COUNTERFEITING
Counterfeiting can be described as a deliberate practice or act of using an original product as a template for producing substandard products most times with the intent to defraud others to accept them as genuine products. Counterfeiting has become a global challenge affecting diverse industries and even the most industrialized economies of the world. In most parts of the world, it is considered as a criminal act whereas, in some countries it could be permitted as legitimate business especially in countries where exclusive rights or patency protection is poor.
The substandard products that are churned out into the market from this calculated act are usually a result of compromise in the various processes involved in their production, storage, and transportation. Some of the industries or sectors of the economy worst hit by this unscrupulous business are intellectual properties, medical and pharmaceutical products and consumables, domestic consumer goods, clothing and textiles, machinery/auto spare parts and accessories, electronics and electrical accessories, bank cheque and currency notes, diplomatic and other security documents.
For instance, considering medical and pharmaceutical goods, drugs are the most commonly counterfeited products under this class of goods. Drugs counterfeiting has already become an international problem affecting millions of people across the globe especially in poor developing countries. The quality of drugs produced can be compromised anywhere at the different stages of production. Most times it is the concentration of the active ingredient in the drug that is usually altered, or the use of an inappropriate stabilizing agent. Sometimes it could be poor hygienic conditions in the industrial and manufacturing process that are responsible for the emergence of the poor quality drugs. For example, one of the key quality control measures in the in the production of some synthetic therapeutic agents requires that the production process be maintained at a particular standard temperature and pressure. Once this is not adhered to, it automatically affects the end quality of that substance or drug.
Furthermore, inappropriate materials and conditions adopted in packaging, storage and transportation can also further deteriorate the quality of a drugs produced. Drugs are usually meant to be stored and transported under specific laid out conditions in order to preserve and guarantee their efficacy and quality. But it was found out that in order to cut costs; counterfeiters violate these rules and carryout storage and transport of these drugs in very bizarre conditions.
Consequently, there is a wide range of grave socio-economic problems that occur as a result of this heinous unethical act. It encourages unhealthy business competition, because genuine goods and products find it difficult to survive in a market where similar products that are counterfeited are selling for a far cheaper price than the genuine one. People especially in poor populations will generally go for the cheaper counterfeited products, particularly when the packaging is made to look exactly like the genuine product. This most times force genuine businesses to close shop since they find it difficult to thrive in such environments. This automatically causes job losses, and increase in poverty rate which tends to hit the economy of a country or location very hard.
Also, considering the medical side of view, patients treated with some of these unwholesome products most times do not respond to treatment, and may end up with more complications. For example, fake medicines have been identified as one of the major causes of renal failure.
It is glaringly evident that for our businesses to thrive and yield maximum returns, the unscrupulous act of counterfeiting in all its ramifications will have to be dealt with thoroughly. The task of combating and eradicating counterfeiting rest on all and sundry, but more on the Government and its various agencies concerned. Industrial and economic regulatory agencies will have to ensure that the right standards are and ethics are adhered to in the various industrial and economic sectors they oversee. The law enforcement agents should always move swiftly to prosecute anybody or business entity found to be violating patency laws and dealing in such fake products. Lastly, the targeted end users of these products should be enlightened to shun them and patronize genuine ones, as this will cause the business to fail since there will be no market for it again. The Government and other concerned civil society groups should take it as a challenge to enlighten the public on the repercussions of patronizing these fake products.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
GLOBAL CLIMATIC CHANGE
GLOBAL CLIMATIC CHANGE
In the last few years, there has been a huge uproar from many Governments and international civil society organizations on climatic change and the hazards that are associated with it. What initially sounded like normal agitations and unnecessary propaganda by civil society organizations seems to have gained global acceptance now, at least for the fact that these agitations and propaganda are real and if nothing is done about it the effects could be more devastating than imagined.
Some of the warnings on changing climate and weather that sounded like fairy tales and were easily dismissed initially have finally taken their toll on most global communities and the effects have been critically devastating. The damaging effect of Tsunami off the coast of America and in Asia is no longer news. Businesses and infrastructure that took several years to build were destroyed overnight. People became refugees in their own land, lives were lost and the fears of epidemic outbreaks were imminent. The cost of reconstruction in some instances is astonishing and emergency and rescue service was inadequate as a result of the colossal damage that was wrecked.
Also, in Europe, daytime temperatures have gone too high especially during summer. The incidence of heat wave that was hitherto not known or important has assumed unprecedented dimensions in the recent past. There have been instances where the temperature was so much that people died as a result of excessive heat. This has in some instances been attributed to the effects of green house gases which are produced from diverse human activities especially combustion of fuels and which tend to bring about an abnormal increase in atmospheric temperatures as a result of their ability to absorb ultra violet light from the sun.
In addition, Asia has had its own share of devastation as a result of global climate and weather changes. There have been incessant cases of different environmental degradation and damages. Flooding has been prominent among all of these relentless environmental problems in Asia and the worst affected are rural poverty stricken communities. It is obvious that the effects of these floods especially on the poor rural dwellers will be very detrimental.
