Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

speakup

Dear Editor,

My name is Jenna Bull and I am a former resident of Woodstock, New Brunswick. I have recently moved to Toronto to pursue my swimming goals. For my grade civics summative, my group’s mission is to raise awareness about child labour in third-world countries. We would like to raise awareness not only in Toronto but around Canada as well. It would be greatly appreciated if you would publish our letter to the editor about this issue.

It is unfortunate that the shoes my younger brother wore to win his school cross-country meet probably are the result of more work and effort than he put into the winning run. It is even more unfortunate that the person who made his shoes was probably younger than him.

I am talking about the issue of CHILD LABOUR and the horrors involved with creating a simple pair of shoes or a soccer ball in a third-world country.

Child labour is a substantial growing problem in third-world countries.

Living in Canada we can easily ignore the issue because we do not witness it every day. Our human nature causes us to be more concerned with the homeless man we pass every day on our daily commute, than the eightyear- old, malnourished child worker living in poverty who makes the clothes we wear. This is not acceptable.

As a part of a human rights project I am doing, I have researched and explored child labour around the world.

Children as young as six years old work 16 hour days in hazardous factories making as little as 60 cents a day.

They are not working for local companies! North American companies such as Nike, The Gap and Old Navy have all been discovered to have ties with child labour in third world countries such as Pakistan and Cambodia. These are multi-billion dollar corporations that the citizens of Toronto buy from every day.

We are responsible for our actions as well as our omission to act. By doing nothing and purchasing goods made by these companies we are indirectly contributing to child labour. Being a member of a powerful, democratic nation, we have a responsibility to help raise awareness.

Stop purchasing the products these companies make and changeto laboursafe alternatives such as Roots Canada.

When shopping, be sure to inquire about the store’s child- and employeerights laws. Acting as a whole will help for these companies to understand that we will not allow child labourers to make our products. We can make a difference! Visit Web sites such as www.freethechildren.com for more information.

June 12 is World Day Against Child Labour. Participate in local activities to help raise more awareness.

Jenna Bull,

Toronto