Africa’s World of Forced Labor, in a 6-Year-Old’s Eyes

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Aren't we all slaves then, or would you do your job anyways, if there was no pay involved?

One huge difference, Lisa.

We actually have the freedom to QUIT (admittedly, this oft means complete loss of income) if we hate our jobs that much--the children here don't.

Really? If quitting meant no food, would you really see a choice?

Yes. I've actually seen people quit with no job immediately lined-up; also did it one time (which depleted my savings rather quickly during the two months it took me to find a new one).

[Cristy 4]

You may have also noted the article said his 'boss' doles out beatings. This is slavery. A child working on his parents farm is helping out with the family business not sleeping on a dirt floor working under duress and fear of a beating (in most cases).

[Saddle Bronc 124]

For Mark: when was the last time you saw parents specifically ask a child to do an extremely dangerous task specifically due to their size (context: piecing in garment factories, making match heads)?

You're introducing additional factors here: danger.

If the work they do is not dangerous, is it ok then?

Haven't heard yet of too many child-labour situations where the work doesn't involve danger--so I'll say your question is purely theoretical.

[Fandango 1,439]

You may have also noted the article said his 'boss' doles out beatings. This is slavery. A child working on his parents farm is helping out with the family business not sleeping on a dirt floor working under duress and fear of a beating (in most cases).

Cristy, I don't think anyone here is saying this is an ideal situation.

Do you think people over there sleep on Sealy posturepedics? We're talking about an impoverished area. What is this child to do? Starve?

I'm sure all of us would rather hear about how kids all across the world love dodgeball and jump rope, but the sad reality of the situation is that for MUCH of the world, this is not an option. We need to stop looking at this from a western perspective...omG he didn't have a play date! Well the bottom line is, that unless you have seen how the world is, not everything is MaccyD's and Sesame Street.

Again, what's the answer? I have no clue. But if that little boy needs to bail water or die of starvation, I can't see why people would rather him do nothing.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

You may have also noted the article said his 'boss' doles out beatings. This is slavery. A child working on his parents farm is helping out with the family business not sleeping on a dirt floor working under duress and fear of a beating (in most cases).

Also, children in US who do (family) farmwork are almost never denied education or food.

[Fandango 1,439]

You may have also noted the article said his 'boss' doles out beatings. This is slavery. A child working on his parents farm is helping out with the family business not sleeping on a dirt floor working under duress and fear of a beating (in most cases).

Also, children in US who do (family) farmwork are almost never denied education or food.

Ok, so instead of pulling apart every single comment and debating this til the cows come home...what do you say we do about it?

I think feeling bad is a great luxury....we can sit here and this thread can get to be 500 pages long on how everyone's heart goes out to these kids, but at the end of the day, having empathy is not accomplishing anything.

[mmb 0]

You may have also noted the article said his 'boss' doles out beatings. This is slavery. A child working on his parents farm is helping out with the family business not sleeping on a dirt floor working under duress and fear of a beating (in most cases).

Also, children in US who do (family) farmwork are almost never denied education or food.

Ok, so instead of pulling apart every single comment and debating this til the cows come home...what do you say we do about it?

I think feeling bad is a great luxury....we can sit here and this thread can get to be 500 pages long on how everyone's heart goes out to these kids, but at the end of the day, having empathy is not accomplishing anything.

While no one individual can help every child being used as slave labour we in the Western World can vote with our wallets and aim to buy goods from reputable sources. Try Fair Trade for a start. We have the choice about what and where we buy.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Aren't we all slaves then, or would you do your job anyways, if there was no pay involved?

To a point, except of course if you or I don’t like our jobs we are completely free to seek employment somewhere else. We’re talking about the 3rd world here. Countries that are mainly politically unstable and ruled over despotic political systems – which generally offer rather less political freedoms and civil rights than we enjoy in the ‘developed’ world.

[Cristy 4]

I don't know what we can do about it. I know that my kid and I have given money to a boy in Burkina Faso for several years. This helps ensure he is educated, fed and has immunizations. It is a small price that does a world of good.

So there is one thing we can do. If we can all part with $10 or $15 a month we can each save one child.

I am not talking about the kid having play dates or going to McD's. But to be able to live with his family and not to live in fear or even eating would be great.

[Fandango 1,439]

But to be able to live with his family and not to live in fear or even eating would be great.

Completely agreed!

And btw, v cool that you put your money where your mouth is....if only everyone did!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You may have also noted the article said his 'boss' doles out beatings. This is slavery. A child working on his parents farm is helping out with the family business not sleeping on a dirt floor working under duress and fear of a beating (in most cases).

Also, children in US who do (family) farmwork are almost never denied education or food.

Ok, so instead of pulling apart every single comment and debating this til the cows come home...what do you say we do about it?

I think feeling bad is a great luxury....we can sit here and this thread can get to be 500 pages long on how everyone's heart goes out to these kids, but at the end of the day, having empathy is not accomplishing anything.

While no one individual can help every child being used as slave labour we in the Western World can vote with our wallets and aim to buy goods from reputable sources. Try Fair Trade for a start. We have the choice about what and where we buy.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I blame the white man.

[mawilson 2,133]

While no one individual can help every child being used as slave labour we in the Western World can vote with our wallets and aim to buy goods from reputable sources. Try Fair Trade for a start. We have the choice about what and where we buy.

Voting with your wallet doesn't really work just like vegetarianism does not make any

meat farmers go out of business.

Even if you stop buying their products, there will always be someone else who won't.

[mmb 0]

While no one individual can help every child being used as slave labour we in the Western World can vote with our wallets and aim to buy goods from reputable sources. Try Fair Trade for a start. We have the choice about what and where we buy.

Voting with your wallet doesn't really work just like vegetarianism does not make any

meat farmers go out of business.

Even if you stop buying their products, there will always be someone else who won't.

True, but I'm not responsible for other peoples choices only my own, and the fair trade movement has grown in strength here in the UK from small beginnings it is now a multi billion pound industry with over 1500 Fairtrade product lines available and many stores now selling Fairtrade own label goods. Concientious consumerism is growing fast.

[mawilson 2,133]

True, but I'm not responsible for other peoples choices only my own, and the fair trade movement has grown in strength here in the UK from small beginnings it is now a multi billion pound industry with over 1500 Fairtrade product lines available and many stores now selling Fairtrade own label goods. Concientious consumerism is growing fast.

Cool.

so what do you propose, Steven?

I propose that people in 3rd world countries should not be allowed to have children

unless they start taking responsibility for their well-being.

Their main reason for having 10 kids is "that 5 of them will die", so why not have

5 kids to begin with (or better still, 1 or 2 kids) and make sure they don't die?