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3/1/1996 - Child Labor: Shades of Gray by Pramila Jayapal

Child Labor Shades Gray VARANASl U P India March By PramilaJayapal In India present Sometimes intrudes firecracker thathasjustexplodedin frontofyou andothertimes likea quiet thiefwhohas stolen house Issues seemed black white suddenly onhues ofgray Child labor isjust suchanissue Everywhere India children working looking after shops provision stalls rowing boats Ganges cleaning houses serving working fields their parents What doesn equally striking childrenworking glass making factories weaving carpets rolling beedis cigarettes The staggering percent Indian children tween Since being India I Western standards often incorrectly imposed onanIndiancontext whilethehumantendencyistotryto fitallissuesinto existing notions right wrong there little recogni thatourdefinitionsofthesetermsareshapedbycultureand society In thiscon I began reconsider original adamant views child labor wrong itwasanissuethathadno other Thisexercisewasmostlyon anintellectualleveluntiltheissueofchildlaborburstintomyownlifelikea cracker I realized start process truly understanding issues onlywhenthey enterourownreality Meera Ritu We recently moved house middle class neighborhood Our neighbor Dr Garg retired professor Benaras Hindu Univer spent teaching America several children currently livinginthe States Weaskedhim ifheknewofanyonewhocouldhelpusclean thehouseandwashclothes Yes Iwillbringthem hesaid True knocked later Behind stand shyly Meera Kitu They perched their haunches Meera taller about lmond shaped Ritu inches shorter rounder fairer Both girls sindhool vermilion streakon center indicates marriedwoman I brought girls Dr Garg Meera sweet Meera Ritu smiled averting their My husband I silently several moments How I MyronWeiner TheChildand theStateinIndia Delhi OxfordUniversityPress Based study Operations Research Group which estimated million children group labor force This study looked childrenwhowereworkingfull eitherpaidorunpaid Thestudywasundertakenin effort accurate reported government study which showedonly million childrenunder labor force Ritu andMeera asked girls They looked other surprise Bhabi Although still surprising uncommon people their I guessed Ritu about Meera about although Ritu Meera therefore senior They children I Dr Garg waswatching curiously Yes already married They nodding emphasis That point They young Isn tthischildlabor Iasked turningtoDr Garg His puzzled changed smile Forget Amer This India These girls They Meera Ritu nodded eagerly Yes Bhabi We married already We worknow Here their reality Meera oldest seven children Her father brings Rs month US which family Ritu mother Meera working seven years brings almost father working three different house holds MeeraandRituaretypicalofmany girlchildren Uttar Pradesh State U P promised marriage sometimes earlier They their husband night their first wedding denoted sindhoor After their families until reach puberty years later During interim period alter spending three months husband three months their house Marriage confersanironicstatustoa shehasgrownup nowmust onmore responsibilities whether house mother Work these responsibilities The hiring childrenthrew tumultuous discussions about ethics morality reality Al though against hiring seemed compatible notions right wrong We belong category biting words child labor ctivist Neera Burra cially minded people salve their conscience employing children ostensibly vation social service On NeeraBurra PayLess GetMoreWork HindustanTimesSundayMagazine January PJ other hiring Meera Ritu spite undeniable harsh realities their lives danger ously close inappropriately applying external dardstolocalissues Wealsoknewthat ifwedidnot Meera Ritu would elsewhere possibly someone workedthem We agonized decision trying something would acceptable sense ethics One first attempts decision hireMeeraandRitu ifwecouldpayforthemtoattend school hours Dr Garg laughed wetoldhim They butyou He right refused I I Meera I would older other children And I I I younger brothers sisters Mymotherhastostaywiththem Ihavetobringhome money She resolute I izedhownaive Ihadbeen We changed minds several times between intellectually informed sionwehadmadeoverdinnernot tocompromiseour ethics realities consequences decision would these girls lives When thought final decision perpetuate system child labor I called Meera front explainwhy We other distant earth understanding words being uttered I could sentences wisps floated front butterflies fluttered before could caught She puzzled How I We ItriedtoexplaintoMeeraaboutwhychil should going school working I there other countries illegal children occupation She listened couldn comprehend As talked about family I found myself again questioning whether right hungry while patted ourselves theback perpetuating child labor I after