From: peaceout (peaceout@gwu.edu)
Date: Mon Mar 25 2002 - 22:57:25 EST
Check out the rockin anti-sweatshop work being done in high schools!
I'm extra happy because this was my high school :)
peace,
Allie
GWU
-----Original Message-----
From: Mankeybean@aol.com [mailto:Mankeybean@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 10:35 PM
To: high_school_sas@yahoogroups.com; marthas@labor-religion.org;
peaceout@gwu.edu
Subject: letter to the editor
This is a letter I wrote for my school's newspaper. I am from Stony Brook,
New York and a senior in high school. Just thought people would be
interested to know the progress that we have made recently.
-Amie
****************************************************************************
**********************
An Open Letter to the Editor,
The Ward Melville High School Human Rights Task Force would like to
announce that the Three Village Central School District Board of Education
passed an anti-sweatshop resolution on March 12, 2002. The resolution
states that the district may not purchase clothing that was produced under
working conditions that violate the basic human rights of the workers.
In sweatshops, unions are not allowed. Workers have little or no
rights. They are slaves who are paid minuscule salaries that barely feed,
clothe, or house the workers and their families. Often times factory
management abuses the workers by chaining them to their work-stations,
locking them in the factories, forcing them to work over twelve hours a day
seven days a week, or providing an extremely unsafe working environment.
Through a petition, parents, teachers, students, and local churches,
synagogues and businesses have all stated that they do not wish that their
goods come from these conditions.
During the past three years, a campaign has been waged in Three Village.
It has been a campaign against the use of sweatshop-produced materials.
After many defeats, this current victory in the battle is a much-appreciated
triumph. Unfortunately, the fight is not over. Although Three Village will
now not purchase sweatshop made clothing, merchandise such as computers and
school supplies are still not being made in safe settings. This is due to a
technicality in New York State law. The people of Three Village Central
School District must write to their senators, legislators, and other New
York State government officials to see that this is changed. Until this
happens, Three Village's quest to end the buying of sweatshop made materials
in our district will not be complete.
If anyone has any questions on how they can become more involved with
the anti-sweatshop campaign please feel free to call the WMHS Student
Volunteer Center at (631) 474-7722 between the hours of 10:30 PM and 3:00
PM.
Sincerely,
Amie Baracks
Executive Student Director
WMHS Student Volunteer Center
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