Reflections

Global issues have an impact on everyone in some way right?  Have you ever thought about where your shirt came from? Or who made you shirt? Probably not! Just because child labour is happening in India, it doesn’t mean that us, Canadians, aren’t getting an impact off of it. Sure, the working children in India would get a more harmful impact, but we still get an impact! We all live on Earth, breathe the same air, I don't see how we wouldn't have an impact on global issues, such as child labour. We need to stop taking things for granted because those children working in India would love to have the privilege.

Everyone is capable of contributing to positive change. It may be hard to wrap your head about that, but it’s true. You see, I didn’t think that it was possible,  but as I continued working on my blog I came to realize that no matter what, we all can contributing to a positive change. In this case, stopping child labour in India. How could you contribute to making that a positive change? It’s simple, you could start buying fair trade products, or look at where the product you want to purchase comes from. Just raise awareness, you could do that by sharing my blog, you read it, so why not share it?

Small actions can bring about big change. I know that’s hard to believe. You could simply just share my blog with friends, family, or you could even share it on a social media site, Twitter, Facebook, Email and so on. By doing that you would be raising awareness, which could lead to the brutal issue(child labour) to slowly fade away! You could start buying fair trade products! You don't have to donate money to the issue if you don't feel like it, but the children in India would most definitely appreciate it. The littlest things you do, could create a successful stop to the issue.

Global and local issues require a logical, problem solving approach.. correct? Definite YES! We can't just take turns, we need all hand on deck at the same time to attack the situation.Everyone needs to be ready to strike the issue, meaning we all need to stop it for good together. Not putting a few dollars in one day, then a few the next month,. That would help if we didn't need to stop it fast, but we do! If we want to resolve the issue then we need to act fast, and all at the same time!! If we all put the same amount of effort, and time into it, than we are on our was to success. Everyone needs to be alert of the current issue, and prepared to work!  

How do we balance the world’s need for resources and products with the protection of the people or of the environment.? Well, we can make more of our products fair trade, while making sure that the country is getting an equal share of the profit made.We MUST spread out our times that we purchase things because we are causing stress, exhausting to the ‘satisfied’ workers who don’t deserve it! Also, we can make sure that not only the people, but the environment is protected. Did you know that fair trade projects people and the environment? This is absolutely the best way you will ensure that everything, and everyone is safe.

Who should be responsible for finding a solution to the issue- government, corporations, individuals? In my opinion, the government, corporations, and individuals should all be responsible for finding solutions to the issue, which would be child labour in India. You see, the government, as of now isn't doing ANYTHING to support the horrible issue, whereas individuals and corporations are actually supporting the issue by raising awareness. However, if the government did something, such as put laws into effect, then there could possible be a chance that the issue would get better. If we all support each other solutions, we can break the issue of child labour in India.

Globally, have things changed for the better or remained the same over the past few decades? Yes, I believe that things lately have been changing for the better, but there are a few situations out there that are continuing to get worse everyday! You see, as a whole we have grown economically by being depended on one another for products, such as technology, which allows up to connect with one another. That's awesome! However, some issues like child labour, seem to be getting worse. Imagine, not getting an education, and be forced to work in a harmful work atmosphere.. not cool right? Children in India are going this this daily, and do we care? Probably not, but that should change because we should all support, one a another, as well as, be aware of the current issues going on around the world. Just because you may not live there doesn't mean that you just go on with you life , and not bother supporting others involved in the situation. Please don't feel that you have to agree with me! Child labour is a not something that we can fix right this minute, but hopefully one day it won't exist

Getting Involved

My pan to help child labour is to keep raising awareness for the current issue in India. I will raise awareness by sharing my blog with friends, family, maybe even on a social media site, such as Facebook. I’m going to do my best to spread the word, although some people many not agree with me just at least hear me out. Child labour isn’t going to get any better if we don’t do anything. Therefore, I plan to continue to keep updated with the issue. Another thing that I can do is STOP buying things from other countries that are using child labour, that would put pressure on them to stop because they wouldn’t be receiving a profit. However, the  major thing, that I will do is  raise awareness. I just need to think outside the box, and i’m sure i'll come up with other ideas that will lead this current issue- child labour- to an issue of the past! Share my blog in the hopes that anyone reading this will share it with the rest of the world to help create a fair life to child labourers in India.

