This thread bums me out. I always thought of skateboarding as sort of anti the system but it seems like that's not always the case. People are actually defending slave labor and saying everything sucks so who cares. That is the essence of: no ethical consumption under capitalism.
These are human beings just like you and me. Forced to give up their hopes and dreams. Tortured, indoctrinated, forced to work, and having their bodies subject to unwanted medical procedures. Can you even imagine what that must be like? I can't. Its unconscionable.
I get it, when you start piling up all the horrible shit in the world, it's hard to think you can effect change. But to me, it's about my own conscience.
Can I really enjoying skating a pair of shoes made by an actual slave? Ask yourself that question. If you can, and you don't care, I worry about you.
What's the answer? I don't know. Hopefully, Last Resort isn't using by slave labor. Maybe I'll switch to them. NB is made in Indonesia, I don't think they are using slaves either.
There is no clear global solution right now. In fact Nike is pushing to keep using slaves and lobbying Congress to make sure laws aren't passed to restrict it.
All I know is that I don't want to support it.