China and Chinese products

[Ovenpaa]

I doubt there is a single person reading this that has not been impacted in some way by Covid-19 over the past few months. Recorded deaths here in the UK hover at just under 1,000 people a day (10/04/2020) People that we know, or know of has died. This pandemic has brought out the very best and sadly, the very worst in people these last weeks. Daily I see images and read articles about our NHS, emergency and armed services that make me both incredibly proud and horrified in unequal doses. They are having to endure horrific conditions and crushing working hours as they try and save lives and are struggling for the very basics of personal protective equipment due to a faltering supply chain.

Let’s take a closer look at the PPE being supplied, a significant proportion is being sourced from outside of our little island. Some from the European countries and some from as far afield as China, allegedly the source of this Corona virus variant.

Equally, I am sure we have all seen or read of PPE failures and shoddy quality. Maybe not on the BBC however look further for news sources and the evidence is irrefutable and I am appalled that China allows and even condones such actions from their suppliers.

Well, we have had enough of this and have decided to make a stand in a tiny and insignificant way by no longer purchasing or using Chinese products as far as possible. Yes, I know this is virtually unworkable, however we are going to do it.

I am not being xenophobic, nor racist, nor do I dislike foreigners (I am married to one after all!) Or anything else, I am simply going to make a small stand against the giant that is China. Starting now, here at the Shooting Shed we intend to be a Chinese product free company. We will not knowingly purchase any product produced wholly or partly in China. Furthermore, we will ask our suppliers to confirm the country of origin of the part we are purchasing. This includes machinery, raw materials, cutting inserts, tool holders, nuts and bolts and even the disposable gloves we use for polishing and inspection. Everything in fact that we use in the workshop will be closely scrutinised in future.

It also applies to clothing and domestic products we use. Also to all shooting products without exception. Our products will not only proudly be designed and made in the UK, they will also be made as far as practicable, without Chinese products.

You may think I am over reacting, or this approach is a nonsense and unworkable, however I believe China is culpable for the levels of this pandemic and I am going to boycott them.

So you have some choices now, either agree and support our approach, or shake your head in disbelief and source your products elsewhere, if you do go for option two, well I really do not care. Adopt our ethos and we thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.

Next time you are shopping, just pause to read the label of the product you pick up, maybe put it back on the shelf if it says Made in China, or PRC or similar. Make a stand in a tiny way and support our UK manufacturers and products instead of saving a few pence and sending your hard earned money outside of our country.

…and why am I telling you this? Because you need to know.

Now wash your hands.

[johngarnett]

I'm right with you David, (well, both of you). I just hope that I can boycott their goods satisfactorily. Certainly no more takeaways! I can't get the pictures of that animal market in Wuchan(sp) out of my mind. Stay safe both

JohnG :cornwall: (temporarily closed!!)

[Ballistol]

[dodgyrog]

I just bought two aquarium aeration pumps off of Ebay. Typically they turned out to be of Chinese origin! It will be extremely difficult to divorce ourselves from Chinese products.

[Alpha1]

I agree with you (both) but I think you will find it difficult in your line of work to completely eradicate the use of Chinese made goods/tooling etc.
But I applaud your stance and wish you success with it.

[Ovenpaa]

Dave, I agree it will be difficult and I would be naive to say I will 100% guarantee not to use Chinese products, however I will have a bloody good try. Even if it is only a GBP1,000 a year it will be worth it. If you do it as well plus the next person we make a tiny bit more of a difference.

[1066]

I agree with you (both) but I think you will find it difficult in your line of work to completely eradicate the use of Chinese made goods/tooling etc.
But I applaud your stance and wish you success with it.

Just how I feel but... You buy what you might think is a product made in the USA, say an RCBS Chargemaster or the Lyman, Hornady version.(there's no UK equivalent) Where are the circuit boards and components made - China. Loads of well known brand names are outsourced to China that you would be totally unaware of.

[North Star]

I totally agree with your stance and I have felt this way for a number of years.
China is the world's largest polluter, they suck up the world's resources and they put us out of work with their cheap labour. Unfortunately, we are all at the root of the problem when our main concern is the cost of the product we are buying.
We need to have pride in our own economies and support our own manufacturers, but that will mean paying more for our goods. I fear that when this pandemic has gone away, we will be falling over ourselves to get the Chinese economy back on its feet so that we can have more cheap crap in our stores.

[Hunterboy]

Anybody want to get the heads up on Chinese mentality can read a book called “Poorly made in China” By Paul Miller. It certainly explains a lot of what we see coming out of China today.

[dromia]

I have been doing this deliberately now for the past five years, not just china but other with countries and companies that I object to and the huge issue of my objection to the unfettered globalisation and its unequal value consequences that we are all suffering from. So I know how difficult it is to do.

Where I do know the source of items and this includes food, then I will not buy them. Don't even mention the nightmare that is packaging!

Just finding out where the elements of an item is made is nigh on impossible a lot of the time so as to base a decision on, this means that I have to just assume that parts are from an unacceptable to me source and refuse to buy/use.

This has meant that there are also things that I have had to cease do, I find this lack of choice is actually very beneficial as it simplifies ones life immensely.

Some things like computer and communication products are very difficult to source without Chinese and foreign input so I try and minimise the direct benefit to them by purchasing second hand, this also reduces consumption. In fact second hand is my source of choice for nearly everything now other than food, medicals and shooting consumables. With a bit of luck I am planning and working towards being computer/internet/mobile phone free over the next three to five years.

To free your self as much as possible you really need to look at how you live and what in life is truly of value to yourself and reduce consumption, your desire for "things", travel and range of activities to a minimum, believe me less is definitely more for quality of life.

It is a difficult road to follow as we have allowed globalisation to so insidiously invade our lives, trying to unshackle ones self from it is indeed difficult and makes you face hard choices because of the interdependence of greed that is the modern world.

I can only do and effect that which I have power over and even exercising that "freedom" can confront you with very awkward choices.

However trying to do the right thing as one sees it is that one thing you can do if you are going to be true to yourself.