Child Labor

Nike recently restarted procuring soccer balls from Pakistan. They had stopped this practice six months ago, because of concerns about child labor. Nike now has a new supplier, who has commited to not use child labor.

It is easy to criticize child labor as a reprehensible practice. And, that criticism is abundant in the US. In fact, there are frequent initiatives to ban things that are found to have child labor. But which country has a bigger child labor problem, and what are people accomplishing by boycotting goods that have child labor?

In US there are plenty of children who work to make money. Why is that not child labor? Is that because these people are earning money that will be spent on stuff that large corporations provide (Nike shoes, for example). In third-world countries, children work to feed themselves and their families.

By criticizing only the third-world child labor, we are in effect saying that it is OK to have child labor if the money is spent on luxuries. But, if the child is working to earn food - that is a horrible thing to do, and must be stopped. What is a hungry child to do?

Difference between a temple and a church

Most religious orders have places of worship. Temples and churches are probably the two most common terms. Christians have churches, Hindus and some others have temples.

Mormons (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) have both - Temples and Churches. They both serve different purposes. Mormon Churches are for public worship, and anyone can go in. Mormon Temples are for private worship, and have restricted attendance.

Does this definition apply to Hindu Temples and other Christian Churches too? While people use Churches for private worship too, their main purpose is public worship - usually the once-a-week Sunday service. And, while people use Hindu Temples for public worship too, their main purpose is private worship.

Does this also underscore a difference between religions? Hinduism is primarily focused on private worship, and Christianity on public or group worship?

And, what about Mosques and Synagogues? I don't know enough to say whether they are for public or private worship. The dictionary states them both as houses of worship.

Indian Muslims in the US

Why are there so few Muslims from India in the US?

According to a recent news report, there are more Muslims from Pakistan - which itself has fewer Muslims than India*. This is a bit surprising, when we believe that the Indian educational system trains well, and that there are equal opportunities for everyone.

Is it that Muslims are not using their opportunities in India? Or, that they are not choosing to come to the US?

Or, is the number misleading; in other words, is the percent of Muslims in the Indian immigrant population in the US roughly the same as the percent of Muslims in India (16.4)? If this is the case, then immigration from Pakistan must be higher than that from India - as a percent of its own population.

Any other explanations?

* Total population of Pakistan in 2007 - 169M (of this, 96% are muslims)
Number of Muslims in India in 2001 - 174M

Model for Unity - Maharashtra Style

During the recently concluded Presidential Elections in India, Shiv Sena declared that they will support Pratibha Patil (the eventual winner), regardless of her political affiliation. The reason? She is from Maharashtra.

Kudos to Shiv Sena for rising about party politics. When will others in the country learn to do the same?

And, when will Shiv Sena lead us to the same model for the country as a whole, rather than just for a region.

Saving children - one baby at a time

In a small town in Northern India, they have come up with a unique way to address the issue of abandoned infants.

Rather than dumping unwanted babies in strange places, parents can merely place them in one of the "baby baskets" placed by an NGO in different parts of town.

The real process begins after the basket door is shut. Automatic phone calls are made to different volunteers' home. One of them picks up the baby and takes it to the hospital for a physical examination. Once that is done, the baby is handed over to an agency.

Task done, everyone can breathe in relief!

In the last six months, they have save four babies. Even greater sense of pride is that in this era of female infanticide, only the fourth one was a female.

I just hope this project continues, rather than get vandalized by unsocial elements. After all, the baby baskets are unattended facilities, with technology in them.