<p>[Hope</a> for Vietnam’s children of the dump – The CNN Freedom Project: Ending Modern-Day Slavery - CNN.com Blogs](<a href=“http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/13/hope-for-vietnams-children-of-the-dump/?hpt=hp_c1]Hope”>http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/13/hope-for-vietnams-children-of-the-dump/?hpt=hp_c1)</p>
<p>I read stuff like this and feel so frustrated by the world’s priorities. I once read a story about women in Haiti who make “cookies” with dirt and garbage as food for their children, and it depressed me for weeks. We give lots of money to charity (even our Christmas gifts are charity-related) but I feel like it’s spitting into the wind.</p>
<p>Currently there is a law on the ballots in Missouri to do away with all child labor laws re to work for children under 14. The unions are fighting it.</p>
<p>This was an interesting article
[Child</a> Labor for Victoria?s Secret Cotton Examined by U.S. - Bloomberg](<a href=“Bloomberg - Are you a robot?”>Bloomberg - Are you a robot?)</p>
<p>There is also a pictorial version that makes it more interesting - it is a different link.</p>
<p>Greenbutton - I understand your frustration. For this reason, we like to sponsor a child (which you can do with organizations like World Vision and Compassion). I know that my money is making a difference for one child. </p>
<p>I can’t solve world poverty, but I can make a difference in the life of one person and I can have some contentment in that.</p>
<p>Having travelled to many poor areas of the world, I have the following observations on how standard of livings can be improved by making strides in these areas:</p>
<ul>
<li>Education: literacy & hygiene</li>
<li>Lower birth rate</li>
<li>Innoculations</li>
<li>Improved rights for women (unfortunately this is often cultural)</li>
</ul>