Africa on the other hand has not been left out on these problems associated with global climatic and weather changes. There have been unparalleled levels of desert encroachments in countries surrounded by deserts (Sahara desert in North Africa and Kalahari Desert in South Africa). Also, flooding is quite common feature in most African communities especially in West Africa. This has been explained that probably an abnormal increase or rise in sea levels could be responsible for this. It has displaced several communities and businesses worth millions of dollars have been lost; and even human lives have not been exempted. Displaced people especially communities that are sheltered refugee camps are made vulnerable to epidemic outbreaks. In an attempt to manage this difficult situation, it has further worsened the financial burden of some `of these countries since they had been already struggling with very bad economic situations. Another feature of global climatic change in Africa recently has been the frequent cases of adverse drought conditions experienced especially by communities in arid and semi-arid areas. The results of this also are seriously damaging especially for the agricultural sector; it causes almost a total collapse in agriculture especially in arable farming.
In as much as these disasters are natural, most of them are caused or triggered by human activities. Some of these activities either economic or otherwise cause insults to the environment that have brought about the change in global climatic and weather conditions. For instance, lumbering, and other activities that destroy vegetation generally without replacing it bring about an increase in green house effect. Moreover, other activities in oil and gas sector like gas flaring, oil spills, gas emissions etc also tend to release green house gases into the atmosphere which cause a sequence of changes or reactions that tend to destroy the ozone layer and other undesirable adverse environmental conditions. Activities in the mining and construction sectors have not really been friendly to the environment either. Mining sites are most times left in very bad conditions after the exploitation has been completed.
By and large, all activities of man in one way or the other has an adverse consequence on the environment, and most of these activities if not all are really important for the survival of man. What should be most important here is moderation and environmental conservation. International conventions on environmental conservation and renewal should be adopted by various countries and if possibly enforced by the implementing agencies. Also, most governments have a huge task of doing enlightenment and education campaign programs about the importance of environmental conservation, renewal and the consequences of environmental neglect and devastation. Also, the United Nations should encourage member states to work on improving their environments as part of the millennium development goals.
In the last few years, there has been a huge uproar from many Governments and international civil society organizations on climatic change and the hazards that are associated with it. What initially sounded like normal agitations and unnecessary propaganda by civil society organizations seems to have gained global acceptance now, at least for the fact that these agitations and propaganda are real and if nothing is done about it the effects could be more devastating than imagined.
Some of the warnings on changing climate and weather that sounded like fairy tales and were easily dismissed initially have finally taken their toll on most global communities and the effects have been critically devastating. The damaging effect of Tsunami off the coast of America and in Asia is no longer news. Businesses and infrastructure that took several years to build were destroyed overnight. People became refugees in their own land, lives were lost and the fears of epidemic outbreaks were imminent. The cost of reconstruction in some instances is astonishing and emergency and rescue service was inadequate as a result of the colossal damage that was wrecked.
Also, in Europe, daytime temperatures have gone too high especially during summer. The incidence of heat wave that was hitherto not known or important has assumed unprecedented dimensions in the recent past. There have been instances where the temperature was so much that people died as a result of excessive heat. This has in some instances been attributed to the effects of green house gases which are produced from diverse human activities especially combustion of fuels and which tend to bring about an abnormal increase in atmospheric temperatures as a result of their ability to absorb ultra violet light from the sun.
In addition, Asia has had its own share of devastation as a result of global climate and weather changes. There have been incessant cases of different environmental degradation and damages. Flooding has been prominent among all of these relentless environmental problems in Asia and the worst affected are rural poverty stricken communities. It is obvious that the effects of these floods especially on the poor rural dwellers will be very detrimental.
Africa on the other hand has not been left out on these problems associated with global climatic and weather changes. There have been unparalleled levels of desert encroachments in countries surrounded by deserts (Sahara desert in North Africa and Kalahari Desert in South Africa). Also, flooding is quite common feature in most African communities especially in West Africa. This has been explained that probably an abnormal increase or rise in sea levels could be responsible for this. It has displaced several communities and businesses worth millions of dollars have been lost; and even human lives have not been exempted. Displaced people especially communities that are sheltered refugee camps are made vulnerable to epidemic outbreaks. In an attempt to manage this difficult situation, it has further worsened the financial burden of some `of these countries since they had been already struggling with very bad economic situations. Another feature of global climatic change in Africa recently has been the frequent cases of adverse drought conditions experienced especially by communities in arid and semi-arid areas. The results of this also are seriously damaging especially for the agricultural sector; it causes almost a total collapse in agriculture especially in arable farming.
In as much as these disasters are natural, most of them are caused or triggered by human activities. Some of these activities either economic or otherwise cause insults to the environment that have brought about the change in global climatic and weather conditions. For instance, lumbering, and other activities that destroy vegetation generally without replacing it bring about an increase in green house effect. Moreover, other activities in oil and gas sector like gas flaring, oil spills, gas emissions etc also tend to release green house gases into the atmosphere which cause a sequence of changes or reactions that tend to destroy the ozone layer and other undesirable adverse environmental conditions. Activities in the mining and construction sectors have not really been friendly to the environment either. Mining sites are most times left in very bad conditions after the exploitation has been completed.
By and large, all activities of man in one way or the other has an adverse consequence on the environment, and most of these activities if not all are really important for the survival of man. What should be most important here is moderation and environmental conservation. International conventions on environmental conservation and renewal should be adopted by various countries and if possibly enforced by the implementing agencies. Also, most governments have a huge task of doing enlightenment and education campaign programs about the importance of environmental conservation, renewal and the consequences of environmental neglect and devastation. Also, the United Nations should encourage member states to work on improving their environments as part of the millennium development goals.