conversation cried My tears Ritu Meera their situation Tara andheryoungestbaby RituandMeeraintheback andfourofMeera sbrothersandsisters myinability answer shades graythatwerecloudingmypreviously clearpicture right wrong They young poornot IfMeeraandRitu notwork rights would They school tobuybooks uniforms Moreimportantly their familycannot sparethemfrom earningasalary In recent visit their house I spoke Tara Meera mother Ritu older sister Herself Tara seven children youngest still Tara knows little about family planning wants operation doesn tknowwhere hardly teach girls about She Meera Rajiv years younger school forsome years Bothhadto leave years Meera because needed children Rajiv because enoughmoneyto school about Rs Asbreadwinners family Meeraand Ritu havemore chance seeing doctornow because cannot cannot cannot money family In ironic there incentive family keepthemingoodhealth Finally there istheirrightto treated dignity respect I learned hroughmytime thatawoman sbiggest liabi unproductive Sons after family What daughters Arguably Meera Ritu respect their families contributing their earnings assuming vital income generators In moment tears spent clear husband I decided would They coming forsixweeks We stilldonotknowifwearedoingthe right thing What hiring Meera Ritu change their lives Contrary Burra words seemed would hiring which would serve salve conscience allowing principles contributing child labor With alternative Meera Ritu seemed punishthemwith morals What choices Meera Ritu What about Tara husband Howare survive Most importantly their children other alternatives vided Society placed limits around otherpoor people condemningthe parents sending children workand children working offers alternative change their realities It curred tomeonce again separates cessity choiceyawns On individual micro level stand girls However macro level I clearly vicious circle tinue generation Meera Ritu provided opportunities incentives learn improve their lives something better their children Being faced Meera Ritu choices given invaluable context within which appreciate complexity broader child labor India The Child LaborDebate India Approximately million Indian children between I certain industries carpet weaving percent labor force estimated children These children working sometimes percent wages adults similar often subjected hours oppressive working conditions addition being denied access education In decade hasbeen given these realities largelyby interna tional human rights organizations advocates Swami Agnivesh Kailash Satyarti writers Neera Burra andMyronWeiner Against mainstream position vacillates between denial rationaliza these advocates trying expose cruel hardships unjust social economic system hasbecome thoroughly institutionalized The Indian government efforts address child labor amounted little tokenism It three years Indian govern ratify Rights ofthe Child Convention countries According Agnivesh This shows clearly reluctant accede international pressure which forcedustodo 5Agniveshbelievesthattheratifica Convention merely window dress It certainly A recent collo quium child labor opened statement Union Minister Information Broadcasting genuine efforts prevent exploitation promote their being importance given family values spicuously staying calls specific action child labor Why government large numbers generalpublic onchildlabor Whyhaschild emerged human rights issue opposed social economic Is compulsory education Weiner NeeraBurra BorntoWork ChildLabourinIndia Delhi OxfordUniversityPress RatificationofConventionMereWindow Dressing AninterviewwithSwamiAgniveshasreported inMainstream Oct HighlightChildRights MediaTold TheHindu Feb PJ Alittle sells vegetables appropriate alternative child labor Indian andif On surface ethical dimensions child labor their associated answers obvious Given Utopian conditions children would working They would enjoying their childhoods playing school eating nourishing preparing their bodies minds fulfilling career But Utopia children As social issues India dimensions issue complex Ethics morality become clouded sediment poverty unemployment while concepts rights juxta posed against those responsibilities The position activists advocating complete child labor employers should prohibited employing child labor parents matter should required their children school until specified The legislation exists largely regulatory rather prohibitory On level advocates immediate unconditional child labor transition Utopian ideal practical realities In children families Nor differentiate between labor exploitative labor ceptable On another level unless these advocates Asmall looks after provision Youngboysareoftenseenrowingboats Thisone isjustgettingpaidforhiswork bythecustomers scream extreme stands certain issuewould receive attention itdoesnow However majority Indian policy makers large number social