JK2006 wrote:
Yes that is fair and is (officially) the angle taken by Panorama.

"Hypocritical big corporation".

Or even "Lying" big corporation.

But is that worth doing when the results will be so spectacularly damaging?

Bright capitalists will continue to make profits. Impoverished countries will continue to provide services and products at knock down costs in order to benefit their citizens. It is the way of the world. That's life.

Fair enough to say "things ought to be better", like the missionaries used to say "here's money and food in return for you believing in God".

But the consequences and ramifications are often - always - different from the expected.

Human nature.

So next time you refer to your unfair conviction will you be satisfied with "That's the way of the world, that's life" and never comment on the issue again?

If it's good enough for them surely it's good enough for you.

No Zoo I shall continue to try to get justice for myself and fairness for others in similar situations, just as I would hope someone born and raised in a different culture with different options and different problems would fight, first for themselves and then for those around them.

JK2006 wrote:
No Zoo I shall continue to try to get justice for myself and fairness for others in similar situations, just as I would hope someone born and raised in a different culture with different options and different problems would fight, first for themselves and then for those around them.
How is such a self-interested view any better than the "Good story" mentality?

There both versions of "I'm alright Jack, sod you!"

zooloo wrote:
Dominic Dee wrote:
Yes, Zooloo, the arguments are the same now as they were when we sent children to work, but before we stopped the children working we introduced free education and an adequate welfare state. Many poor countries do not have either of these. Your principal is a good one, but it doesn't tally with reality.

erm... we didn't have them until we had them either. Why can't they have what we demand for ourselves?

It's good enough for them but not good enough for us - how come?

In general I'd like to know if it is being poor that justifies child labour or being foreign?


Mind boggling!

Who has said that child labour is justified? It's a reality in some places where life is a daily battle for survival. Whether it is justified or not is entirely irrelevant.

They can have what we demand for ourselves - but the reality is that they do not have it, and we cannot give them it. Change for us came from within. Change for them must come from within. Their governments must create a better system. You offer a lot of criticism of others comments but no solutions to the problems. I'd be interested to know what your answer is to child labour. It's clear you want it abolished - but then what. Are you going to personally sponsor all of the children who have no food or shelter?

Just to make it very clear. I believe that all children should have free education and plenty of time to have fun. It has nothing to do with nationality, colour or status. I personally sponsor some kids in the Philippines so that they can go to school and have a childhood. That is my small contribution. I wish I could sponsor them all, but I cannot. Without sponsorship they would have to either scavenge or work for a living, or beg, or prostitute themselves. It's an unpleasant reality that some countries are not as wealthy or supportive of their citizens as we are. When I visited Manila I saw entire families living among and picking through piles of rubbish. This was how they survived.

BTW .. We don't actually forbid child labour in the UK; we just regulate it.

true..
I wouldn't trust what a corporation says in a pink fit.

There needs to be government regulations here ( not possible under Nu-Labour/Old Thatcherism) that forbid UK companies from expoloting third world employees if they wish to make their profits in the UK.

As it is- huge corporations are out of control..such as Tescos which have a variety of tax-dodging schemes but still claim they haven't and therefore dodge their tax-paying obligation.

I don't see why goods imported shouldn't be government regulated as to their "ethical" manufacture.

Like I said-these people in India were just asking for one day off a week and maybe 2 dollars more...small beer out of billion pound profits.

Dominic Dee wrote:
zooloo wrote:
Dominic Dee wrote:
Yes, Zooloo, the arguments are the same now as they were when we sent children to work, but before we stopped the children working we introduced free education and an adequate welfare state. Many poor countries do not have either of these. Your principal is a good one, but it doesn't tally with reality.

erm... we didn't have them until we had them either. Why can't they have what we demand for ourselves?

It's good enough for them but not good enough for us - how come?

In general I'd like to know if it is being poor that justifies child labour or being foreign?


Mind boggling!

Who has said that child labour is justified? It's a reality in some places where life is a daily battle for survival. Whether it is justified or not is entirely irrelevant.

They can have what we demand for ourselves - but the reality is that they do not have it, and we cannot give them it. Change for us came from within. Change for them must come from within. Their governments must create a better system. You offer a lot of criticism of others comments but no solutions to the problems. I'd be interested to know what your answer is to child labour. It's clear you want it abolished - but then what. Are you going to personally sponsor all of the children who have no food or shelter?

Just to make it very clear. I believe that all children should have free education and plenty of time to have fun. It has nothing to do with nationality, colour or status. I personally sponsor some kids in the Philippines so that they can go to school and have a childhood. That is my small contribution. I wish I could sponsor them all, but I cannot. Without sponsorship they would have to either scavenge or work for a living, or beg, or prostitute themselves. It's an unpleasant reality that some countries are not as wealthy or supportive of their citizens as we are. When I visited Manila I saw entire families living among and picking through piles of rubbish. This was how they survived.

BTW .. We don't actually forbid child labour in the UK; we just regulate it.
People have been justifying child labour in this thread.

Change comes from within - I agree but I don't think it's just good advice for others. I take it to apply equally to me.

What to do about child labour? Stop trying to justify it would be a good start.