't want to support this stuff!) and then you get to see that it is their only job and how if you just stopped, or just yanked it away, what would happen to them? Seeing how our world is SO intertwined. An interesting perspective. And a lot of information later on fair trade companies and how to support companies in those places that would provide more fair humane work conditions. (And just because my family is weird, we got a little kick out of watching spoiled western kids break down in less than a day, LOL, when they had to deal with a few hours of what the REAL "real world" is like out there). They aired a year ago. You could probably see episodes online but not sure. Has anyone seen this? If so, do you have thoughts on it? The post and replies about "3rd world" stuff brought it back to mind, and it's still very clear. Would love to discuss.

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So What Happened?

Glad you saw it Denise, I really enjoyed it! I wish there were more shows like it. It's NEAT to see where things come from and what goes into it; perhaps it could actually lead to taking a moment to be thankful instead of just mindless consumption. And yeah, because of this show, we DO look for the fair trade lables and try to suppor them. They're not as "available" or "cheap" (which was where the show was going---our demand for CHEAP and what that means on the other end), but I'm hoping that with time and purchasing when I see it, requesting more of it, that this will change and it will be more readily available.
For Jo W-thanks for taking a moment to respond. But it IS different. My uncle worked on a shrimp trawler, and I've been crabbing plenty of times, but it is NOT the same. What we saw as the daily life of some was SO not what my uncle had to do. Good honest hard work, but not..."that". And he may have lived paycheck to paycheck, but not literally day to day. The show wasn't '"aww, look at the poor people work hard" but taking wealthy Britons who never thought about where the cheap stuff they demanded came from, and showed them (and us watching on our comfy couches) what happens. It was interesting and positive in the end. Check it out sometime.

More Answers

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It's a great series and I have watched all of those you mention. It's on Planet Green. http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/blood-sweat-takeaways/

Kind of puts a face behind the products we buy. And THIS is why cheapest is NOT always the best choice for my family--sorry Wal Mart!

So many Americans still don't realize the impact their disposable income has on the rest of the world and why it's so important to use it wisely. Even if that means living with less.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yes, I saw the t-shirt one. I get frustrated with a lack of strength of character in these kids. They know that they're not there for the long term, just suck it up and do what's necessary until you can get back on that plane and return to your high street lives!

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

Thanks for the info!

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I read that other post. It was so ridiculous and ill informed I didn't feel like spending the time forming a post to point that out. People need to stop forming major opinions over sound bites. NASA is gone we are poor, what the heck, for one NASA is just fine it just isn't sending up shuttles....

Anyway, yeah I could see kids freaking if they knew how hard some nations work. The problem with the stories you speak of is they miss the perspective of where those countries have come from. Another perspective that is missed is the hard work the same kids avoid right here in the US. I wonder how long those same kids would last in a corn field de-tasseling?

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J.C.

answers from Cleveland on

Haven't seen it but it sounds awesome. I'll have to look for it online.

Thanks for this post!

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H.P.

answers from Houston on

I have not, but...sounds good.

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