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Oxfam Community Aid Abroad

Oxfam Community Aid Abroad is an independent Australian organisation which is both a community based and voluntary body.

CAA takes effective action to eliminate poverty and achieve social justice and environmental sustainability by identifying and attempting to rectify the underlying causes of inequality and powerlessness.

Looking through the information provided on their Web site is one way you can make a positive difference by becoming actively aware of some of these issues.

This activity will involve you reading a range of articles and completing a variety of responses to examine the treatment and exploitation of Asian factory workers who are employees of Nike.

Go to the Oxfam Community Aid Abroad Web site:

http://www.caa.org.au/

Select the ‘Campaigns’ option from the choice list.

Under the heading Current Campaigns, select ‘The Nike Watch’:

http://www.caa.org.au/campaigns/nike/index.html

Read the article ‘Just Stop it! And answer the following questions:

What is the contradiction between the image that companies such as Nike promote and the lifestyles of the workers who actually produce the goods that is highlighted in this article ?
Summarise the working conditions in the Nike factories in Asia.
What is CAA aiming to achieve and bring to the attention of Nike by its campaigning ?

4. Send a Protest Postcard to Oxfam CAA so they can deliver it to Nike (select from the text) or http://www.caa.org.au/campaigns/nike/postcard.html and follow the instructions.

Select the full text option and read through the article ‘Sweating for Nike’:

http://www.caa.org.au/campaigns/nike/sweating.html

Choose one of the quotes from the box which looks at the working conditions and treatment of workers and write a letter to Nike expressing your views and opinions on this matter. You may like to take into consideration the quote taken from the Nike Advertisement in your letter

For this activity, you will need to select and read the information topics under the headings of Nike in Indonesia - Working Conditions and What Nike Says. This will provide you with a range of information, which looks at the issue of workers in Asia being exploited by Nike, from differing points of view.

After reading through the relevant articles from Nike in Indonesia - Working Conditions and What Nike Says, choose two of the activities from those listed below.

Organise a debate on the issue of whether or not Nike are exploiting their employees.

This activity can be adapted for the class to be divided in half and have a group debate.

2. Write an essay on one of the topics below;

Nike should be condemned for the treatment of its workers in Asia. Their sole concern is the profit made at the end of each day. Discuss.
Nike has been greatly misunderstood. It is making genuine efforts to ensure the treatment, health and well being of their employees is a major priority. Do you agree with this statement ? Explain your point of view.

3. What are some of the main concerns and issues which were raised in the reports you read about the treatment and living conditions of Nike factory workers in Asia ?

Give an oral presentation in which you discuss your views on any of the topics raised in your reading. You should aim for a 4 - 5 minute presentation and attempt to incorporate some of the information and evidence from your research in your presentation. You may want to consider using other resources in your presentation such as a video segment and/or pictures. You could check with your teacher to see if an Overhead Projector is available should you wish to use one.

4. Make a collage of words and images which represents your thoughts and opinions on the treatment of Nike workers in Asian factories. The collage will need to include a brief statement (150-200 words), explaining the significance and relevance of the words and images you chose.