activists sweepingbans child labor appropriate India Some these people interest economic social keeping child labor alive thers genuinely believe child labor worsen situation these children their families The first category people argues children being taught skills would tradi tional education Carpet weavers example carpet weaving skill passed father child though recent studies children hands small knots required carpets This group often argues though openly should tinker existing social order toomuchorwemayinvite chaos The second group individuals believes slightly different vantage point child Weiner PJ would children question What alternatives child family For group subscribes Father George director Madras School Social Work believes until chronic poverty families forced their children relieved parents enoughincome support their family child labor necessary Furthermore these individuals argue banning child labor backed enforcement seeming impossibility rently They question whether recommendation making primary education compulsory often looked policy toolby which child labor eradi cated education exists today asset children With highunemployment rates college graduates group increasingly vinced education panacea poverty Both groups agree although group interest other child labor developed countries cannot applied Indian context This complex underlying resistance prohibit child labor evident interview I MasterWeaver Owners ofLooms Contractors ofWork M A Ansariis amodern MasterWeaver weaving industry He comes Muslim Ansari community which accounts percent weavers carpet industries The Master Weavers generally owners looms contractors They orders either contract orders various individual weavers orproducethemontheirownlooms Mr Ansariis yearoldPh D candidate aleadinguniversityinBena actively involved Congress Party dreams Prime Minister Cen Planning Committee He generation owner looms owning three power looms operated bothby children adults Heis quickto differentiatebetweenthe kinds workerswhoworkin sariindustry children MasterWeaverswhoarebeingpassedona skilland being treated those carpet industry migrants Bihar other neighboring placeswho exploited butmostofhisviewsarea toned version carpet business owners International human rights people developed countries thatwe child labor An This developed countries where people areeducatedandtheyhave familyplanningpro grams Herein India wedon thave things People think children terms economics earnings Morechildrenmeansmorepeopletowork Ansari colleagues believe Indian carpets certain countries child labor certifiedcarpetsis allpartofanin ternational conspiracy Developed countries developing countries through their loans subsidy programs Because I about economics I understand these things This allpart ofthemtryingtobringusdown However Ansari unlike others flank about motivation hiring children Heopenly mittedthat theincentive forhiringchildrenispurely onomic It adults cannot It children cheaper According children about Rs month versus adult weaver about Rs month Practically Ansari continued first whetherwe drink Whatwill families cannot They their children Whatabouteducation Iaskedhim Doeshethink education should compulsory He immedi ately politically correct answer Of course education Then paused tiously qualified answer Butwhat willwe dowRh educated people Wehave fraction population literate already crores lions ofpeopleareunemployed Whatwillwedo ifall these other people educated If child labor eliminated perhapsmore adults unemployment I suggested Helaughed No itisnotpossible Wewill adults because prices saris carpets competitive Ifwe aregoingtostop childlaborherein India Pakistan Burma Bhutan other carpet manufacturing countries Otherwise wewill notbe competitive He leaned forward forth ultimate Wemust accept God given Iwas confused What God I asked Godhasmade itsothatsomemustworkandsome mustbeeducated ItisGod sgiftifyouarebornintoa family children towork Wemustaccept Educationisforsome labor others You force education people It natural thing He leaned warmingto histheme toldmea story about senger God God everyone equal Godcomplies chaos ensues The ofone house breaks former repairer equal The repairer snubshim Myrooftoohas collapsed Why fixmine Ansari launched another rapid speech about equalitynotbeingpossible That iswhysocialismhas collapsed these countries The social structuremust remain India Compulsory Education Nonpolicy Inmanyother countries compulsoryprimary educa policy implement child labor legislation Whyhas India The existing National Constitution enabling legis lation other words state wishes education compulsory quiring legislation Although majority states compulsory education legislation legislation quiterecentforseveraland isyettobeenforced Uttar Pradesh The central government education compulsory states enforcement ority Is there underlying reason India