I don’t often write about issues regarding the labor aspect of products…not because it is not important, but because it is so difficult to get information on labor practices that all I can do is indicate those products that make a point to note their fair trade practices.

A reader sent me this list of websites regarding child and aduly slave labor that I want to share with you. Slave labor violates basic human rights. We should all be aware of this issue and do what we can to stop it.

According to the Fisek Institute Science & Actions Foundation for Child Labor:

There are 1,5 billion children living in the world who are in the age range of 5-17 according to the offiicial numbers. Among them 317 million are engagaed in economic activity while 217 million are considered as child workers. 126 million child workers fall in the category of “Hazardous Labour” and 8 million children fall in the category of “Worst Forms of Child Labour” which means they act in prostitution, sell drugs, become a part of crime rings, involve in armed conflict, perform in pornography and get trafficked.

Map of distribution of child slave labor worldwide

Many of the websites on Debra’s List make a point to know the labor practices of their products and choose products that are “fair-traded”. By choosing to purchase these products, we support fair pay and good working conditions.

Look for this symbol on Debra’s List to find fair-trade products.

These websites more than adequately describe the problem…

The Global Exchange
http://www.globalexchange.org
Dedicated to promoting environmental, political, and social justice around the world.

SWEATSHOPWATCH.org
http://www.sweatshopwatch.org
A coalition of labor, community, civil rights, immigrant rights, women’s, religious & student organizations, and individuals committed to eliminating sweatshop conditions in the global garment industry.

Campaign for Labor Rights
http://campaignforlaborrights.org
Works to inform and mobilize grassroots activists in solidarity with major, international anti-sweatshop struggles. Has been called the “grassroots mobilizing department” of the anti-sweatshop movement. Its campaigns and strategy are designed in solidarity and collaboration with workers struggling to gain the right to organize, the right to earn a living wage in a clean, safe work environment, and the right to bargain collectively with their bosses.

National Consumers League
http://www.natlconsumersleague.org
Mission is to identify, protect, represent, and advance the economic and social interests of consumers and workers. Provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer’s perspective on concerns including child labor, privacy, food safety, and medication information.

Maquila Solidarity Network
http://www.maquilasolidarity.org
A Canadian network promoting solidarity with groups in Mexico, Central America, and Asia organizing to improve conditions and win a living wage.

Anti- Slavery International

The world’s oldest international human rights organization, founded in 1839. They work at local, national and international levels to eliminate the system of slavery around the world.

iAbolish
http://iabolish.com
A project of the American Anti-Slavery Group (AASG), a grassroots organization founded to combat slavery around the world.

Clean Clothes Campaign
http://www.cleanclothes.org
Aims to improve working conditions in the worldwide garment industry by organizing, in each country, coalitions of consumer organizations, trade unions, human rights and women rights organizations, researchers, solidarity groups and activists. Gives details of labor violations of major companies.

The National Labor Committee
http://www.nlcnet.org
A human rights advocacy group, dedicated to promoting and defending the rights of workers. Educates and actively involves the public in actions aimed at ending labor abuses, improving living conditions for workers and their families and promoting the concept of a living wage and true independent monitoring.

Global March Against Child Labor
http://www.globalmarch.org
Website has info about current status of child labour, including slavery, trafficking, child prostitution / pornography, children used in crime, child soldiers, & child servants. Gives insight to key issues regarding the world’s neglected children.

Stolen Dreams – Photos of Child Labor

Photographs that raise questions concerning child slave labor.

Educate the Children
http://www.etc-nepal.org
Conducts educational and community development projects in Nepal which promote self-help and local initiative.

US Labor Education in the Americas Project
http://www.usleap.org
A non-profit organization that’s upports economic justice and basic rights for workers in Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico. Focuses especially on the struggles of those workers who are employed directly or indirectly by U.S. companies.

Child Labor Awareness
http://childlabor.typepad.com
Blog dedicated to the sole purpose of preventing child labor in the 21st Century, which collects the latest news and information on the subject.

Co-Op American Sweatshops
http://www.coopamerica.org
Urges consumers to buy goods from companies that do not use slave labor. Offers practical tips and resources to end sweatshops and promote Fair Trade. Can search on database of green businesses for fair trade.

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Question from marilee

Hello, we are in the middle of a complete kitchen remodel and we are having our cabinets built for us. On your blogs I have read about the Particleboard, wood, etc. but what I want to know is, in having my cabinets built what ELSE can I do to have them be healthier? Is there a specific glue that I should have them use? We will be having them painted white, is there a specific type of paint that we should use?

Thanks so much Debra for all that you do. I just bought your revised book and I’m going to buy one for everybody I know for Christmas!!!