How Can Individuals Get Involved ?

Would you like being stuck doing harmful work all day everyday? I wouldn't that’s for sure! Many kids all over the world take part in some type of work, whether it’s helping out with chores around the house, or having an after-school job.. right? Those kind of work are fantastic because you earn money and build skills that will help you in your future. It’s no wheres close to child labour!  Child labour is work that’s harmful to a child’s mental and physical development. Did you know that every year, approximately 22 hundred children die from accidents that are associated with their work? It’s so sad because that doesn’t even say anything towards the emotional, and mental harm from being forced to work long, solid hours, or experiencing a work atmosphere that no child should. You, me, and the children in India all have the right to an education, as well as the right not to work! Unfortunately, numerous amount of kids fall into the cracks, and don’t have the ability to get out by themselves.We need to limit the amount of purchases from India, and start buying more fair trade. I’ve already mentioned this in my other posts, but where has the products you’re buying come from? Who made them? Will you benefit from the product more than once? All of these, should be thought about before you take the risk of putting one more child to work. In my opinion, a global effort to fight child labour is super important. It’s the hearts of the children who stand up and speak out not just for themselves, but for one another. A single child’s voice can be drowned out completely, especially when it has been weakened by brutal conditions, along with unstoppable adults. However,  just a small group of courageous children can make a huge difference. Please, don’t let your voices go unheard.  You have to speak up and speak out, stand beside kids around the world to fight for a fair chance for child labour kids to grow up healthily, happily, and with an education.

Canada's Role on Child Labour

Have you ever thought, how on earth does Canada have anything to do will child labour all the way in India, or what role does Canada play towards the issue? Well if you actually think about it, Canada is probably one of the worst country that is causing the issue to get worse. Everyone from all over the world needs to contribute to help out these poor kids in India, that are suffering through child labour. Canada is buying way too much from India, sure it's ‘dirt-cheap’, but come on people it’s insane to think that every little thing that you do, as a Canadian, is affecting kids in India. Children are work way too hard, all because of us! That’s not fair at all! I know it may not seem like you’re doing anything wrong, like dude i’m just purchasing a dress, but in reality you're making more jobs. Not cool at all! What support are we giving Indian child labours? NONE! We could help support by volunteering to help organisation trying to stop child labour, protesting against child labour, but we don’t! We all need to realize how bad child labour kids have it, definitely not easy. Did you know some Canadians, are extremely wise?  They choose to pay extra cash for this thing called Child Labour Free.  I was so happy whenever I read that in an article! It may cost most money, but it’s actually benefiting someone other than us!!!  Child Labour Free, is saving a life! That warms my heart. If only, we all contributed to the issue by paying the extra money, then the children wouldn’t have to work, but instead get an education. If only it were that easy.

Challenges With Child Labour in India

We all know that nothing is perfect, and there are always some challenges to the issue. Well, child labour is the ideal example of that. It’s a horrible thing  for children to go through, but better yet there are challenges involved in it, such as kids don’t get an education, not enough people are aware of it happening, kids work in poor conditions, and a lot of kids die and are quickly replaced.

Imagine, not being able to go to school? Canadians and Americans would love that, considering that they are always complaining about hating school! What if instead

of going to school, working all day? I don’t think we’d like that! Children in India don’t get the privilege to go to school, which is absolutely heart breaking ! Kids in India would LOVE to be able to attend school. Since they won’t have an educational background whenever they grow up, they will be clueless and won’t know how to read, do math problems, and the list goes on! If you don’t know how to read, well you're going to have a long life ahead of you! Children that are now adults, have gone through child labour would find it challenging to move on with there life, due to the fact they only have the ability to make shoes! It’s not fair to those who aren’t receiving an education; everyone has the right to education!  

Have you ever had an allergic reaction to something? Or got punished for something you did? Well, children facing child labour in India go through many different things, such as stunted growth of their future, unable to contribute to development or benefit from development, become sick from the working conditions, which would lead to death.

These children are working all day everyday. Can you imagine, how tired and hot you would be working outside in the scorching heat every single day? That’s torture to those poor kids.They don’t get the proper training on how to use the equipment, but if they don’t use it right there will be consequences. If they were to just leave, which I wouldn’t recommend them doing, they wouldn’t last out in the world by themselves. You need to know the basic life skills in order to survive, and by the looks of this child labour kids I don’t think they’d make it.    