politics ofdoingnothing asWeinertermsit Ansari willing voice underlying belief proper people class specific karma tampering beyond society state This attitude could explain reluctance those power change system provides benefits preserves incentives keeping cationaway masses Institute Current World Affairs Outlays education India Central Government State Governments As result total amount spent education varies widely state state depends vidual state commitment education The Central Government itself hardly shining example states developing country world spends lower percentage central government expenditures education India Pakistan India spends percent total central governmen penditures education versus Pakistan percent In addition disproportionate percentage India already small education budget spent university education elite This proportion actually creased percent percent while spending primary education decreased percent percent years Inter estingly declinecame spite ofcallsmadebythe KothariCommission 1960s versalliteracyby Althoughtherewasasmall crease spending primary education 1960s early 1970s never reached anything close original percent proportion first years afterIndependence Most distressing seeming conclusion Indian government literacy masses longer realistic necessary Unable reach goals Kothari Commission 1960s National Policy Education instead question universal education itself In spite ofacknowledging number illiterates India would million would hinder development century NEP document recommended government after careful consideration decide whether removal illiteracy essential precon dition meaningful participation masses process political decision making national reconstruction India The World Development Report cites strong traditions caste social structure India inequalitiesbetween ethnicand social groups Every seventh person India about percent world population member scheduled caste These lowestcaste individuals areborn ilies whose traditional occupations scavenging leather working agriculture yield little education skill acquisition Tradition dictate these families could change their occupations This extreme labor market inflexi bility provided incentives members lower castes educate themselves Both state individuals seemingly system oppression keeping certain groups gaining educationand progressing The ideas rying dharma having certain determined actions karma strong Indian society People stories Ansari orquote texts Bhagavad Gita where Lord Krishna tells Arjuna there nothing worse performing dharma Ansari comments about accepting God showhowideasofsocialhierarchycanlead thyorevenresistancetochangingthat social structure Practical Implications Even social cultural barriers cation removed serious resource enforce considerations would remain beyond question First educat compete every other social issue share available resources Public schools which accessible rural habitants India suffer disrepair tention commitment For compulsory education successful schools would overhauled built teachers would trained educational materials available All wouldtakemoney lotsofit Accordingtosomeesti mates compulsory education existence budgetary requirements would Rs billion amount several times greater educationbudget Second primary public education Several individuals cheap through university education getting through maryeducationthat difficultintermsofcosts Many village women between Rs Rs annually child minimum uniforms books other school supplies small fortune family whose annual earnings anywherebetween Rs Third education compul soryand howwouldpoorfamiliesreplace their children income Unless there accompanying economic incentives subsidies families economically viable parents their children school parents would encourage leave school children would match responsibility As percent school Class while percent Class There little certainly nothing welfare system U S other countries A Child Labour The Twice Exploited points If choice 1995WorldDevelopmentReport WorldBank Washington D C Weiner Weiner WDR Weiner Tilak PJ child isbetweenschoolattendan ceandstarvation working children intotheschools becomesanemptyslogan Fourth there issue enforcement If educa compulsory would enforce Cur rently Government enforcement officials state machinery machinery oiled things difficult people The dearth officers combined often disinterest enforcing unless there makes unlikely being implementers compulsory educa policy Even existing child labor legislation enforcement proving problem The fines exist foremployerswho arecaughtdonothelptheyaver ageamereRs percrime Finally there critical question education worth A dialogue about address cultural resource implementation issues compulsory education eliminating child labor predi cated assum ption primary education worthwhile This means uncon tested There pervasive feeling education