h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dowloaded a really interesting report from nosweat.org.uk yesterday. It deals with the aftermath of the Fair Play at the Olympics campaign, highlighting human rights violations and poor treatment of workers in the sportswear industry. I've campaigned for No Sweat for a while, but this report is really interesting. Smaller firms like Puma, Fila and Umbro are highlighted for their shocking practices and workforce mistreatment, whilst the big guys like Nike and Adidas are well known for being arseholes and are - I am pleased to report - sorting themselves out to some extent.

Why is it that in the 21st century, we in the rich MEDCs are such bastards to our fellow human beings? Why does coroporate profit outweigh the rights of the individual to such an extent? Can anyone justify to me the fact that we turn a blind eye to the goings-on in sweatshops so we can buy trainers?

I would love for big name sports stars to tell the manufacturers where to stick their endorsements until they sort out their workforce management issues and actually start acting like members of the human race. Probably won't happen, but it's a nice dream...

If anyone reads this, please visit nosweat.org.uk and get stuck in. And just think about who made your new trainers. Could be someone the same age as your kids. Or grandkids.