The whole purpose of this blog is to raise awareness on child labour in India. Clearly, there isn’t enough of that going around! Seriously, there are children right this minute... WORKING! They aren’t working at McDonald's or Sobeys, these poor children are put in the most dangerous, non-child advised work atmospheres! What do we do to help? Nothing, absolutely nothing! People need to start raising awareness about these kind of issues because I can’t do it all by myself, and if we don't act fast it's just going to get worse. Also, it’s not just impacting the children in India, but you and myself as well. Do you know how it impacts us? You see, almost everything we eat, wear, and all those little house necessities aren’t made where you live. Children in India and other places around the world are making those products, and you probably don’t even think of that whenever you purchase your products.

Who's Involved Detrimentally ?

Child labour exists all over the world. However, everyone living in India thinks that’s child labour only appears in India, well they’re wrong!  You, me, the children in India etc. are all connect to one another in multiple ways- ways you would never think of! Yeah, sure we buy products from each other, and we breathe the same air, but wouldn’t you think we would all be on the same page of the current issues occurring in the world?  Guess not! Most people aren’t aware that child labour in India is a big problem. It seems to be getting worse instead of better. Why you may ask? Well, countries within the world are adding to the issue, causing it to grow bigger, which is making it worse. Places such as, China,  and the USA are just a few of the areas that are involved in making child labour in India even worse than it already is. As you can see in the graph it’s outdated, but it still provides you with a strong data base that will help you understand the following.

The USA’s population is 324 million! That’s ridiculous!! India export to the US in 2012-2013 was 19.7 billion dollars(US dollars). The USA could reduce their needs for exporting by purchasing the product at a closer area other than India, or buying fair trade. Everything India sells is dirt-cheap, which intrigues people living in USA to buy products. You would think that would be a good thing, but it’s actually where child labour occurs. Today, our world has become so globalized, it’s actually quite horrifying. You buy something from India, a child has to make it, and it gets shipped to you. Have you ever thought about where or who made your clothes? I haven’t, but from now on i’m going to take a few minutes to stop and think about who made this product?Where did it come from?

How many people live in China? Approximately fourteen million people. That’s actually fairly close to India’s grand population of twelve million. Anyways, back on topic, India’s exports to China in 2012-2013  has added up to 6.4 billion dollars( US dollars) That’s crazy! China spends a massive amount of money on Indian products, such as clothing, transportation equipment, electronics etc. All that has to be made by someone, right? But who? Most of them are children because their parents don’t have the money to take care of them.  Therefore, with that being said children are put to work for a tremendous amount of hours a day, which no child should have to do. This is done so that China can get what they think they need. China may need a lot of things, but the least they could do is cut back on unnecessary things. They could all start buying fair trade products, instead of buying things that will only benefit them once or twice. Children die from being exposed to hazardous work atmospheres, more children are taking to work, and repeat. Child labour in India is a cycle that may not end, if we don’t do something about it.

Organization Helping Child Labour

Save the children is just one of many international organization that is working towards children's rights in a grand total of 120 countries. India being one of those countries, Save the children is working across 15 states to make sure each child has a safe, and fun childhood. According to Save the Children, India has the world's largest child labourers, and they work towards making sure that all children join school, which would help them stay clear of child labour along with creating a well built future.

IKEA Foundation is an independent charitable foundation located in the Netherlands. They give funds to many different programmes, they could be huge or small, but they give the funds in the hopes to make life better for children. The IKEA Foundation is a great organisation. Non government organizations, along with intergovernmental organizations are supported and established by this foundation to develop new advanced solutions, influence the government policy and make  significant change to the lives of children, especially those who are labourers. IKEA Foundation has a whole list of partners that they are involved with, such as Save The Children or UNICEF.Did you know that  since 2000, the IKEA Foundation has committed over €80 million to UNICEF and Save The Children to fight the causes of child labour in India.

CRY stands for Child Rights and You, which is an organization of change and participation to ensure the basic rights of underprivileged children in India. Anti-Child Labour is a campaign within the CRY organisation, On April of 2006, the Anti- Child Labour campaign which was set up by the volunteers was in gear. A team of volunteers took time out of each of their weekends to communicate with the community to get a understanding as to why their child/children worked instead of going to school. The volunteers put their heads together with the community to have children go to a nearby school. Over the past two years, the work for the campaign more to Thane, India.  Today, there is an Anti-Child Labour campaign in Mumbai City as well as one online. Anti-Child Labour aims to build public pressure to ensure how harmful child labour can be,  and to ensure that children go to school, not work. CRY wants to bring ever lasting change to the children in need.

