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child labor is also an opportunity to maintain pressure for change. The pressure can come in the form of economic incentives.

Media publicity of child labor exploitation can help increase the speed of change. While countries like China are almost impossible to penetrate for the truth (see Olympics), the media can still make an impact by reporting on child labor issues in the free world. A constant barrage of child labor news and commentary may be the impetus to initiate the fourth element of the child labor eradication plan.

There will never be a complete eradication of child labor if consumers continue to purchase products from offending countries. Americans are so enticed by price that they ignore the social ramifications of their purchasing decisions. Buying goods from a Wal Mart ensures another generation of children will be exploited in the unhealthy and unsafe conditions of Chinese manufacturing plants. Buying Mexican produce guarantees children will toil in the scorching hot Mexican sun in order to satisfy the insatiable American appetite for exotic fruits and vegetables.

The four stage process to eradicate child labor throughout the world needs to be implemented now. Waiting for countries to eradicate child labor laws will only continue to jeopardize the welfare of children, many of whom are under the age of ten years old. Publicity of child labor abuse will lead to mounting pressure for child labor law enactment. The laws must be modeled after United States statutes. But the eradication of child labor will never occur if consumers in prosperous countries continue to purchase their goods from offending countries.

Americans need to set an example and stop purchasing goods from countries that exploit child labor. If this means passing stricter trade laws, then so be it. The safety and health of the world's children is more important than greed and selfish attainment of cheap products.

Ask one question: would I want my children exposed to such horrible and life threatening conditions?

Learn more about this author, Keith Bailey.
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