Thought I should share this news item given my statement yesterday. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-news/apple-supply-chain- audit-finds-worker-conditions-not-up-to-standards/article2302022/ Apple supply chain audit finds worker conditions not up to standards Poornima Gupta San Francisco- Reuters Published Friday, Jan. 13, 2012 3:46PM EST Last updated Friday, Jan. 13, 2012 4:05PM EST Apple revealed its once closely guarded list of global suppliers on Friday, taking a dramatic and unprecedented step in response to harsh criticism that it was turning a blind eye to dismal working conditions at partner factories. The move, unusual in an industry that relies heavily on foreign component suppliers to drive margins but rarer still for an infamously secretive company, underscored some speculation that new Chief Executive Tim Cook has ushered in an era of greater transparency. Predecessor Steve Jobs, who died in October, kept an iron grip on the internal workings of the company he founded and made great. Peter Timusk at571@ncf.ca ptimusk@sympatico.ca web: www.crystalcomputing.net blogs www.cyborgcitizen.org