provided public school system flawed largely irrelevant masses urban children following family trade rural agricultural society Many traditional education system ienates children provides certain alternative The disillusionment education system becomes greater unemployment rates college graduates Examples Kerala where child labor essentially eliminated literacy unemployment rates suicides serve It eminently clear answer child labor farmore complexthanjust legislatingcompulsory cation Traditional ideas social hierarchy conse quent implications acceptance education masses those power economic disincentives parents sending their children school source constraints education quality accessible enforcement limitations doubt towhat educationwouldbe valuablemall these factors create obstacle successful prohibition child laborthrough compulsory education TheRoleofthe State intheChildLaborDebate In India child labor being raised human rightsissue rather asaneconomicor social issue largely foreign advocates rather domestic makers While beginning domestic cates foreign governments human rights organizations helping cause foreign intervention dangerously close protectionist attitude The bitterness toward intervention which accused ofbeing immediate economic sanctions without corre sponding assistance worktoward change strongly expressed Ten Point Plan Combat Child Labour developed Agnivesh Bandhua MuktiMorcha seebox BMMrecognizesthat ultimate motivation elimination child labor within accompanied measures address roots ofthe problem Other countries successfully implemented combination child labor compulsory education legislation rarely basis humanrights alone Forsome countries considerations ofnationalpowerand religious controlpushed govern ments action Germany example wanted protect children excessive labor would unfit defend their country danger ensure sufficient number workers whowerenot chained tofactorieswouldbeavailable other sectors In England America churches which education religion closely intertwined pushed compulsory education which elimination child labor In America child labor legislationwasalso helpedby major trade union federation America which concerned child workers displacing adults labor force In Japan education which laterled child labor prohibition wasused toolto massesmore moraland obedient tually viewed necessity achieve overriding goalofcompetingwiththeWest The India child labor being discussed human rights issue pushed outside NOTE Thereis stillmuchdebateoverwhetherfamilieswhosendtheirchildrenouttoworkaredrivenprimarilybyeco nomic reasons A International Labour Organization study found families working children because economicreasons becauseparentsneedassistanceinhouseholdeconomicactivity becauseofpoverty cause needed their living However recent smaller study child labor Benaras industry revealed although stock parents could afford education their children financial difficulties whole truth The study found children interviewed wereworkingbecauseofpovertyoreconomicreasons while43 ofchildrenworkedbecause theirparentswantedthemto This study concludes primary reason children working mindset parents formal education learning trade better going school Prof R K Misra Preliminary Report Child LabourintheSareeIndustryofVaranasi BHU Varanasi B N Joyal Sudarshan Kumari L M Chandola Child Labour The Twice Exploited Gandhian Institute Studies Varanasi Weiner InstituteofCurrentWorld Affairs Thecoverofapamphlet toraiseawarenessaboutchildlabor players lonely domestic advocates labor force participating unions There wield political power weakens rospects cause worry government there cessforsignificantactionontheissue Tradeunions willbeinsufficientnumbersofrecruitsforthemilitary arenotkeymoversinpushingforchange somesay Finally masscontrolthrougheducationhasneverbeen because trade union members children Indian political party religious group themselves others because trade union though perhaps Bharatiya Janata Party bership India percent extremist Hindu party would interested WorldDevelopmentReport Institute Current World Affairs In previously mentioned compulsory education could against interests officials positions ofpowerwhobelieve maintain standing divisions class caste social order promote inequality between In India appears control ofthe masses antithetical approach Ch England Communist Party China through absence ratherthan provision ofeducation The state commitment combined foreign funds available through international human rights organizations thatwant raise awareness child labor issue created recent flood newly formedNGOsin decade Their results According Priyankar Upadhyaya Professor Political Science Benaras Hindu University memberoftheUniversity sHumanRights Cell which organized forum child labor If poseofNGOsistogenerateawareness thentheyhave notbeen entirelyunsuccessful ButNGOsusuallytake emotional melodrama question