The end?

Well bloggers, as you all know, I have not been blogging for quite some time now. This is because my blogging experience is coming to an end. There ins no need for me to blog any more, because the assignment is over. I may continue to blog for your viewers, but I still am not sure. If you think that I should still blog, feel free to tell me by commenting on my blog. I think I will continue because I have quite enjoyed the experience of learning about this topic.I also have enjoyed educating you viewers about this topic. Please stay posted to my blog for any upcoming posts. Thank you so much for making this a truly memorable experience for me.

~Ballerina Grrrl

Songs that remind you that YOU can make difference

Sonme of these songs can remind you that you can help make a difference in the world. You might not like some of the artists and songs but they have a message that can sometimes be hard to get across.
1. Pray by Justin Bieber
2. Go the Distance by Michael Bolton.
3. Up by Justin Bieber
4. Change by Taylor Swift
5. The Climb by Miley Cyrus
6. Defying Gravity by The Glee cast
7. Firework by Katy Perry
8. River Flows in You(Piano song) by Yiruma
9. Second Chance by Shinedown
10. The Time of My Life by David Cook

Child Labour in Vietnam

For a recent current events project in social class, we had to chose a current event in a country to present to the class. My country is Vietnam and I wanted to do a connection between these two projects. When I started to look up the fact in Vietnam, I was very taken back by the fact that they have so many different kinds of child labour. I am of Vietnamese orient and I always thought that the Vietnamese were a peaceful and helpful country...but that all changed once I read these statistics. To read about other child labour statistics in Vietnam such as child trafficking, prostitution, soldiers and crime visit this website.
http://www.globalmarch.org/worstformsreport/world/vietnam.html

NATIONAL STATISTICS IN VIETNAM (REGARDING CHILD LABOUR) 
* For the year 2000, the ILO projects that there will be 466,000 economically active children, 266,000 girls and 200,000 boys between the ages of 10-14, representing 5.21% of this age group. (ILO, International Labour Office - Bureau of Statistics, Economically Active Population 1950-2010, STAT Working Paper, ILO 1997)
* A reported 36,000 child labourers are illegally employed although observers estimate the figure is actually 10 times that. ("Statistics paint grim picture of children's sad plight in Vietnam", Vietnam Investment Review, 11/9/2000)
* 995,564 children are economically active. (ILO, Yearbook of Labour Statistics, 1998)
* The government estimated in 1997 that approximately 29,000 children below the age of 15 were victims of exploitative labour. That estimate may have been low, since most of these children are working in the informal sector. (US Dept of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 1999, 25 February 2000)
* 12,675 children under 15 years are working. (CWA, Truong Thi Hao, How to Protect and to Help Working Children in Vietnam in the Economic Crisis of Asia, citing Protection and Care Committee, 1998)
* There are an estimated 28,850 child labourers. (CWA, Truong Thi Hao, How to Protect and to Help Working Children in Vietnam in the Economic Crisis of Asia, citing Report of Vietnam Children)
* In 1995 there were 791,000 economically active children, 448,000 girls and 343,000 boys between the ages of 10-14, representing 9.12% of this age group. (ILO, International Labour Office - Bureau of Statistics, Economically Active Population 1950-2010, STAT Working Paper, ILO 1997)
* 1,349,052 children between the ages of 13-15 were economically active. (CWA, Truong Thi Hao, How to Protect and to Help Working Children in Vietnam in the Economic Crisis of Asia, citing General Census 1989)
GENERAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
* In urban areas, children work in family-owned, small businesses. In rural areas, children work primarily on family farms and in other agricultural activities. (US Dept of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 1999, 25 February 2000)

 

Tesco has vowed to stop using cotton from Uzbekistan, as the country continues to use child labour

The supermarket giant released a statement which read, 'Following ongoing discussions with campaign groups on the subject of cotton production and the use of child labour...we feel the need to re-iterate Tesco's deep concern at the use of child labour.'

Although Uzbekistan is one of the world's largest cotton producers, Tesco has stated that it will not use the country's cotton and that 'we cannot support the use of cotton from Uzbekistan in our clothing.'

The move comes as an affimation of Tesco's stance on child labour, which the company called 'completely unacceptable.'