Friday, November 9, 2007
PESTICIDES
PESTICIDES
Pesticides are chemicals used in the control of plants, animals or organisms that constitute pests or a nuisance to man. They are several types of pesticides, some of which are herbicides-for the control of weeds, insecticides-for the control of insects, fungicides-for the control of fungi etc. These chemicals are usually made from organic or inorganic substances. Although in recent times there has been wide spread campaigns canvassing for the use of only biodegradable substances to be used in the production of these chemicals. This is obviously because of their effects on the environment.
These chemicals have been so useful especially in the agricultural industry. Their discovery has largely contributed to transformation from the old crude methods in agriculture to modern farming techniques which have significantly contributed to the success of modern large scale agriculture. The benefits of pesticides to man and his environment are enormous. They have been useful in controlling animals or organisms that are potential dangers or even killers both to man and his crops. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a certain class of reptiles and rodents that are known to destroy rice farms and can even kill man when bitten by them. These rodents and reptiles where a great threat to the farmers until a particular chemical was discovered that could kill them and also alter their reproductive cycle. Consequently, there was an explosion in its use because of the solution that it gave them, and the assurance of a definite bountiful harvest at the end of the season.
Pesticides also make work a lot easier, faster, and much more rewarding than what it would be without them. For instance, farming communities in north-central Nigeria were used to weeding their farms three to four (3-4) times before the harvest period. But with the onset of the use of pesticides, no weeding needs to be done again once farms are sprayed with pesticides. This gives the farmers significant time to do several other things while anticipating a bountiful yield.
In as much as these chemicals have brought significant relief to man from threats in his environment, they have also brought with them several issues of concern to the sustenance of man’s environment and his health. It has been discovered that most of these chemicals are poisonous and tend to affect other animals and organisms that are useful to man. The effects of some of these chemicals are very drastic on man’s health and his environment .one of the most devastating effects of these chemicals is their pollution of water bodies. This has far reaching consequences as it destroys water supply to man and affects aquatic life. For instance, there was an incidence of a chemical; dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) poisoning in the United States in the 1960s.DDT was used successfully in controlling insect vectors of diseases. But in the long run, emerging facts showed that it was detrimental to the environment. This chemical polluted water bodies, destroying aquatic life and altering food chains in the ecosystem. Some of these animals had fed on this chemical along with their food. Thus, passing the poison up the food chain in greater concentration. This eventually got to man who is usually at the end of most food chains with consequent poisoning of large human populations. There is also a very high tendency for domestic accidents to occur resulting into food poisoning, burns etc from these chemicals when they are not properly stored and kept away from the reach of children.
It is obviously clear that the importance of handling and using pesticides and herbicides with great caution cannot be overemphasized. Pesticides should be boldly labeled and stored away from food stores and kept out of reach of children in order to fore stall incidences of domestic accidents and food poisoning. Also, protective clothing should be worn when handling these chemicals and instructions for use and precautionary statements should be strictly adhered to and taken seriously. Manufacturers of pesticides should ensure that chemicals used are biodegradable, in order to make sure that they do not constitute a greater challenge to man and his environment. It is also recommended that non-chemical control of pest should be explored too.
Pesticides are chemicals used in the control of plants, animals or organisms that constitute pests or a nuisance to man. They are several types of pesticides, some of which are herbicides-for the control of weeds, insecticides-for the control of insects, fungicides-for the control of fungi etc. These chemicals are usually made from organic or inorganic substances. Although in recent times there has been wide spread campaigns canvassing for the use of only biodegradable substances to be used in the production of these chemicals. This is obviously because of their effects on the environment.
These chemicals have been so useful especially in the agricultural industry. Their discovery has largely contributed to transformation from the old crude methods in agriculture to modern farming techniques which have significantly contributed to the success of modern large scale agriculture. The benefits of pesticides to man and his environment are enormous. They have been useful in controlling animals or organisms that are potential dangers or even killers both to man and his crops. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a certain class of reptiles and rodents that are known to destroy rice farms and can even kill man when bitten by them. These rodents and reptiles where a great threat to the farmers until a particular chemical was discovered that could kill them and also alter their reproductive cycle. Consequently, there was an explosion in its use because of the solution that it gave them, and the assurance of a definite bountiful harvest at the end of the season.
Pesticides also make work a lot easier, faster, and much more rewarding than what it would be without them. For instance, farming communities in north-central Nigeria were used to weeding their farms three to four (3-4) times before the harvest period. But with the onset of the use of pesticides, no weeding needs to be done again once farms are sprayed with pesticides. This gives the farmers significant time to do several other things while anticipating a bountiful yield.
