Mike Daisey has a one-man-show running at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre through February 27, one that we as Apple geeks might be interested in seeing. It’s called “The Agony and The Ecstasy of Steve Jobs.”
Master storyteller Daisey’s comedic show is all about the world of Apple, including an important message: Apple’s products are made under inhumane conditions.
Cult of Mac’s Leander Kahney says that Daisey’s portrail of an Apple fan is spot on and the show is very funny but also has a serious side as well. He visited production facilities inChina to gather material for his show only to find out that the devices he loves are made in sweatshop conditions, with children as young as 11 years old.
Video after break (1:38 mark)
All of Daisey’s stories weren’t funny; he spoke to children who worked 16 hours a day hand-assembling iPhones and iPads. He even mentions that one worker mangled his hand but didn’t receive medical treatment. When returning back to work, he was fired for being slow.
Apple’s products are assembled (in China) by hand instead of pricey machines because of cost; this isn’t a big deal but the fact that the workers are treated inhumanely is.
Kahney said that Daisey’s show would be “unpalatable if it wasn’t so funny. It’s a roller-coaster ride. He takes the audience up with funny observations about Apple and Steve Jobs, and then delivers some uncomfortable truths about the modern industrial system that is largely invisible to consumers outside Asia. I laughed my head off for two hours, but I left feeling ashamed to turn my iPhone back on.”
Daisey’s point in all this is Apple as an industry leader needs to improve working conditions at its Chinese factories. If they can get “green” in response to consumer demand, they should also call for fair treatment of its assembly workforce in China.
The show is highly recommended and if you’re attending Macworld this week, why not head across the Bay to Berkeley and check out Daisey’s “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” show. It’s a real “iOpener.”
[via Cult of Mac]
