Toxic Trade

[Vivian Blink]

It has been several weeks since I touched on this subject in blog or comment since it appeared to me that our Real Conservative members were all in agreement about buying American, and maybe most of we patriots still are.......... but when I read this article in the World Net Daily, I saw RED! No kidding, folks! RED CHINA!.... because It isn't the Grinch who is stealing your Christmas any longer!

Chinese products are stealing Christmas as dangerous toys, clothes, appliances, even baby strollers, and pacifiers flood U.S. stores. Will America ever learn? Does everyone go nuts at Christmas trying to meet the desires of their children by getting caught up in the craze of buying them all the "hot new items", with no regard to long term effects on our children's safety, health, OR our county's economy? The number of toy recalls are growing every day and most are from China, India, Pakistan, or Indonesia...with China leading the pack!

We are making China and other nations even wealthier and supplying jobs to ther citizens while so many of our breadwinners are unemployed this Christmas. Do you think if we looked around enough, we could manage to find something affordable, "Made In U.S.A.", that would appease our children's appetites for "material things"? I know,I know.....it seems before I even pick up an item in department stores, I can tell you where it was probably made. And this is because there is still a demand and it is selling. But, if the demand stops, so will the supply. Can you imagine that "millions of these little furry robots are being flown on on 747's to keep up with the demand"? Especially at Christmas, we want to see that huge smile or hear that squeal of joy from our loved ones and we don't want to see them disappointed that Santa hasn't brought them "exactly" what they asked him for.

Perhaps we should take a lesson (lest we forget) from the good people of "Whoville" this year about what Christmas is really all about and for goodness sake, teach some values to our children! And then, collectively we can shove that sled of toys right over the cliff ourselves!..... or give it a sendoff back across the ocean!
Do have a Merry Christmas, and God Bless America!

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Posted: December 07, 2009
9:47 pm Eastern
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

Zhu Zhu Pet

WASHINGTON – Zhu Zhu Pets, furry robotic hamsters, are the hottest Christmas craze of 2009 – with millions being flown into the U.S. from China on 747s to keep up with the demand.

But, like so many other toys, clothes, appliances and even baby strollers and pacifiers on the market for holiday shoppers this season, they may be unsafe, say consumer watchdogs.

While Zhu Zhu pets have not faced a Consumer Product Safety Commission recall, a report from GoodGuide.com says they contain antimony, a toxic metal known as a carcinogen. The federal limt for antimony in products is 60 parts per million, while the Zhu Zhu has 93 parts per million in the fur and 103 in the nose.

"If ingested in high enough levels, antimony can lead to cancer, reproductive health and other human health hazards," said Dara O'Rourke, an associate professor of environmental science at U.C.-Berkeley and co-founder of GoodGuide.com. "If these toys aren't even meeting the legal standards in the U.S., then I would say that it isn't worth the risk for me to bring it into my household."

Get the full story of the Chinese product threat to Americans in "Poorly Made in China: An Insider's Account of the Tactics Behind China's Production Game."

Sources in Washington say a recall of the toys is unlikely because of the sheer volume already sold – millions throughout the U.S.

But that's not the case with dozens of other products imported from China just in time for Christmas. Of the 28 products recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission so far in November and December, 16 were manufactured in China.

U.S. distributors of these products are increasingly paying big fines.

This month, for instance, Excelligence Learning Corp. of Monterey, Calif., agreed to pay $25,000 in civil penalties for selling Chinese-made toy shaving brushes violating federal lead paint bans.

Also recalled by the CPSC for lead exposure were children's metal pendants sold by Team Work Trading of Los Angeles, Calif.

Bicycles are always a favorite Christmas gift for kids. But 6,400 distributed by Easton Sports of Scotts Valley, Calif., and manufactured in China were recalled this season because of stem failure that cause the rider to lose control.

About 10,000 children's art easels distributed by MacPherson's of Emeryville, Calif., and manufactured in China were recalled in the last 30 days for containing levels of lead that exceed federal limits.