In as much as these chemicals have brought significant relief to man from threats in his environment, they have also brought with them several issues of concern to the sustenance of man’s environment and his health. It has been discovered that most of these chemicals are poisonous and tend to affect other animals and organisms that are useful to man. The effects of some of these chemicals are very drastic on man’s health and his environment .one of the most devastating effects of these chemicals is their pollution of water bodies. This has far reaching consequences as it destroys water supply to man and affects aquatic life. For instance, there was an incidence of a chemical; dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) poisoning in the United States in the 1960s.DDT was used successfully in controlling insect vectors of diseases. But in the long run, emerging facts showed that it was detrimental to the environment. This chemical polluted water bodies, destroying aquatic life and altering food chains in the ecosystem. Some of these animals had fed on this chemical along with their food. Thus, passing the poison up the food chain in greater concentration. This eventually got to man who is usually at the end of most food chains with consequent poisoning of large human populations. There is also a very high tendency for domestic accidents to occur resulting into food poisoning, burns etc from these chemicals when they are not properly stored and kept away from the reach of children.
It is obviously clear that the importance of handling and using pesticides and herbicides with great caution cannot be overemphasized. Pesticides should be boldly labeled and stored away from food stores and kept out of reach of children in order to fore stall incidences of domestic accidents and food poisoning. Also, protective clothing should be worn when handling these chemicals and instructions for use and precautionary statements should be strictly adhered to and taken seriously. Manufacturers of pesticides should ensure that chemicals used are biodegradable, in order to make sure that they do not constitute a greater challenge to man and his environment. It is also recommended that non-chemical control of pest should be explored too.
TOBACCO
TOBACCO
Tobacco has been grown as a crop and traded as a commodity since ancient times. The spread and use of tobacco was greatly encouraged especially in Africa by colonial and slave masters. As civilization and technology increased over the years, tobacco has been refined and processed into various end products. Tobacco contains a chemical known as nicotine that is responsible for causing addiction to the use of tobacco especially when it is smoked.
In recent times, there has been wide spread campaigns and concerted efforts to ban the use of tobacco especially smoking it cigars and cigarettes. The reasons are largely but not limited to health problems and medical complications associated with its use. Although, there are legislations in most countries banning the smoking of cigarettes in minors, it is becoming increasingly difficult everyday to prevent minors from smoking or banning smoking completely. Even tobacco companies are aware of the dangers their products pose to the public and the Government. They always accompany their advertisements with warnings about the danger of smoking tobacco, yet they still go ahead to sell and promote the use of these products. It has been discovered that this is just a subtle way of absolving themselves from blame and subsequent litigations they anticipate may come from some members of the public as a result of the pain, sorrow and discomfort they bring to people through their products.
Tobacco is a very common feature on the list contraband goods in many countries. However, in countries where it does not appear on the list of contraband items, there is usually a very high price tag in the form of various taxes and exorbitant excise duties when it is been traded across international boundaries.
In as much as some people especially those who enjoy smoking do not see anything wrong with it, it is considered as an act of irresponsibility, carelessness and potential danger to the environment to smoke in some places especially public places like offices, business premises, gas stations, auto service stations etc. Some of these places are tagged “No Smoking” or called smoke free areas.
It has been proved beyond reasonable doubts that the long term use of tobacco or smoking could result into devastating medical, health and environmental related problems and illnesses. Most of these illnesses affect respiratory tract. Some of these illnesses include lung cancer, emphysema, and coronary heart disease. These can lead to several other illnesses and medical conditions.
Besides the danger of medical conditions, smoking in highly flammable or inflammable areas is a huge risk and blatant violation of safety standards and protocols. Hence, smoking in such areas is strongly prohibited. A simple investigation would reveal that fire accidents that occurred as a result of smoking are not difficult to come by.
Conversely, in as much as it has been proved to be a source of devastation and threat to the health of many people; it is a form of money spinner to others. Some of these people include the rural dwellers who engage in the cultivation of tobacco, the intermediary business people who buy it from the farmers and supply it to tobacco companies and export agencies. Tobacco companies are usually the highest gainers from the fortune made from this commodity. This is evident in the staggering amounts of money they invest in branding, advertising, and promotion of their products. Also, in some countries, tobacco companies spend a whole lot of money lobbying legislators so that legislations that would affect their business negatively should not be passed.
Interestingly, tobacco companies tend to invest a lot of their money in corporate social responsibility activities especially to their host communities. This is seen by most people as an attempt to redeem their corporate image since they are usually portrayed negatively in the society.
Tobacco has been grown as a crop and traded as a commodity since ancient times. The spread and use of tobacco was greatly encouraged especially in Africa by colonial and slave masters. As civilization and technology increased over the years, tobacco has been refined and processed into various end products. Tobacco contains a chemical known as nicotine that is responsible for causing addiction to the use of tobacco especially when it is smoked.
In recent times, there has been wide spread campaigns and concerted efforts to ban the use of tobacco especially smoking it cigars and cigarettes. The reasons are largely but not limited to health problems and medical complications associated with its use. Although, there are legislations in most countries banning the smoking of cigarettes in minors, it is becoming increasingly difficult everyday to prevent minors from smoking or banning smoking completely. Even tobacco companies are aware of the dangers their products pose to the public and the Government. They always accompany their advertisements with warnings about the danger of smoking tobacco, yet they still go ahead to sell and promote the use of these products. It has been discovered that this is just a subtle way of absolving themselves from blame and subsequent litigations they anticipate may come from some members of the public as a result of the pain, sorrow and discomfort they bring to people through their products.
Tobacco is a very common feature on the list contraband goods in many countries. However, in countries where it does not appear on the list of contraband items, there is usually a very high price tag in the form of various taxes and exorbitant excise duties when it is been traded across international boundaries.
