Sunday 28 April 2013

A Factory As It Is: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Should the William Morris Society not have something to say, publicly and collectively, about the collapse of that 8-storey building housing garment factories in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in which at least 350 people have been killed? Well, yes, in my view it most certainly should. First, because Morris himself wrote a series of articles for Justice in 1884 on ‘A Factory As It Might Be’, and the utopian projections there imply an angry concern for the actual state of factories under capitalism in his own present. Second, because – in the light of his analysis of the ‘world market’ in News from Nowhere and elsewhere – he would very readily have understood the threats to Third World workers’ lives (makeshift buildings in this case) posed by the First World’s current insatiable appetite for cheap goods.



But will any of the Morris websites (other than this one), official or unofficial, say anything at all about the ghastly tragedy we have just witnessed in Dhaka? I doubt it. In late nineteenth-century debates about whether English Literature was or was not a proper subject for university study its opponents argued that it could not possibly be a rigorous discipline because it amounted to nothing more than ‘chatter about Shelley’. And it seems to me that rather too much of what both the Morris Society itself and other Morris websites offer us is, analogously and disappointingly, just ‘chatter about the Pre-Raphaelites’.

14 comments:

Makiko Minow-Pinkney said...

The Dhaka death toll just keeps growing. The BBC website now gives "at least 382 dead", and here's a snippet from the rest of its commentary: 'Bangladesh has one of the largest garment industries in the world, providing cheap clothing for major Western retailers that benefit from its widespread low-cost labour. But the industry has been widely criticised for its low pay and limited rights given to workers and for the often dangerous working conditions in garment factories'.

Kotick said...

I presume that the recent discussion about whether to stock toy wombats in the gift shop on the Red House website would be a good example of the kind of Pre-Raph drivel that you're talking about at the end of your post!

ianmac55 said...

In the final pages of "The Frock-Coated Revolutionary", his biography of Friedrich Engels, Tristram Hunt describes a Chinese factory today and notes that it is not very different from a Manchester factory of the 1840s as described by Engels.

Globalisation has brought these conditions too to a state claiming to be based on Marxism.

Time for a re-read of The Communist Manifesto!

Tony Pinkney said...

Thanks, Ian. The Dhaka death toll is now over 600, I believe, and still rising. China is a great conundrum to us all, I agree - must get out there myself soon and take a look.

Tony Pinkney said...

Death toll now around 900 ...

Boundless Adventure said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Adventure Mountain Guide Team said...

The high 5 Adventures is Expedition Company in Nepal. So Mr Narbin Magar has been selected for the All Trekking peaks and Expedition leading since 2005 to till Local Base Expedition Agency in Nepal. Most of the Challenging Trekking Agency which is popular peak Climbing, Trekking in Nepal and Expedition in Nepal, the High 5 Adventures Company all Staff are has been trained Mountaineering and enough Strong Local guide and Climbing Sherpa’s. Everest Expedition Company is one of the most challenging and high light Trekking routes in Nepal. Everest base camp, Langtang Trekking, manaslu trekking, Annapurna base camp, Annapurna Circuit, Dhaulagiri round and many others Trekking routes in Nepal. The part of the Peak climbing and Expedition is more attractive and Adventures Expedition in Nepal.

Shiva Excursion said...


Why do you like to select Everest Base Camp Trek?
The Everest Base Camp Trek is one
among the foremost illustrious trekking adventures within the world. It’s

a grand journey that takes trekkers from the low-lying hills of Nepal to

the bottom Everest Base Camp Trek of the world’s tallest crown. It’s of

no surprise per se that individuals from all components of the world

visit Nepal to endure this exploit. The trek’s quality is additionally

well-deserving because the journey presents wonderful highlights and

options that capture the verify the essence of Nepal’s range of mountains

life and topography. From the made Sherpa culture to the cerulean shadows

of the mighty Everest range, the Everest Base Camp Trek of is an escapade

that you just mustn't miss out on! Here is a unit high of seven reasons

why you must do the Everest Base Camp Trekking in Nepal.
Best Thing to do Everest Base Camp Trek?
Many of you will suppose that Mt. Everest Base Camp Trek
is simply a trek wherever you keep company with a tent and reach the

double summit. However, it's not equivalent to
your thinking. Besides, there is a unit of various different things that

one will do and collect experiences and
recollections.Everest Base Camp is that the finish place of the EBC Trek.

