6/18/08

20 Child Labor Red Flags

While US companies and Asian society catch most of the blame, child labor is a global issue in every sense. The list below offers up just a few of the product categories - and sources - that have been accused of exploiting or abusing children. Of course, it's not a complete list and just because you see "Made in Bangladesh" on the label, it doesn't mean your shirt was weaved by tiny exploited hands. But you might want to look a little closer when you purchase these items:

  1. Bananas in Ecuador
  2. Cotton in Egypt and Benin
  3. Cut flowers in Colombia
  4. Oranges in Brazil
  5. Cocoa in the Ivory Coast
  6. Tea in Argentina and Bangladesh
  7. Fruits and vegetables in the U.S.
  8. Carpets from India, Pakistan, Egypt
  9. Clothing sewn in Bangladesh
  10. Footwear made in India and the Philippines
  11. Soccer balls sewn in Pakistan
  12. Glass and bricks made in India
  13. Fireworks made in China, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, and Peru
  14. Surgical instruments made in Pakistan
  15. Gold in Colombia
  16. Charcoal in Brazil and El Salvador
  17. Chrome in Zimbabwe
  18. Diamonds in Cote d’Ivoire
  19. Emeralds in Colombia
  20. Coal in Mongolia

From the Child Labor Public Education Project

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