I was looking at their site again & found an easier way to find the videos - here's a different link
http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.as...av=menu100_5_5
And in case you can't see the video, I found a partial written text from the reports that I've copied below. Really alarming are the figures in the very last paragraph:
November 5, 2007--How hard could it be to ban all products made in China from your life? That's what we've asked two metro families to do, for just one week.
Nine year old Emma Kinney quickly found out that almost all of her favorite toys are made in China, from her Cabbage Patch doll to her Easy Bake Oven. Most upsetting to Emma is the prospect of giving up the stuffed animal she sleeps with every night. She told us, "I'm worried about him because he's my favorite animal. His name is Ernie"
Emma's mom, Michelle Kinney had no idea it would be so difficult to stop using things made in China. "I didn't realize I'd have to give up silverware, and possibly the dishes!" Michelle said.
Penny Luthens teaches fitness classes at the Walnut Creek YMCA and says she hopes her family is successful in giving up things from overseas. She thinks it will be easier for her, than her kids but she is wondering how much athletic equipment is made in China.
According to Denise Johnson-Luethge, an professor in Drake University's School of Business, the United States has lost more than three million manufacturing jobs in the last five years. And Luethge says, "The people who scream the loudest about keeping jobs in the states are the first in Wal-Mart wanting a cheap tv!" The reasons for companies outsourcing are simple. Wage rates overseas are one-quarter to one-eighth what they are in the United States, there are skilled workers all over the world, and shipping costs have decreased dramatically in recent years.
Actor John Ratzenberger agrees, and says the situation is ruining our country. He told a crowd in Des Moines, "You bought a t-shirt made overseas because you thought it was cheaper, but it turns out it's more expensive. Your federal taxes go up because of all the welfare for people you put out of work."
November 6, 2007--Channel 13 is asking two metro families to try to live one week without products made in China. Both knew it would be hard, but no one thought it would be impossible.
Eighth grader Armond Luthens didn't want anything to do with our experiment, but he did give up a few things, like his Nintendo Wii. He couldn't give up his football pads, his cleats, his baseball and most of his clothes. Armond says, "This really shows how much products from China influence our lives!"
Armond's mom, Penny Luthens signed her family up for this assignment but she didn't do much better than her son. She loves to run, and wasn't willing to give up her shoes, I-pod, watch or sunglasses for an entire week. "I just couldn't do it there," says Penny.
Alenha Luthens is in fifth grade, and says she was excited about the experiment. "It's been really interesting," says Alenha, even though she found out that most of her favorite toys - including her American Girls dolls - are made in China. Alenha gets the best score in the Luthens house. She gave up almost everything for the entire week.
Things are hit and miss at the Kinney home, too. Emma and Mara gave up lots of their favorite toys, like Cabbage Patch dolls and Leapster but neither girl was willing to part with the stuffed animal she sleeps with every night.
The girls' mom Michelle says, "At first they thought it was a fun game, but after a few days they wanted to know when things were going back to normal." Michelle gave up things like her hairdryer and some favorite shoes, but Larry Kinney gets the best score in the house. "I'm a union sheet metal worker with Local 45 and I try to buy as much American as I can," Larry says. All of Larry's tools and his work boots are made in the U.S.A. but even he was surprised by how many Chinese products he found in his house.
Statistics from the U.S. Department of State back up what we're finding. In 1985, our trade with China was close to balanced, at about $4 billion each. By 1995, we were exporting roughly $12 billion worth of products, while our Chinese imports jumped to more than $45 billion. By 2004 the United States exports had grown to $35 billion, but Chinese imports had exploded to $197 billion.