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

I had custom cabinets built for my kitchen in California. Basically all I asked for was solid wood (in my case, knotty pine), water-based wood glue, and a nontoxic water-based finish. And they came out perfectly.

Also, be sure to read Q&A: Kitchen Cabinets and see Debra’s List: Interior Decorating: Cabinets for leads on places that sell safe cabinets. They can probably give you more information.

Readers, if you have any other suggestions from your experiences with having cabinets built, please post.

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Question from Jonathan

We just bought a new electric range/oven and were surprised to see that the fiberglass insulation in the back of the unit is not covered where the lightbulb enters the inside of the oven. Is this a hazard? I actually started to pull on the fiberglass, as it looked like packing material to keep the bulb from breaking in transit. Wasn’t pleased when I realized what I was handling, and worried that our new stove might put the fiberglass in our cooking.

Debra’s Answer

This doesn’t sound right to me. I’m not sure that the fiberglass would break down and get into the food if it isn’t disturbed, but it sounds like a manufacturing defect or poor design. I would probably return the stove and get a different model.

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Question from Carina

Debra, the link below is a video regarding Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey Smith. It is chock full of information about the real reasons why GMO is so bad for you and the FDA cover up.

Carina

Mercola.com: The Real Reasons You Want to Avoid Genetically Modified Foods

Debra’s Answer

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Question from Donna

Hi Debra and everyone!

Just going to throw this out there:

A very close friend of mine, 1.5 yr old, teething terrible, but also stubborn willed, nothing working, homeopathic cammomillia, nothing. Of all you “natural remedy” mothers, does anyone have any full proof teeting remedies that might be helpful? So much appreciated. Waking in the middle of the night, not good!. Thanks

Donna

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from l. Kasisky

I am looking for the product that can remove odors. I think it is in the form of rocks and they can be washed. The name has left my memory. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, anyone know what this is?

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Question from Mary

I just had my couch and two chairs reupholstered and now my husband can’t sit in the room because he has an allergy to most new fabrics. When I bring home fabrics to sew something I always wash it before using it but I don’t know how I could have washed 15 to 20 yards of upholstery fabic. I have sprayed with “alergy reducer” Febreze but it isn’t enough. Is there something I can clean steam the furniture with that might help get out whatever is off gasing? We have put it outside to air out for 4 days so far. Would love some suggestions.

Debra’s Answer

Yes, you can wash that amount of fabric. I have reupholstered my wing chair twice and my 6-foot sofa once and I have always washed the fabric first before giving it to the upholsterer.

Febreze “allergy reducer” is for pollen, etc, not the chemicals that your husband is reacting to. Please stop using that, as the chemicals in Febreze are probably making it worse for him.

Airing is a good idea.

Steam cleaning could help. Steam cleaners are sold everywhere small appliances are sold.

Readers, what do you suggest?

It’s really really really important to wash the fabric first.

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Question from Susan H.

Is there a way to remove pthalates from water that has been in plastic bottles?

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Pthalates are a plastic, so they would probably be removed by carbon.

Now this might be a good use for a canister-type carbon filter if you changed the filter media frequently, but they are all plastic, too.

Realistically, you probably can’t remove it. Is it better not to drink pthalates? Yes. But in our modern world, it’s not possible to be 100% nontoxic. It is possible to reduce our toxic exposure significantly enough to improve the health of our bodies.

I would put this way down at the bottom of the list of concerns and focus on eliminating toxic exposures that are more harmly and more easily removed. Then your body will be able to process what chemicals it is exposed to more effectively.

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Question from Laura

Northern Naturals carries moderately priced futons of cotton and Airlay foam. Are you familiar with this? I wonder whether it is greenwashing or an acceptable natural product.

Debra’s Answer

The Northern Naturals website says:

This explanation is somewhat confusing (I didn’t call them, I’m going on what they say on their website). They say this airlay-foam is made from cotton and poly fiber (I’m assuming that’s polyester), bonded together by heat. Hmmmm…foam is made by e-x-p-a-n-d-i-n-g a substance and adding a lot of air holes, not by bonding it together. So this explanation of what this airlay-foam is doesn’t make sense to me at all.

There are a number of futon makers who make their futons more affordable by using various foams (usually polyurethane) in the core and then wrapping it with natural cotton or wool.

I would choose another option.

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Question from b.b.

i have a tile floor in the bathroom and living room, and I dont want to use vinegar to clean it with.

what alternatives do you recommend i use instead and why?

Debra’s Answer

We just use hot water to clean our tile floor in the bathroom, or a little baking soda if we need to scrub, and a little soap if there is something greasy, which is not often.

Readers, what do you use?

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