ishowwill spread further Anju Sharan another BHU Professor manyNGOsarejust shams thathavebeenformedto advantage availability foreign funds Some genuinely committed accomplish little Swami Agnivesh whoseNGOisone ofthemost cessful himself concurred interview Main stream magazine ofNGOsis limited NGOsuccesses further marredby reports rehabilitated children underfunded schools after short period return Other reports government funded carpet production centers created placedcarpet industrychildlaborare actuallymanaged byMasterWeavers oneswhoused child labor under shell profit organization The training centers monitored government andthusendupbeing simplyanother exploitative ation thistimesubsidizedbythegovernment ProfessorUpadhyaya believes change occur child labor political agenda dominant party However Upadhyaya little primarily because children constitute He distinguishes child labor plank women ssues which pastdecadehasmade itswayintothecentralplatform every political party Since women constitute nifican political constituency women activists lever interest politicians makers The child labor issue contrast spicuouslymissingfrom allpartyplanks Even those exist regulate child labor Joyal Kumari Chandola being enforced Upadhyayabelieves fundamental problem relationship between society state State mediation essential enact argues Indian state become creasingly influence grass roots therefore increasingly repressive People distrust state largely societal corro values state being viewed corrupt manipulative intimidating In banning child labor first state would strong positive enforc ement sense If could easily manipulated create problems those trying serve Child Labour The Twice Exploited concurs Given structural conditions persistent tence indeed child labour legislative actiontoforcefullybanchildlabourisboundto At itwillbeasentimentalsoptotheoccasionallyout ragedliberalconsciencebut itdoesnotmattermuchfor travails unfortunate future citizens In terms aggravate problem bureau cratic corruption harassment victims system through enforcement The Search Alternatives The debate about child labor ultimately boiled people fundamental question whether child labor cause poverty poverty cause child labor Those believe former insist there shouldbe completebanon child labor education shouldbe compulsory Those believe latter argue tackle problem poverty before addressing symptoms ofwhich child labor Tome itappearsbothquestionsomitthecriticalissue ofwhetherchildlaborcontinuesbecauseofalackofcom mitmentonthepart ofpolicymakersandotherpowerful individuals change practice Equallyimportant causes child labor sides paint issue black white without recognizing shades We cannot poverty before addressing childlabor butatthesametime isrepressiveandpuni toban child labor without providing alternatives children their families without improving ityandaccessibilityofeducation A child labor would probably cause small groups people refrain hiring children because itwouldbeillegal Inotherwords tosomede legislation would remove peoplelikemewhoaremakinga subjective decision therinthebestinterestsofthe child orinpersonalinter about whether child For thosewho continue exploit children spite existing legisla which remains unenforced thing might there commitment government toward ending child labor With enforcement however effect lasts shorttimebeforebecomingalaughingmatter At complete child labor sureto failifthere isnosimultaneousprovisionofeco nomicincentives forchildrennottoworkornoattempts change mindset parents towards value education Abanwithouttheseaccompanyingelements wouldultimatelyendupbeing largely elitist moralis position hurts those trying International calls child labor tainly served important clearly limited purpose As World Development Report stated The national legislation interna tional conventions banning child labor symbolic value expression societal desire eradicate practice But cannot deliver results Unless companied measures shift balance incen tivesawayfrom child laborandtoward education To extent products international international activists succeed creating economic threat pushes Indian government action However their effect limited these markets doubtful economic impact would sufficient create sweeping overhaul existing policiestowards child labor The government committed eradicating childlaborinasustainablemanner Tothisend itshould recommit itself universal education thenbackup thiscommitmentwithincreasedresources improve quality accessibility education If state disownsthe vision ofaminimumeducation allitspeople whoelsecantake Because ismore likelythatuneducatedparents orthoseinvolvedinatra ditionaltrade maynotseethevalueofeducation comes incumbent government improve education makeitmoresuitabletothelivesofthepoor confidence people education right ultimatelyan asset their children At poverty forces parents drentoworkmustbeaddressed