There is a unit, several different teams, preparing for the Mt. Everest
Expedition. You’ll be able to visit the realm around the Base Camp and

meet many folks from around the world with totally different

nationalities and share the expertise that you just have collected

whereas reaching the bottom Camp. Similarly, with the recent occasional,

one will fancy observance the avalanches returning down the mountains
and consider the mountain chain ranges.Everest Base Camp area Explore Sherpa repository Bordered by

Mount Thamserku within the east of Namche, there's Sherpa repository

additionally known as Sagarmatha park repository. You’ll be able to

explore the repository and take the image of a freshly created sculpture

of adult. many of trekkers are the thing for Mani
Rindu Festival too. because of that festival ceremony at Tengboche

Monastery and for a week. The Tengboche
The monastery is Biggest and old gompas in the Khumbu region. the Route

is On the of Everest Base Camp Trek. from Tengboche
also can see Mt Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Amadablam and Thamserku him. so

if have a chance in your life try to be
there once and get your holidays in Nepal.

james said...

When you want search engine optimization services , you need to choose best seo services company who can help to achieve results

Dhansingh Gurung said...

14 Days Manaslu Circuit Trek high light trekking route in Manaslu Trekking Packages, and magical

beaten track of hidden Valley Manaslu Larke La Pass 5150m. After Annapurna Circuit Trekking Most of Trekkers are thinking about the round Manaslu Trekking. The Manaslu Circuit Trek is

restricted area of Special Trekking Path in Nepal and day by day Trekkers Demand increased and also develops lodge accommodation and foods. There is some option if some of trekkers

has more holidays and want to see nicer Himalayan tropical villages Monastery and Trans Himalayan people they can select Manslu Tsum Valley Trek. That can make both destination

combined Tsum Valley and Manaslu Base Cam with Lark La Pass. The Manaslu Trekking is little more expensive than others Trekking Routes, Because those trekkers who are interest to go

Round Manslu Larke la pass or Manaslu Tsum Valley they have to buy four type of Trekking Permits as Manaslu conservation area of Project (MCAP), Manaslu Restricted Permit, Tsum Valley

Restricted Permit and Annapurna Conservation Area of Project (ACAP).
14 Days Manaslu Circuit Trek Start from Kathmandu to Arughat to Sotikhola by Public bus or Jeep

and Trek to Machhakhola, Jagat, Filim, Deng, Namrung, Lho, Sama Gaun, Samdo, Larke La Pass, Bhimtang, Gho, Tilje, Dharapani and Drive to Besi sahar to Kathmandu. During this trip can

get amazing Himalayan flavor with outstanding white Himalayan scenery which of eight top high peak Manaslu Expedition and Ganesh Himal, Singi Himal, Annapurna II, Annapurna IIII,

gangapurna, Lamjung and Many Others Trekking Peaks. Everest Trekking Routes Selling 14 Days Manaslu Circuit Trek full board

Packages Kathmandu to Kathmandu. If anyone interest can contact us directly thank you.
Email: info@everesttrekkingroutes.com
https:www.everesttrekkingroutes.com

Green City Travel and Tours(p.)Ltd. said...

Best Kathmandu to Rara lake tour Package organized by the specialized RAra Rara lake tour Packageagency Kathmandu Nepal. 2 nights 3 days to the 6 night 7 days Rara tours by the Green city tours and travel. Similarly
manaslu trekking Nepal one of the Popular trekking in Nepal in the side of the Tibetan border and Nepal to India Delhi Direct bus by the
Kathamndu to Delhi Bus ticket agency Kathmandu Nepal. Bus departure time 10 Am from Kathmandu to Delh bus ticket agency.Similarly, Manakamana Darshan by the
Manakamana Cable car ticket which is booking our tours and travel.

yanmaneee said...

supreme clothing
off white shoes
supreme
jordan shoes
steph curry shoes
birkin bag
lebron shoes
supreme hoodie
curry shoes
goyard

sheaul said...

replica bags seoul replica bags online shopping replica bags vuitton

thesoez said...

e3k74w1a94 r6v99t3i89 c6c80d6s18 h5l24i6u67 k5e20m3l45 h9e46n8d09