The FTA with the US has been incredibly controversial in Korea.  In June 2008, massive protests rocked South Korea as people took to the streets protesting the President's decision to resume imports of US beef among fears of mad cow disease and the protests forced the government to re-organize and rethink its approach to dealing with Washington.  However, in December 2008, when lawmakers in South Korea planned behind-closed-doors discussions about the

As you can see EFCA is an anti-poverty initiative which is often the root of child labor.  Without legislation like EFCA, we will continue to live in a world where the employers have such power over the lives of workers, where workers become simple pawns in a game of chess.

I applaud the Child Labor Coalition and the many other organizations for showing their support for EFCA and explaining how this isn’t just about unions but is about giving families and workers the ability to determine their own fate rather than it left up to the big bosses.

USLEAP’s Program Coordinator, Lupita Aguila participated in the protest outside, while Stephen Coats, the Director of USLEAP, and I attended the event inside. In a small ballroom within a downtown hotel, we were served fresh fruit, muffins and beverages, along with an elaborate butter molding for our croissants. I opened the Program booklet and immediately noticed the Monsanto logo at the top of the page, the sponsorship of the event, which highlighted the business perspective of the audience and the corporate atmosphere. I prepared myself.

With the end of New York Fashion week and the beginning of London Fashion Week, clothes are definitely on everyone’s mind and ethical clothing is hopefully next on the list. The Shop with a Conscience Guide produced annually by the International Labor Rights Forum and SweatFree Communities helps you be an ethical consumer with suggestions for a variety of clothing stores that sell goods that are made in worker-friendly environments.