Gross Exploitation !

Today I received an email detailing the gross exploitation of  the Samsung workers which I now share with you all.

Dear Mel,

Help bring the hidden stories of Samsung’s supply chain workers to the Mobile World Congress, happening now in Barcelona.

When airlines banned the use of Samsung’s Note 7 after its fire-prone batteries started to spontaneously combust, the public got a sense of the fear that Samsung supply chain workers face on a daily basis. 

Because beneath Samsung’s shiny exterior as global electronics giant is a corporate culture that is callously geared towards maximising profit to the detriment of the everyday lives of its workers. It’s a modern tech company with medieval labor practices, whose calling cards are union busting, poverty wages, and insecure and unsafe work conditions. 

This week Samsung’s modern face is on full display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where tech industry giants are gathering to unveil the latest in smartphones, tablets and mobile tech. Who’s not invited to the glitzy convention? The largely invisible workforce of 1.5 million low-paid supply chain workers from across the globe who make Samsung products under precarious and sometimes deadly conditions. 

Join with us to help bring the stories of Samsung’s hidden workers to Mobile World Congress and the attention of the world’s tech elite. Share now.

It wouldn’t take much for Samsung treat their workers with dignity and pay a living wage. Our research shows Samsung makes $10,435 in profit for every supply chain worker -- meaning if they increased wages of $50 per month (just $600 per year) to reach a minimum living wage in Asia, they would still make $9,835 per worker. A tidy sum, even for a company so ruthlessly devoted to profit. 

For Hesty, who works in semiconductor production in Indonesia, a minimum wage on which she can live from Samsung would mean being able to pay for basics for her family such as clothes, food and childcare, without having to worry about whether her wages will last until the next pay day. 

Though Samsung would have to suffer very little to raise wages across its supply chain, its workers pay a huge price for the work they do: at least 79 workers have died of cancer related diseases after being exposed to chemicals used in the Samsung production process. And did the company take responsibility? Indeed not -- they refused to name the chemical that led to the deaths, citing trade secrets. 

It’s time Samsung and other tech giants acknowledged the true cost of modern tech by shedding their medieval practices. With all eyes on Samsung at the Mobile World Congress right now, your shares right now will have maximum impact. 

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Thank you for all you do,

Sharan Burrow,
ITUC General Secretary.

A SWEET EXCURSION

The other day our visitors from England treated Lady H and myself to a tour through three

counties to one of our favourite destinations The Chocolate Garden in county Wicklow 

We each felt very undecided in making a choice from the menu board, thus our selection seemed to take a good deal of time. Lady H chose for herself an Ice Cream Sundae, I went for a slice of chocolate Fudge Cake accompanied by a vanilla ice cream and the other two had slices of Carrot Cake and fresh cream. All with a mug of Hot Chocolate each.

Following on from a surfeit of chocolate Lady H and I became quite giddy, high would be another description anyway, we spotted this bijou cottage and wondered whether to down size.

As you can see it comes complete with all of the necessary domestic equipment and we would very much appreciate your thoughts ?

http://aheronsview.blogspot.ie/2014/05/chocolate-ice-cream.html

YOU CAN BE RICH!

Money loads of money

Last night I received a long message on Skype informing me that I could share a fortune with an African gentleman purportedly from Ghana. 

It was of course a Scam and to make matters worse a very antiquated one. Which just goes to show how stupid these people are in promulgating that which is now widely known and recognised as being nonsense.

I retired to bed laughing at their ridiculousness!

So for your information and awareness here is what was Skyped to me.

ps
Barclay's Bank now aware
and
the blog has received a visitor from Ghana

[12/05/2015 22:31:55] James Kofi: Greetings to you,

I have been in search of someone with the last name Mel so when I saw your name I was pushed to contact you and see how best we can assist each other. I am Mr. James Kofi, I am in account department, Barclays Bank Plc, Ghana. I believe it is the wish of God for me to come across you on my search now. I am having an important business discussion I wish to share with you which I believe will interest you because, it is in connection with your last name and you are going to benefit from it.

One late Mr. Lucas Mel, a citizen of your country had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2006, valued at US $9,400,000.00 (Nine Million, Four Hundred Thousand US Dollars) Sadly, Mr. Lucas Mel he was among the death victims in the massive earthquake in tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011 and killed over 10,000 people, wish you can look for yourself http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7410166.stm.

He was in Japan on a business trip and that was how he met his end. My bank management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he was my friend and I am his account officer Mr. Lucas Mel did not mention any next of kin/heir when the account was opened, and Mr. Lucas Mel was not married and no children. 

Last week my bank management requested that I should give instructions on what to do about his funds, if to renew the contract. I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a means to handle the situation, because if my bank directors happens to know that Mr. Lucas Mel is dead and do not have any heir, they will take the funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. 

That was why when I saw your last name I was happy and I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as next of kin/ heir to the account, since you have the same last name with him and my bank head quarters will release the account to you. There is no risk involved.

The transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the bank directors to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am suggesting we share the funds, 50/50% to both parties, and my share will assist me to start my own company that has been my dream. Let me know your mind on these and please do treat this information as a top secret. We will go over the details once I receive your urgent response to my email address: James_kofi2222@yahoo.com have a nice day and God bless.

Hot and Cold

I am not really a gadget person, though from time to time I do get a hankering

for an item which I see as useful. 

Quite a few years ago a friend treated herself to a new car a Yaris and I was quite

taken with the thingy that gave the outside temperature - brilliant I want one

So when browsing in Lidl the other day I saw a gadget which would show not only 

the outside temp but also the interior temp too and being in a reckless mood 

I bought it and installed it yesterday.

So here it is >

Fortunately there was an available short blind shelf just beneath the radio

into which I placed the gadget. Note the temps 21.1C interior and 12.6C

outside at 8.1pm last night.

I fed the long cable around the dash on the passenger side hiding 99% of it

out of sight and free from being interfered with by rambling fingers or wayward feet.

Following the advice of a friend I have relocated the sensor to a void within the inside of the wing as it gives a more accurate reading and is not effected by the heat from the sun.

A Sunday Market

Several times a year, on warm, sunny Sundays, we visit the Clara Sunday Market & Car Boot Sale.

It’s a family run market which was set up in 1993 to sell new and second hand goods and takes place every week. Situated on the Moate Rd outside Clara, Co. Offaly, the market sits on on a 6 acre site and is only 

15 minutes drive from Tullamore.

We go there when we have something specific to buy but also enjoy a thorough browse amongst the stalls. 

This time we went to buy a garden hoe and I was lucky, for lying in amongst dozens of others was an old forged hoe with a brand new handle. To me this was ideal and far better than a modern pressed steel one which bends as soon as you give them any work. I always feel recycling tools, rather than buying new, is a good idea and better still I purchased it for small money.

You never know who you are going to meet at the market or what you are going to find there, depending on which travelling trader attends. In the past I have met traders from all over Europe selling their wares and friends who were also looking for a bargain. There is always the chance to chat and have a bit of craic, especially over a cup of tea from the small café.

We visit Clara Market with the goods we wish to buy in mind and have usually found what we are looking for, with a few extra bits and pieces we have discovered along the way thrown in. 

My finds so far have included a brand new heavy leather waistcoat, a 1950’s teapot, socks, boots, 

cushion covers, curtains, pottery bowls and other miscellaneous items - it really is a treasure trove.

Traders from all over the place come here.

White vans predominate the scene.

Tool for every job and use. 

I wonder what she is thinking ?

Making a sale involves a lot of chat

One lonely rooster!

Fresh fruit anyone ?

Local produce on old oil drums