<link>

This practice, not limited to the high mountains of Asia is a world wide travesty. As India, China and other developing nations role out new millionaires by the score, the average citizen in these countries rarely sees more than a statistical increase in their standards of living. That families are forced to sell children into slavery in order to feed the rest of their broods is unconscionable. If the well to do families that want the services of these slaves need help so badly then they should have to hire someone and pay a living wage to their employee. If they cannot afford to pay someone they should then do their own house and yard work.

Slavery in the 21st century shows that in spite of all of our gee whiz gadgets and all of our so called high minded writing and educational systems, humanity has really not come very far from the middle ages. Regardless of an Americans political affiliations, if we hold freedom even one half as dearly as we proclaim , we would not allow commerce with nations that allow such horrendous human rights violations.

All the past talk of advancing freedom or Democracy is a bald face lie if we cannot step up the economic pressure on these nations and let them know that until they stop slavery in their own nations they will not be allowed to sell even one nickles worth of their wares in our economy. If we are so addicted to the dirt cheap prices of underwear, blue jeans and cell phones that we are willing to turn a blind eye to such barbarism towards children then we as a society are already lost.

There really is no excuse for such abuse of human beings on our globe. And really, after our celebrations of freedom this weekend there is no excuse for inaction anymore.

Can we finally face the abject human truth that some things really are more important than money? Can we, just days after exploding scores of millions of dollars of cheap Chinese fireworks to celebrate our freedom, decide that freedom is something worth striving for, especially for children?

Do you think we're going to give up the goods and wares from this country? Or any of the others mentioned in the article?

Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation. Despite strict labor laws and entry visa requirements, men and women from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia voluntarily travel to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants or other low-skilled laborers, but subsequently face conditions of involuntary servitude, including restrictions on movement, withholding of passports, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and non-payment of wages. Women from Yemen, Morocco, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tajikistan, and Thailand were also trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation; others were reportedly kidnapped and forced into prostitution after running away from abusive employers. In addition, Saudi Arabia is a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Chadian, and Sudanese children trafficked for involuntary servitude as forced beggars and street vendors. Some Saudi nationals travel to destinations including Morocco, Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh to engage in commercial sexual exploitation. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2008 [full country report]

<link>

It's not going to happen, obviously! The Saudis even import their slaves to the US as illustrated in this article by Bushie, Daniel Pipes.

<link>

Supply and demand, Nick, supply and demand.

Kill off a lotta poor kids, and the price of the remaining few will go up.

Then we won't feel so bad, cause they'll be a valued commodity.

If there's one thing they teach in every MBA program across the country, its "price-discrimination".

Humans are carniverous!

period case closed.

Inner city maintainence after 40 yrs and some 7trillion in social costs means we inttned to keep women, children and animals of the STATE bondage to ss workers while their sowers are debt prisoned under Law of CAPIAS.

Not to worry Biden-Lugar Bill pending in Senate I-VAWA will unveil all female s and chilren globally from the poppy and guns fields and suicide bombers volunteers!

Perhaps we can mind our own business and tend to USA NAFTA jalepenos and tomatoes and madd cows et al!

mom,

We should be under no illusions that ending this insidious atrocity will be easy. But if we do not make a true effort then our own freedom and the future freedom of the next generations of Americans is also at stake. Indeed if we do not work to change this current culture of slavery then perhaps we don't deserve the freedom we have either.

Well some things are worth fighting for and screw the laws of supply and demand if people are willing to accept slavery as a normal course of events.

There is no course that should allow for the acceptance of slavery and I don't care what they call it. If that is what they are teaching in our business schools as acceptable then i say burn down the business schools and start over. I'll throw the first torch.