Food for thought: child labour

The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their right to education and their dignity, and that is harmful to their physical and mental development. 

It refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children. It usually interferes with their schooling either because they can't attend school or because because it obliges them to leave it prematurely.

In some parts of the world, kids are made to work really long hours in awful conditions. In its most extreme forms, children are enslaved, separated from their families, exposed to serious risks and illnesses and/or left alone and unprotected on the streets of large cities – often at a very early age. 

Sometimes these children are illegally used for working in unhealthy sweatshops, making leather goods, clothes and shoes that are later shipped to all parts of the world. You can probably find them in almost every shop in your own town. So...

Do you think about child labour at all when you buy brands? Do you wonder about the hands that have made the clothes you are wearing? And do you think we get enough information about it? Think about it the next time you go shopping.

In this video, you can see the enormous contrast between what life is like for children from different parts of this utterly unfair world. You can read the lyrics of the song by Radiohead below.

Radiohead: All I Need

I'm the next step

Waiting in the wings

I'm an animal

Trapped in your hot car

I am all the days

That you choose to ignore

You are all I need

Youre all I need

I'm in the middle of your picture

Lying in the reeds

I am a moth

Who just wants to share your light

I'm just an insect

Trying to get out of the night

I only stick with you

Because there are no others

You are all I need

Youre all I need

I'm in the middle of your picture

Lying in the reeds

It's all wrong, it's all right

It's all wrong, it's all right

It's all wrong, it's all right

It's all wrong, it's all right

It's all, it's all

Read more: Radiohead - All I Need Lyrics | MetroLyrics