Explosion At Foxconn Factory Kills 2, Injures 16

arielCo writes "There are several reports in the news about an explosion in a Foxconn factory in Chengdu that manufactures the iPad 2, killing two workers and injuring another 16. 'The Chengdu Municipal government said the explosion occurred in Foxconn's "polishing plant" at around 7 p.m. Experts say it is likely a cleaning stage at the end of the production process after devices are assembled.' There's a short amateur video of the ensuing fire, taken during the evacuation. Apple said they are working with Foxconn to investigate."

Just because

[mrcvp]

The worst thing about this story it that it would probably be unnoticed if it happened at any other factory in china. But now it's Foxconn and iPad 2 so now it's interesting.

Re:Broken society

[spire3661]

Your 'in an ideal world' makes no sense. In an ideal world we wouldnt have to worry about petty nationalism. These things are made where they are because cost of labor is cheap there. If the ipad was made in America it would cost almost 25-50% more what it does now. That makes sense how?

Re:Begs the question...

[nysus]

Capitalism is good at many things, but uplifting workers ain't one of them. The only thing will make apple respond is if it sees a consumer backlash which will pressure the, to allow these workers to form an autonomous union.

Re:Begs the question...

[tukang]

Apple knows what's going on at Foxconn but still choose to do business with them. Outsourcing your dirty work does not absolve you of responsibility.

Re:Begs the question...

[DNS-and-BIND]

Huh. Really? Here in China, they had socialism for fifty years and everyone was dirt-poor. The real kind of socialism, the kind where it was illegal to make profit. Ever since Deng Xiaoping hijacked the people's revolution onto the capitalist road, each year has been better than the last, and it's showing no signs of stopping. Workers work a lot, but get paid a heck of a lot better than back on the farm. The last time I was in a small village, there was construction going on everywhere. New houses being built by money sent home from factory work.

China already has a union for the workers. Didn't you get the memo?