Thursday 17 January 2008

http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/fashion/174440/tesco-makes-stand-against-child-labour.html

Even more companies accused of Child Labour

In the past few days, you have read the posts about Nike and Gap being found guilty of child labour. I personally thought that we all had a contribution to this happening because we all buy products from these brand names. I was truly taken back by the fact that companies that we look up to, take advantage of children in third world countries. This also made me think of what other companies have a side to them that we  have never known. Here are a few. Coca Cola, Apple, Microsoft, and Britians leading fashion chain have all been accused and proven guilty of child labour. They all set up sweatshops in countries such as India and Africa. I believe that we can help put a stop to child labour in these companies if we protest, and try to take matters into our own hands.

Lets put a stop to Gap and Nike

Hello everyone! I am sure that you all have read my last few posts about child labour in Nike and Gap. It is a truly tragic story knowing that brand we look up to have the nerve to go into a third world country and take advantage of there children. It is extremly morally wrong and I am disgraced to own clothes made by these companies. I strongly encourage all of my followers and viewers to help me put a stop to this by not buying clothing made by Nike and Gap, and even protesting against them. Even if only a few of you are able to do this, ot can still make a difference.

In class a few days ago, our teacher read us "The Starfish Story". My dad has told me this story a few times before and I personally thought it was a little bit boring, but when I thought about the deeper meaning in class, it started to make sense. I thought that the meaning in The Starfish Story can strongly relate the the meaning that I am trying to portray today. That meaning is even though we might not be able to stop every company that has been accused of child labour, we can still help the kids. They are not able to help themselves and we can make a difference just in one persons life. It will be something that they will never forget. So please, help me in protesting against these awful people, and managers in their companies.

Gap Child Labour part 2

Gap busted of Child Labour...Again

Once again, the GAP has been busted for sweat shops containing child workers in abusive conditions. It is fascinating that the “Red” campaign supports workers in Africa getting fair wages, yet they are abusing their workers in India. What will it take for North American consumers to realize that we are being taken for a ride? Companies like GAP look good with their philanthropic programs in an effort to cover their criminal practices.

http://absolute.org/blog/2008/01/07/gap-busted-again-more-child-slavery/

Nike Child Labour part 2

Nike accused off Child Labour

Nike has been accused of using child labor in the production of its soccer balls in Pakistan. This case study will examine the claims and describe the industry and its impact on laborers and their working conditions. While Pakistan has laws against child labor and slavery, the government has taken very little action to combat it. Only a boycott by the United States and other nations will have any impact on slavery and child-based industries. Futhermore the U.S constitution states that child labor is an illegal and inhumane practice and any U.S. company found guilty practicing and encouraging it will be prosecuted.GATT and WTO prohibits member nations, like the United States, from discriminating against the importation of goods made by children. Are dolphins becoming more important than children? A question making WTO to reconsider the children's appeal of the third world.

http://www1.american.edu/ted/nike.htm

Books on Child Labour

If you are looking for a good read, or just lookinng to find out even more information on child labour, check out some of these books. They are heart wrenching and very thoughtful so please take the time to enjoy them!
Free the Children-Craig Kielburger
It Takes a Child-Craig Kielburger
Child Labour Today: A Human Rights Issue-Wendy Herumin
Kids At work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade against Child Labour-Russell Freedman and Lewis Hine
Industrial Violence and the Legal Origins of Child Labour-James d. Schmidt

Child Labour laws in Canada and Working Ages

From reading this blog, have you ever wondered what the child labour laws in Canada are? How about the minimum age of a child worker in certain provinces? Well this website that I have found has those answers. Most of the time, when children work, their employers require the permisson of a legal parent or guardian. Children have to be in school at regular times and can not work past 10 pm or 11 pm in some provinces. They are also not allowed to wotk more than three hours on a school day and eight hours on a non school day. The working age of children also varies in different provinces. For inctence in Alberta you have to be twelve years old and in and in Manitoba you have to be sixteen. In Newfoundland and Labrador you have to be only fourteen years old. If you want to read more and find out more laws in Canada go to http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/child-labour/childlabour-canada.html.

Child labour pictures