In as much as some people especially those who enjoy smoking do not see anything wrong with it, it is considered as an act of irresponsibility, carelessness and potential danger to the environment to smoke in some places especially public places like offices, business premises, gas stations, auto service stations etc. Some of these places are tagged “No Smoking” or called smoke free areas.
It has been proved beyond reasonable doubts that the long term use of tobacco or smoking could result into devastating medical, health and environmental related problems and illnesses. Most of these illnesses affect respiratory tract. Some of these illnesses include lung cancer, emphysema, and coronary heart disease. These can lead to several other illnesses and medical conditions.
Besides the danger of medical conditions, smoking in highly flammable or inflammable areas is a huge risk and blatant violation of safety standards and protocols. Hence, smoking in such areas is strongly prohibited. A simple investigation would reveal that fire accidents that occurred as a result of smoking are not difficult to come by.
Conversely, in as much as it has been proved to be a source of devastation and threat to the health of many people; it is a form of money spinner to others. Some of these people include the rural dwellers who engage in the cultivation of tobacco, the intermediary business people who buy it from the farmers and supply it to tobacco companies and export agencies. Tobacco companies are usually the highest gainers from the fortune made from this commodity. This is evident in the staggering amounts of money they invest in branding, advertising, and promotion of their products. Also, in some countries, tobacco companies spend a whole lot of money lobbying legislators so that legislations that would affect their business negatively should not be passed.
Interestingly, tobacco companies tend to invest a lot of their money in corporate social responsibility activities especially to their host communities. This is seen by most people as an attempt to redeem their corporate image since they are usually portrayed negatively in the society.
CHILD LABOUR
Child labor can broadly be defined as employment of children or subjection of children to employment often under harsh conditions for very minimal pay.
This is one scourge that has transcended international boundaries affecting both developed and developing nations alike. However, in recent times the response to combating, mitigating the effects and subsequently eradicating this scourge that has affected a vast number of children globally has been more encouraging in the developed nations than the developing ones.
It has been detrimental to the development of affected children and deprived them of opportunities of becoming better people in their adulthood, which would have created an opportunity for them to live better lives, raise better families, and create a new or better future conspicuously different from their childhood experiences.
It would be difficult to trace exactly where this practice began, but it has been known to be an age long problem. It has been discovered to be tied to some traditions in Eastern Africa, Latin (South America), and a lot of Asian countries. Many children born to bond servants were automatically drafted to labor at an early age and were expected to do that for the rest of their lives.
The causes of this practice globally cannot be too difficult to unravel. Poverty is the number one reason for this and why it is becoming so difficult for it to be eradicated. More often than not poor parents are compelled to send their children to work at an early age just to augment the family’s meager income. This most of the times does not make any difference since the children are paid peanuts for their long hours of labor in harsh and most times inhuman conditions.
Another reason is lack of opportunities for development e.g. school, skill development/acquisition. Children who do not go to school either because parents cannot afford the fees or for several other reasons are usually idle and thus very vulnerable to the practice of child labor. Also, child labor is predominant in countries where HIV/AIDS has badly affected their populations. In some localities or villages, adult populations are wiped out by the disease leaving the children to take charge of their survival. This unavoidably makes children assume adult roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume so early in their lives. Several other reasons for child labor exist, but a critical look at them will reveal that they are all linked to poverty.
The effect of these on children, their development, and by extension development of their localities is quite enormous. For instance, children who are forced to or made to start working at the early stages of their lives do not have access to education. When they are supposed to be going to school to acquire the knowledge/skills that would transform their lives in future, they are held up in factories, plantations, etc working. Since they cannot acquire any knowledge or skill that will empower them to live better more productive lives, their living conditions keep deteriorating no matter how hard they work. The wages are not enough to meet the basic needs of life and sometimes they get into problems. Since the wages are not enough they get trapped or caught in the web, which they will struggle in for a life time to get freed. This affects the children they bear negatively too. Thus, creating a viscous cycle that is becoming difficult to break.
Also, children in labor are exposed to several adverse conditions that are detrimental and hazardous to their health. For instance, children working in plantations and farms are exposed to toxicity from pesticides and fertilizers. Most of these chemicals cause effects which affect these children for a life time as a result of the long durations of exposure to them. A lot of terminal diseases presented by these children in their later ages have been attributed to working under hazardous conditions for a long time.
International multilateral and civil society organizations are leading the cause to fight child labor globally, but the response from many countries has not been very encouraging especially from developing countries. The American, British and Canadian governments have since instituted legislations to ban this menace, but it is still being practiced by some unscrupulous companies and especially in some localities were agriculture predominant.
Furthermore, many Governments/countries need to show a political will and determination towards mitigating and subsequent eradication of this problem. They need to provide increased access to education for all children to be educated and acquire skills that will enable them look towards a better future and thus make them have better and transformed lives and a more promising future.
Child labor can broadly be defined as employment of children or subjection of children to employment often under harsh conditions for very minimal pay.
This is one scourge that has transcended international boundaries affecting both developed and developing nations alike. However, in recent times the response to combating, mitigating the effects and subsequently eradicating this scourge that has affected a vast number of children globally has been more encouraging in the developed nations than the developing ones.
