Sunday 30 November 2014

168 million child laborers globally

According to the International Labor Office, there are about 168 million child laborers globally, which accounts for approximately one in 10 of the world’s children. Albeit a one-third reduction since 2000, the problem remains acute. An estimated 13 million children work in India alone, despite laws prohibiting child labor and mandating school attendance.  About four percent of child laborers are in forced or bonded labor, prostitution, or fighting in armed conflict. The remainder of the world’s child laborers work in family businesses or on family farms, where they often toil as much as 27 hours per week and are, like the child tobacco laborers, exposed to a variety of dangerous chemicals and pesticides.

Source: http://www.counterpunch.org

Paulo Henrique Felix da Silveira, aged 9, collects recyclable materials by wading into the Arruda Canal near the Saramandaia slum in Recife, Brazil. According to a 2010 census, 3.6% of the 20,166 people who collect items for recycling in Pernambuco State were aged 10-17 - Reuters

Rustam,10, works at an aluminium factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where about 25 children were employed, 
many of them working for 12 hours a day - Reuters
Source of photographs: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk



Saturday 22 November 2014

Sunday 9 November 2014

Playing a musical instrument could help protect against mental decline


Playing a musical instrument could help protect against mental decline through age or illness, according to a new study.
'The research suggests that musical activity could be used as an effective intervention to slow, stop or even reverse age or illness-related decline in mental functioning.'

The study, published in the journal Neuropsychologia, builds on previous work showing the benefits of musical activity on mental and physical well-being.

Please read: Playing-musical-instrument-sharpen-thoughts--help-ward-depression-dementia
Mmm...better put my 32 year old piano to better use.....


Sunday 2 November 2014