These are just a few out of a whole list of organization that aim to help child labour in India. Many of the organizations  have a place where you can donate money online. The money that was donated would help the organization get whatever they needed to help support children in India. If you like to donate, please don’t to help child labour in India. There are still many children there that need your help!!

History of Child Labour in India

Child labour is not a new issue to our world. In fact, it has occurred in the world for a long long time. In India child labour had always appear to be in the agricultural sector. The children and their parents used to work side by side in their farms. In addition to the task of talking the cattle to eat growing grass and pastures appropriated to the children. Now, this work was tiring and hard, but it didn’t lead to damaging their possibly future. Education was not available in a variety of the villages and most of the jobs stayed in the agricultural sector. So, I guess you could say this work played as training for their futures. The act of treating children unfairly in order to benefit from their work in India began with appearance of the British. A manufacturer started hiring children who were forced to work brutal conditions. Laws against child labour were passed through the Employment Of Children Act of 1938. These attempts at legislation failed as they declined to address the main cause of child labour in  India: poverty. Until the population was brought out of poverty. It was impossible to take children out of the labour forces. Here are some random India child labour statistics:

• In 2014 there was 17 million children labour in India
• When working outside children put an average of 21 hours of labour per week
• 80% of child labour is engaged in agricultural work
• Children work because there is demand for cheap labour
• A larger number of children work because they don’t have access to good quality schools
• Around 2 million child commercial sex workers between the age of 5 -15 years, and about 3.3 million between 15-18 years
• 500,000 children were forced into this trade every year

In 1995, out of a total of 210 million children in India there were 11.2 million children working between the age 5-14 years. Companies usually preferred children to work because they were saw as cheaper, manageable, and less likely to strike. One of every ten workers in India is a child. Did you know that in 2001 the child labour in India for children under the age 18 was about 43% of India’s population of approximately 450 million? That’s crazy! This video below is from 2010 so the numbers probably aren't accurate to today, but it has strong points that can relate to child labour today.

Explanation of Child Labour in India

You’ve heard of child labour right? Well, many people to this day aren’t aware of what child labour is; it’s  children that don’t attend school, or have any free time because they are forced to do work that usually harms them. As the graph below shows, there are many countries dealing with the issue of child labour, India being the most.

Child Labour 2002

Child labour can occur in India due to  the following:

• Lack of elementary education at the primary level
• Non availability of schools in rural areas
• Parent ignorance
• Lack of proper guidance
• Poverty
• Adult unemployment
• Multinationals preference to employ child workers
• Urbanization

Imagine, you have children approximately age 5-14 working, which is making them composed to a hazardous and dangerous work place. This is absolutely cruel! A working atmosphere is no place for children, especially in India. They should be making happy memories playing with their friends, not dreadful thoughts of not having the freedom to play because they had to work. That's awful!  Child labour is deprivation of one's childhood and education opportunities. There can be effects that include a loss of potential and dignity in themselves, which would cause harm to a child's physical and mental development. Hopefully, once I post more information on child labour in India my viewers will realize how terrible and unhealthy it really is.

What Does It Mean To Be A Global Citizen? Why Is It Important To Be One?

What's a global citizen you may ask?Basically, a global citizen is someone who has an understanding of how the world works culturally, politically, socially, economically, and environmentally. Also, it's someone who is more than willing to participates in, and contributes to the community not only local, but global too. They raise that standards of living everywhere. Global citizens act to make the world a more sustainable place and takes responsibility for their actions. They respect and value diversity. 

In my opinion, a global citizen is an extremely important person, who has the ability to address global issues that may involve countless countries, along with solutions to solve them. A global citizen can help limit down the chance of child labour. How? Well, they can purchase fair trade products, which would cut back the chance for child labour to happen. Therefore, global citizens are cautions about the products they're buy, by making sure that they will benefit them multiple times. A global citizen can help encourage equality in countries around the world; not just the one we live in. It is an outlook on life, an understanding that we can make a difference.