It has been detrimental to the development of affected children and deprived them of opportunities of becoming better people in their adulthood, which would have created an opportunity for them to live better lives, raise better families, and create a new or better future conspicuously different from their childhood experiences.
It would be difficult to trace exactly where this practice began, but it has been known to be an age long problem. It has been discovered to be tied to some traditions in Eastern Africa, Latin (South America), and a lot of Asian countries. Many children born to bond servants were automatically drafted to labor at an early age and were expected to do that for the rest of their lives.
The causes of this practice globally cannot be too difficult to unravel. Poverty is the number one reason for this and why it is becoming so difficult for it to be eradicated. More often than not poor parents are compelled to send their children to work at an early age just to augment the family’s meager income. This most of the times does not make any difference since the children are paid peanuts for their long hours of labor in harsh and most times inhuman conditions.
Another reason is lack of opportunities for development e.g. school, skill development/acquisition. Children who do not go to school either because parents cannot afford the fees or for several other reasons are usually idle and thus very vulnerable to the practice of child labor. Also, child labor is predominant in countries where HIV/AIDS has badly affected their populations. In some localities or villages, adult populations are wiped out by the disease leaving the children to take charge of their survival. This unavoidably makes children assume adult roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume so early in their lives. Several other reasons for child labor exist, but a critical look at them will reveal that they are all linked to poverty.
The effect of these on children, their development, and by extension development of their localities is quite enormous. For instance, children who are forced to or made to start working at the early stages of their lives do not have access to education. When they are supposed to be going to school to acquire the knowledge/skills that would transform their lives in future, they are held up in factories, plantations, etc working. Since they cannot acquire any knowledge or skill that will empower them to live better more productive lives, their living conditions keep deteriorating no matter how hard they work. The wages are not enough to meet the basic needs of life and sometimes they get into problems. Since the wages are not enough they get trapped or caught in the web, which they will struggle in for a life time to get freed. This affects the children they bear negatively too. Thus, creating a viscous cycle that is becoming difficult to break.
Also, children in labor are exposed to several adverse conditions that are detrimental and hazardous to their health. For instance, children working in plantations and farms are exposed to toxicity from pesticides and fertilizers. Most of these chemicals cause effects which affect these children for a life time as a result of the long durations of exposure to them. A lot of terminal diseases presented by these children in their later ages have been attributed to working under hazardous conditions for a long time.
International multilateral and civil society organizations are leading the cause to fight child labor globally, but the response from many countries has not been very encouraging especially from developing countries. The American, British and Canadian governments have since instituted legislations to ban this menace, but it is still being practiced by some unscrupulous companies and especially in some localities were agriculture predominant.
Furthermore, many Governments/countries need to show a political will and determination towards mitigating and subsequent eradication of this problem. They need to provide increased access to education for all children to be educated and acquire skills that will enable them look towards a better future and thus make them have better and transformed lives and a more promising future.
CHILD LABOUR
Child labor can broadly be defined as employment of children or subjection of children to employment often under harsh conditions for very minimal pay.
This is one scourge that has transcended international boundaries affecting both developed and developing nationCHILD LABOUR
Child labor can broadly CHILD LABOUR
Child labor can broadly be defined as employment of children or subjection of children to employment often under harsh conditions for very minimal pay.
This is one scourge that has transcended international boundaries affecting both developed and developing nations alike. However, in recent times the response to combating, mitigating the effects and subsequently eradicating this scourge that has affected a vast number of children globally has been more encouraging in the developed nations than the developing ones.
It has been detrimental to the development of affected children and deprived them of opportunities of becoming better people in their adulthood, which would have created an opportunity for them to live better lives, raise better families, and create a new or better future conspicuously different from their childhood experiences.
It would be difficult to trace exactly where this practice began, but it has been known to be an age long problem. It has been discovered to be tied to some traditions in Eastern Africa, Latin (South America), and a lot of Asian countries. Many children born to bond servants were automatically drafted to labor at an early age and were expected to do that for the rest of their lives.
The causes of this practice globally cannot be too difficult to unravel. Poverty is the number one reason for this and why it is becoming so difficult for it to be eradicated. More often than not poor parents are compelled to send their children to work at an early age just to augment the family’s meager income. This most of the times does not make any difference since the children are paid peanuts for their long hours of labor in harsh and most times inhuman conditions.
Another reason is lack of opportunities for development e.g. school, skill development/acquisition. Children who do not go to school either because parents cannot afford the fees or for several other reasons are usually idle and thus very vulnerable to the practice of child labor. Also, child labor is predominant in countries where HIV/AIDS has badly affected their populations. In some localities or villages, adult populations are wiped out by the disease leaving the children to take charge of their survival. This unavoidably makes children assume adult roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume so early in their lives. Several other reasons for child labor exist, but a critical look at them will reveal that they are all linked to poverty.
The effect of these on children, their development, and by extension development of their localities is quite enormous. For instance, children who are forced to or made to start working at the early stages of their lives do not have access to education. When they are supposed to be going to school to acquire the knowledge/skills that would transform their lives in future, they are held up in factories, plantations, etc working. Since they cannot acquire any knowledge or skill that will empower them to live better more productive lives, their living conditions keep deteriorating no matter how hard they work. The wages are not enough to meet the basic needs of life and sometimes they get into problems. Since the wages are not enough they get trapped or caught in the web, which they will struggle in for a life time to get freed. This affects the children they bear negatively too. Thus, creating a viscous cycle that is becoming difficult to break.
