Category: Current Events

The mood toughened just over a month ago, when I received a phone call from the centre of government telling me: “You’ve had your fun. Now we want the stuff back.” There followed further meetings with shadowy Whitehall figures. The demand was the same: hand the Snowden material back or destroy it. I explained that we could not research and report on this subject if we complied with this request. The man from Whitehall looked mystified. “You’ve had your debate. There’s no need to write any more.”

Forever 21 bills itself as a “Christian retailer.” In fact, this Christian company even puts a little Christian code message on all of it’s shopping bags (John 3:16), which a company spokesperson is on record as saying is a “demonstration of the owner’s christian faith.” They have grown from humble beginnings in Los Angeles to an international shopping destination, with stores not only in the U.S. but also Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.

They are also no stranger to controversy. Going back just to 2001, Forever 21 was forced to settle out of court, pay back wages, etc., after being sued for systemically ripping-off employees. The company was also compelled to put in measures to prevent future products being made in sweatshops, as was happening at Forever 21’s facilities.