Top: Tim Cook and Steve Jobs; photo credit to James Martin/CNET. Bottom: Mike Daisey at the Public Theater; photo credit to Mike Daisey.

[Editors’ Note:  This letter to Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, is one of several written by participants in the Fall 2011 Theater Teen Reviewers and Critics program after attending a performance of THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS at the Public Theater.  At the end of Mike’s Daisey’s solo performance, fliers are distributed with information about the labor practices he discusses in the show, along with Tim Cook’s email address and a call to action.  Mr. Daisey suggested emailing Mr. Cook with concerns.  He politely asks that you do not send SPAM.  We obliged, and decided to publish them as open letters as well.]

 

Dear Mr. Cook,

Hello there, Sir. My name is Sean Scotto and I am an American teenager. And like all teens in America, I am in LOVE with Apple. Even though I only own about 3 iPods, I am interested in the company of Apple. I’ve been wanting a iPad and possibly a Macbook of some kind. Well sir, I’m sorry to inform you of this, but these wants are no more. I’ve learned the truth about your company. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to be brainwashed by Apple and your ring leader Steve Jobs.

I have recently seen the PLAY THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS by Mike Daisey. (Not much of a play. More of a monologue.) I really enjoyed the play and found that it was very informative. Daisey spoke about the origins of Apple and the life to the late “great” Steve Jobs. He spoke about how Apple was created and all of the early Apple products. Remember the Newton? The play consisted of comedy but there was something that wasn’t comedic at all…

I know some company’s CEOs are unaware of the production process of their products. Are you one of those CEOs? Do you know where all the iPods, iPhones, iPads, and iMacs are made? Here’s a hint, it’s not in California, where Apple says they’re made. It’s a place in China called Shenzhen and the company who makes them is called Foxconn. The factory has over 920,000 workers (as of 2010). A majority of them are teenagers. One man got his hand caught in the metal press for the Macbooks. Now his hand looks like a claw. They provide dormitories for the workers but they are small and most of their pay is allocated to their rent. They have 25 cafeterias in the factory that seat 40,000 but food is limited so if you don’t get food, you don’t eat for the rest of the day. Several workers commit suicide by jumping off the top of the factory. Mike Daisey said that two people killed themselves in one week.

I know I’m only one person and Apple has billions of other brainwashed people, but I solemnly swear I am never buying another Apple product until the end of time. Not only are they overpriced, (I mean really, $1200 for a laptop?) but I would feel too much guilt using it. The points Mike Daisey made may have been exaggerated, but even if they are, I’d still feel bad using another product. I still use my iPod Touch 3rd Gen. but I don’t plan on getting another updated version and I haven’t updated to iOS 5. (I don’t plan on it either)  More people will know the truth and more people will boycott. Good luck Mr. Cook.