MNHQ Have you seen this yet? Can we discuss this blog here?

[MmeBodyInTheBasement]

A challenge to Mumsnet

Currently being retweeted (passed around) on Twitter.

She raises interesting points (and tells some horrifying tales).

Is this something that we would like to get involved in, and is it likely that we could actually do something?

It is not something that I have looked into but am willing to get involved.

Me too.

And me.

And WTF about the comment from "Nik"? FFS.

you can get involved..

stop buying cheap clothes.

..this article only refers to those in the factories, what about those who pick the cotton, who have poor land and food due to the pesticide etc etc,

...stop going to primark, new look, and buying disposable clothes

I have a bit of a babyGap habit (good sales) but yes, I will stop. That is a terrible story.

I don't think I really buy from the other places mentioned.

I note that Earwicga is there being outraged that the mumsnet campaign doesn't focus on boys as well.

I already don't go to Primark, have no Gap here anyway, avoid asda as much as possible etc- but stop buying cheap clothes? When I have a carer's income? Get real. I buy as ethically as I can (almost always second hand) within my field of possibilities.

Generally however I posted my thought on that blog.

I think the problem with the blog is that like many places in the meejah, it sees Mumsnet as one "voice". Marks and Spencer are involved with the Let Girls Be Girls campaign, but lots of us are boycotting them because of their involvement with Hooters.

I just feel soemtimes that MN can do no good whatever they do. Some people will always think of us as wishy washy middle class boden yummy mummy's and never be happy with the campaigns that MN backs/starts.
She didn't mention the site's Nestle boycott did she? Or the many advertisers that MNHQ won't sell space to (and which would earn them a lot if they did)

Some people are never happy. Yes it is a fantastic campaign, and why I am careful about where we buy our clothes, but, as a quote said, it's not as if we have to be 'all or nothing'

Eve
I don't call GAP cheap. Do you?

I never buy from Primart, rarely from Asda. Or Next.

I was not aware of the issues with GAP, but have rarely bought from them anyway.

she raises a valid point.

however as in all "campaigns" you must focus on one issue and combat that.

There a thousands of issues around teh world that make the "let girls be girls" campaign seem utterly superficial.

It is a bit like condemning charities that work to educate children in developing countries. arguing that before you worry about education you should concentrate on food and water, decent health and social care, fighting disease and preventable illness.

all are worthwhile causes, but you can only pick one fight at a time.

It grates on me that some can refer to primark etc, as 'disposable clothes'. To me, they're clothes.

There's no contradiction as far as I can see.
You have to focus on something, it's pointless & silly to criticize, say, a cardiac surgeon for not caring enough about the plight of those with brain injuries.

[wails] I'd heard a couple of years ago that Gap had cleaned up their act after their dodgy child labour practices had been exposed back in the 90s! We've been buying stuff there ever since

where the fuck should we shop then? I've already dumped Primark H&M Next and all the supermarkets

SHJ, tbh if I thought too hard about it we wouldn't be able to wear anything, I just try not to buy clothes we don't 'need'.
Uniforms have to come from a supermarket, I can't afford anywhere else, it's a frigging minefield tbh.

No where is or can be 100% ethical that way. Except handmade bespoke clothing that costs ££££££££££.

There is an annual survey that looks at the child labour issues of leading high street retailers. Can't remember what it is called but it was linked on here on another thread a couple of months ago. Gap were okay although M&S were not. Can't remember more details but it made for surprising reading.

Last time I looked in depth (nd it wa svery as was an ethics asignment) Gap were on the up, and I was told Primark are too.

It changes; it's hard to keep up and it varies on where you put your focus- so many different issues in the mix.

I agree Gigantor. We cannot solve everything at once. But would this be a future campaign for MN?

It makes me angry. Bad enough that places like Primark used child labor (and I can understand that people buy there because not everyone can afford Boden) but when expensive retailers like GAP produce clothes in this way simply to maximize profits, it is so unethical.

Not saying that primark are excused, but they have a reason that they have to offer cheap clothes. Their market demands it.

I think it would be a very worthwhile campaign for mn

I really hate the idea of my kids wearing clothes/playing with toys that have been made by child labour

I would entirely back this campaign.

Thanks yes we've seen it - do continue to let us know your thoughts as you know we tend to take our cues from you as to what we campaign on, though we are conscious that to be effective we can't run too many campaigns at once.

"you can get involved..

stop buying cheap clothes.
"

if only it were that simple, it's not just the cheap clothes retailers where this stuff happens. And last time I checked Gap definitely asn't something I thought of as cheap when my DS's needed a complete new wardrobe of clothes after growth spurt

MollieO - I remember that thread - I think I posted a link to one that showed some big suprises.

We also have to be careful as to what we class "child labour" - and make sure we're targeting companies that flout the UNICEF guidelines on child labour - for instance for 12-14yr old's 14 hours of economic work.

We should also be focussing not only on stopping companies forcing children to work longer hours than UNICEF class as acceptable but in improving conditions for those that are already opertain within the guidelines.

The strongest point that blog had was that the MN campaign has issued in a list of retailers being promoted by MN as ones that have the accreditation/approval of the MN usership, and it is very uncomfortable being in the position of validating a retailer who has done nothing other than take a PR decision to sign up to a campaign -- and who might still go ahead and support Hooters, or stock dodgy products, not to mention exploiting children in developing countries, with no real risk of losing that validation.

what is the thread someone talked about as being hateful to transgender children?

and actually the issue highlighted in the blog posts doesn't relate to child labour and mistreatment - it relates to the general shite working conditions in many of the factories, which I suspect probably goes on even in the factories that rate highly on the child labour rules........