I'm going to come right out and say it: Just because you shop at Target doesn't mean you aren't to blame for anything.
I am so sick and tired of people feeling all high and mighty because they spite Wal-Mart's sweat shop items and buy instead the sweat shop items sold at Target. I understand that Target is better to their employees (the employees we see at the stores at least), but does that really mean much? They still sell goods from all over the world to the all consuming hands of westerners. Target is guilty too, and I hate that people think they are not.
Why do people so blindly believe that Target is a better alternative? I think that some people just dislike Wal-Mart, so any alternative is nice. I think that for a lot of others, however, it comes down to some brilliant marketing ploys by Target over the years. Their ads appeal to a young and hip audience, who then feel young and hip shopping at the store. They throw in a couple green washing tactics here and there, and end up with a dedicated consumer base.
Here are some examples of Target commercials and Ads:
Greenwashing:
Article Illustrating the fact that Target isn't as "green" as they pretend to be:
- http://ohsonline.com/articles/
2007/07/company-fined-120000- for-horrible-spooky-effects- on-health-environment.aspx
Excerpt: Target Corp. will pay a civil penalty of $120,000 for distributing and selling Horrible Spooky String, a children's product that is harmful to the environment. EPA had previously ordered five national retail chains to pull cans of illegally imported confetti string products from their shelves. The products contain banned hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) which deplete the earth's protective stratospheric ozone layer and increase the risk of skin cancer.
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