I Would Pay More …

…for an iPad and iPhone that were made in a factories that valued the dignity of its workers and with materials that supported peace rather than war.

In a few hours the iPad 3 is set to be debuted. Now, I have to tell you, I’m a huuuuuge fan of just about all things Apple. But I need to be honest, the things they make are, by and large, not necessities for me. I love my Mac, but could get by – and have – with something cheaper. I adore my iPhone, but could live with something less cool. I can’t wait for the unveiling of the new iPad, but definitely don’t count on it for most of the work I do. These are tool, yes, but also toys. I am fortunate that I can buy them, and so I want to tell Apple that I would pay more if they pushed for better wages and living conditions in their factories in China and used minerals from conflict-free mines in Africa.

How about you?

If you’re interested in prodding one of our leading innovators in technology also to be a leader in human rights and justice, take a look at the following sites. Become better informed, sign a petition, take some action. And when you’re done, share these links with friends (and feel free to share other related links in the comments).

Apple can make a difference. And so can we. Thanks.

Raise Hope for Congo

Change.org petition for Apple to protect workers in China making iPhones

Finally, here’s the link to This American Life’s January 6th show that explored the relationship between Apple, the workers at its overseas factories, and us, the folks that buy Apple’s stuff.

Note: This American Life recently printed a retraction of their story when they discovered it contained multiple errors. While I was initially inclined simply to pull this link, I thought you might be interested in hearing how the mistakes made, what they did about it, and where the issues raised stand. You can find their retraction here.