Week Ten: China Says Abusive Child Labor Ring Is Exposed

Authorities in southern China’s southern Province, near Hong Kong, claim that they have made several arrests and had already rescued more than 100 children from factories in the city of Dongguan, one of the country’s largest manufacturing centers for electronics and consumer goods sold around the world. Investigators say that there were reports that hundreds of other rural children between the ages between 13-15, had been lured or forced into captive, almost slave like conditions for minimal pay. Regardless that the legal working age is 16.  I really hope that this doesn’t continue to innocent children, and that authorities continue to intervene. It makes me wonder about how many other places in the world that force children into hard labor.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/world/asia/01china.html?_r=1&ref=childlabor

Week Nine:5 year Old Girl Dies of Cough Medicine Overdose

Kimber Michelle,5, took a deadly combonation of cold and allergy medicine while under the care of her grandmother. Reports ruled the overdose was accidental, caused by dextromethorphan, an ingredient commonly used in cough syrup.Her blood levels were two and a half times higher than the recommended dosage. It has been suggested that Kimber might have taken some medication herself or that her grandmother gave her the wrong dosage. Toxicology reports show that Kimber, who weighed only 46 pounds, had 96 nanograms per millilitre of dextromethorphan in her blood. The upper limit for this drug in adults is 40 ng/ml. I personally believe that this story should be very public, to gain awareness of the dangers that come along with taking over the counter medicine, especially with children.

Week Eight: Pulling Children out of Nepal's Prisons

Pushpa Basnet, lives in Nepal, which according to UNICEF it is one of the poorest countries, with 55% of people living under poverty line. She resides in a two story house accompanied by 40 children. All of the children she lives with, has once been in prison with their parents. Without her help, these children would be spending LIFE behind bars, because of their parents’ crimes. When the parents are arrested, they ahve the choice to bring their children to jail with them or to let them live on the streets. Since 2005, Basnet has helped over 100 children of incarcerated parents. The “Butterfly House”, continues to aid children with food, clothing, shelter, medicine, school and most importantly, love.  I think that this article is really inpiring because it shows that one person with a big heart can make a difference.

"...The smiles of my children keep me motivated."

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/15/world/cnnheroes-basnet-nepal-prisons/index.html?hpt=wo_bn3

Week Seven: Treyvon Martin, 17, shot dead in his own neighbourhood

"Trayvon Martin didn't die so we can create a race war he died so we can promote better understanding. We must starthonest dialogue."

Treyvon Martin, 17, shot dead in his own neighbourhood, unarmed, by the neighbourhood watch. 28 year old, George Zimmerman is the shooter.  He said "This guy looks like he's on drugs, he's definitely messed up" about Treyvon to a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Zimmerman continued to follow him, and then more 9-1-1 calls were reporting the two fighting in the back of Treyvon's house. All Treyvon's parents want is justice. I think this article is very important to my blog, because it shows one perfect example of another injustice being done to a child in the public's eye. This man NEEDS to be locked up, so sign a petition go to www.change.org to add your name!

 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/treyvon-martin-neighborhood-watch-shooting-911-tapes-send/story?id=15937881