Also, children in labor are exposed to several adverse conditions that are detrimental and hazardous to their health. For instance, children working in plantations and farms are exposed to toxicity from pesticides and fertilizers. Most of these chemicals cause effects which affect these children for a life time as a result of the long durations of exposure to them. A lot of terminal diseases presented by these children in their later ages have been attributed to working under hazardous conditions for a long time.
International multilateral and civil society organizations are leading the cause to fight child labor globally, but the response from many countries has not been very encouraging especially from developing countries. The American, British and Canadian governments have since instituted legislations to ban this menace, but it is still being practiced by some unscrupulous companies and especially in some localities were agriculture predominant.
Furthermore, many Governments/countries need to show a political will and determination towards mitigating and subsequent eradication of this problem. They need to provide increased access to education for all children to be educated and acquire skills that will enable them look towards a better future and thus make them have better and transformed lives and a more promising future.
be defined as employment of children or subjection of children to employment often under harsh conditions for very minimal pay.
This is one scourge that has transcended international boundaries affecting both developed and developing nations alike. However, in recent times the response to combating, mitigating the effects and subsequently eradicating this scourge that has affected a vast number of children globally has been more encouraging in the developed nations than the developing ones.
It has been detrimental to the development of affected children and deprived them of opportunities of becoming better people in their adulthood, which would have created an opportunity for them to live better lives, raise better families, and create a new or better future conspicuously different from their childhood experiences.
It would be difficult to trace exactly where this practice began, but it has been known to be an age long problem. It has been discovered to be tied to some traditions in Eastern Africa, Latin (South America), and a lot of Asian countries. Many children born to bond servants were automatically drafted to labor at an early age and were expected to do that for the rest of their lives.
The causes of this practice globally cannot be too difficult to unravel. Poverty is the number one reason for this and why it is becoming so difficult for it to be eradicated. More often than not poor parents are compelled to send their children to work at an early age just to augment the family’s meager income. This most of the times does not make any difference since the children are paid peanuts for their long hours of labor in harsh and most times inhuman conditions.
Another reason is lack of opportunities for development e.g. school, skill development/acquisition. Children who do not go to school either because parents cannot afford the fees or for several other reasons are usually idle and thus very vulnerable to the practice of child labor. Also, child labor is predominant in countries where HIV/AIDS has badly affected their populations. In some localities or villages, adult populations are wiped out by the disease leaving the children to take charge of their survival. This unavoidably makes children assume adult roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume so early in their lives. Several other reasons for child labor exist, but a critical look at them will reveal that they are all linked to poverty.
The effect of these on children, their development, and by extension development of their localities is quite enormous. For instance, children who are forced to or made to start working at the early stages of their lives do not have access to education. When they are supposed to be going to school to acquire the knowledge/skills that would transform their lives in future, they are held up in factories, plantations, etc working. Since they cannot acquire any knowledge or skill that will empower them to live better more productive lives, their living conditions keep deteriorating no matter how hard they work. The wages are not enough to meet the basic needs of life and sometimes they get into problems. Since the wages are not enough they get trapped or caught in the web, which they will struggle in for a life time to get freed. This affects the children they bear negatively too. Thus, creating a viscous cycle that is becoming difficult to break.
Also, children in labor are exposed to several adverse conditions that are detrimental and hazardous to their health. For instance, children working in plantations and farms are exposed to toxicity from pesticides and fertilizers. Most of these chemicals cause effects which affect these children for a life time as a result of the long durations of exposure to them. A lot of terminal diseases presented by these children in their later ages have been attributed to working under hazardous conditions for a long time.
International multilateral and civil society organizations are leading the cause to fight child labor globally, but the response from many countries has not been very encouraging especially from developing countries. The American, British and Canadian governments have since instituted legislations to ban this menace, but it is still being practiced by some unscrupulous companies and especially in some localities were agriculture predominant.
Furthermore, many Governments/countries need to show a political will and determination towards mitigating and subsequent eradication of this problem. They need to provide increased access to education for all children to be educated and acquire skills that will enable them look towards a better future and thus make them have better and transformed lives and a more promising future.
s alike. However, in recent times the response to combating, mitigating the effects and subsequently eradicating this scourge that has affected a vast number of children globally has been more encouraging in the developed nations than the developing ones.
It has been detrimental to the development of affected children and deprived them of opportunities of becoming better people in their adulthood, which would have created an opportunity for them to live better lives, raise better families, and create a new or better future conspicuously different from their childhood experiences.
It would be difficult to trace exactly where this practice began, but it has been known to be an age long problem. It has been discovered to be tied to some traditions in Eastern Africa, Latin (South America), and a lot of Asian countries. Many children born to bond servants were automatically drafted to labor at an early age and were expected to do that for the rest of their lives.
The causes of this practice globally cannot be too difficult to unravel. Poverty is the number one reason for this and why it is becoming so difficult for it to be eradicated. More often than not poor parents are compelled to send their children to work at an early age just to augment the family’s meager income. This most of the times does not make any difference since the children are paid peanuts for their long hours of labor in harsh and most times inhuman conditions.
