What: Protest Apple Labor Abuses in China
When: Wednesday, January 18
Where: Apple Store
451 University Ave.
Palo Alto, California
Who: Labor rights activists, the Raging Grannies

Political activists for labor rights say that despite attempts to improve its image in the last 5 years, Apple has worse-than-sweatshop manufacturing conditions in China. These conditions include mass worker suicides, child labor violations, excessive workloads, and exposure to toxic chemicals.

Any promises Apple is making in recent days to take steps to rectify the dire situation, are too little too late.

Join us as we demonstrate outside the Apple store at 451 University in Palo Alto on Wednesday January 18 from 11:45 am.

Apple replied to accusations that it has turned a blind eye to working conditions in China saying it conducts a number of surprise audits every year in order to "make sure our suppliers are not just showing us what they want us to see." But recent interviews, conducted in Shenzen, China by Mike Daisey, have shown that children as young as 12 years old are working in Foxconn factories that Apple uses. He discovered in a visit to a facility there that underage workers are hidden away when inspectors come.

"It's fair to say every Apple Computer has the blood of workers on it", said Granny Gail Sredanovic.

"While labor activists have long asked for greater oversight, Apple clearly looked the other way," said another of the Grannies. "To blame, in part, is the Silicon Valley cult-like worship of Apple. When Steve Jobs died, you couldn't walk in downtown Palo Alto without noticing the many shrines to him in store windows. Jobs-worshippers would have had the flag at half-mast if they could have."