Another reason is lack of opportunities for development e.g. school, skill development/acquisition. Children who do not go to school either because parents cannot afford the fees or for several other reasons are usually idle and thus very vulnerable to the practice of child labor. Also, child labor is predominant in countries where HIV/AIDS has badly affected their populations. In some localities or villages, adult populations are wiped out by the disease leaving the children to take charge of their survival. This unavoidably makes children assume adult roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume so early in their lives. Several other reasons for child labor exist, but a critical look at them will reveal that they are all linked to poverty.
The effect of these on children, their development, and by extension development of their localities is quite enormous. For instance, children who are forced to or made to start working at the early stages of their lives do not have access to education. When they are supposed to be going to school to acquire the knowledge/skills that would transform their lives in future, they are held up in factories, plantations, etc working. Since they cannot acquire any knowledge or skill that will empower them to live better more productive lives, their living conditions keep deteriorating no matter how hard they work. The wages are not enough to meet the basic needs of life and sometimes they get into problems. Since the wages are not enough they get trapped or caught in the web, which they will struggle in for a life time to get freed. This affects the children they bear negatively too. Thus, creating a viscous cycle that is becoming difficult to break.
Also, children in labor are exposed to several adverse conditions that are detrimental and hazardous to their health. For instance, children working in plantations and farms are exposed to toxicity from pesticides and fertilizers. Most of these chemicals cause effects which affect these children for a life time as a result of the long durations of exposure to them. A lot of terminal diseases presented by these children in their later ages have been attributed to working under hazardous conditions for a long time.
International multilateral and civil society organizations are leading the cause to fight child labor globally, but the response from many countries has not been very encouraging especially from developing countries. The American, British and Canadian governments have since instituted legislations to ban this menace, but it is still being practiced by some unscrupulous companies and especially in some localities were agriculture predominant.
Furthermore, many Governments/countries need to show a political will and determination towards mitigating and subsequent eradication of this problem. They need to provide increased access to education for all children to be educated and acquire skills that will enable them look towards a better future and thus make them have better and transformed lives and a more promising future.
Child labor can broadly be defined as employment of children or subjection of children to employment often under harsh conditions for very minimal pay.
This is one scourge that has transcended international boundaries affecting both developed and developing nations alike. However, in recent times the response to combating, mitigating the effects and subsequently eradicating this scourge that has affected a vast number of children globally has been more encouraging in the developed nations than the developing ones.
It has been detrimental to the development of affected children and deprived them of opportunities of becoming better people in their adulthood, which would have created an opportunity for them to live better lives, raise better families, and create a new or better future conspicuously different from their childhood experiences.
It would be difficult to trace exactly where this practice began, but it has been known to be an age long problem. It has been discovered to be tied to some traditions in Eastern Africa, Latin (South America), and a lot of Asian countries. Many children born to bond servants were automatically drafted to labor at an early age and were expected to do that for the rest of their lives.
The causes of this practice globally cannot be too difficult to unravel. Poverty is the number one reason for this and why it is becoming so difficult for it to be eradicated. More often than not poor parents are compelled to send their children to work at an early age just to augment the family’s meager income. This most of the times does not make any difference since the children are paid peanuts for their long hours of labor in harsh and most times inhuman conditions.
Another reason is lack of opportunities for development e.g. school, skill development/acquisition. Children who do not go to school either because parents cannot afford the fees or for several other reasons are usually idle and thus very vulnerable to the practice of child labor. Also, child labor is predominant in countries where HIV/AIDS has badly affected their populations. In some localities or villages, adult populations are wiped out by the disease leaving the children to take charge of their survival. This unavoidably makes children assume adult roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume roles they were never prepared for or anticipated to assume so early in their lives. Several other reasons for child labor exist, but a critical look at them will reveal that they are all linked to poverty.
The effect of these on children, their development, and by extension development of their localities is quite enormous. For instance, children who are forced to or made to start working at the early stages of their lives do not have access to education. When they are supposed to be going to school to acquire the knowledge/skills that would transform their lives in future, they are held up in factories, plantations, etc working. Since they cannot acquire any knowledge or skill that will empower them to live better more productive lives, their living conditions keep deteriorating no matter how hard they work. The wages are not enough to meet the basic needs of life and sometimes they get into problems. Since the wages are not enough they get trapped or caught in the web, which they will struggle in for a life time to get freed. This affects the children they bear negatively too. Thus, creating a viscous cycle that is becoming difficult to break.
Also, children in labor are exposed to several adverse conditions that are detrimental and hazardous to their health. For instance, children working in plantations and farms are exposed to toxicity from pesticides and fertilizers. Most of these chemicals cause effects which affect these children for a life time as a result of the long durations of exposure to them. A lot of terminal diseases presented by these children in their later ages have been attributed to working under hazardous conditions for a long time.
International multilateral and civil society organizations are leading the cause to fight child labor globally, but the response from many countries has not been very encouraging especially from developing countries. The American, British and Canadian governments have since instituted legislations to ban this menace, but it is still being practiced by some unscrupulous companies and especially in some localities were agriculture predominant.
Furthermore, many Governments/countries need to show a political will and determination towards mitigating and subsequent eradication of this problem. They need to provide increased access to education for all children to be educated and acquire skills that will enable them look towards a better future and thus make them have better and transformed lives and a more promising future.
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