There precedents worked bringing together child labor compulsory cation Indonesia example established welfare system where along compulsory ucation familieswere given subsidies govern their incomes basic standard living The providing displaced child placement income BMM other NGOs India viable although amount income needs increased provide sufficient incentive families children child labor Strengthening trade unions could fight minimum increases enforcement could ensure adults working Ironically finally technology mechanization major factor shifting incentives child Although I argued articles technology sometimes changessocietiesinwaysthatarenotforthebetter becomes cheaper efficient current child workers eventually replace those workers Many believe instituting child labor legisla actually contributes speeding moderniza businesses forced reduce production costs through mechanization This pening extent power looms looms carpet industry again double edged sword ultimately greater numbers ofpeople ofwork Change dependent those power becoming committed abolition child labor resolu contradictions between rights child meaningful participation society respon sibilities individual being family Is realistic Given India social structural traditions rampant poverty political investment child labor commitment seems painfully In meantime people Meera Ritu likely continue cyclebykeeping theirownchildren educatedand sendingthem I answers questions light shades WorldDevelopmentReport AFGHANI CHINA PAK C JaipPKraan Luckn N Rajasthan Hisham Ahmed Born blind Palestinian Dheisheh Refugee Camp Bethlehem Hisham finished A levels fifth highest score students throughout Is He received B A political science scholarship Illinois State University M A Ph D University California Santa Barbara Back East Jerusalem still blind Hisham plans ather histories broad selection Palestinians produce Portrait Palestine crucial point Middle Eastern history MIDEAST N AFRICA Adam Albion Aformer research associate Institute EastWest Studies Prague Czech Republic Adam spending years studying writing about Turkey gional growing importance actor Balkans Middle East Soviet A Harvard graduate History Adam completed first M Litt degree Russian East European history languages Oxford Univer EUROPE RUSSIA Cynthia Caron With Masters degree Forest Science Yale School Forestry Environment Cynthia spending years South Asia ICWA first John Miller MusserMemorialForest SocietyFellow She isstudyingandwritingabouttheimpactoffor preservation projects lives tenure indigenous peoples local farmers their fringe Her fellowship includes stays Bhutan India Sri Lanka SOUTH ASIA Forest Society William F F Formerly financial analyst Lehman Brothers Emerging Markets Group Willy Foote examining economic substructure Mexico impact market reforms Mexico people society politics Willy holds Bachelor degree Yale University history Master London School Economics Develop Economics Latin America studied Basque history San Sebastian Spain He carried intensive Spanish language studies Guatemala worked editorand ReporterfortheBuenosAiresHeraldfrom 1990to THEAMERICAS Sharon Griffin Afeature writer contributing columnist African affairs San Diego Union Tribune Sharon spending years southern Africa studying Zulu Kwa Zulu kingdom writing about nongovernmental organizations fulfillment national needs develo countries where governments still feeling their toward effective administration She plans travel Namibia Zimbabwe South Africa SAHARA J Harris Awould lawyer undergraduate degree History University Chicago John reverted international studies after internship product liability department Chicago years postgraduate Russian University Washington Seattle Based Moscow during fellowship John studying writing about Russia nascent political parties begin difficult transition identities based personalities their leaders positions based national inter national issues EUROPE RUSSIA Prarnila Jayapal Born India Pramila through primary secondary education Indonesia She graduated Georgetown University M B A Kellogg School Management Evanston Illinois She worked corporate analyst PaineWebber accounts manager world leading producer cardiac defibrillators recently managed million veloping country revolving Program Appropriate Technology Health PATH Seattle Pramila spending years India tracing roots studying cialissuesinvolving religion thestatusofwomen populationandAIDS SOUTHASIA Teresa C Yates Aformer member American Civil Liberties Union national force workplace Teresa spending years South Africa observing reporting efforts Mandela government reform national tenure system A Vassar graduate ajuris doctorfrom University Cincinnati College Law Teresahad internship Centre Applied Legal Studies Johannesburg study feasibility including social economic rights South African consti While ACLU conducted Seminar Women Law Fordham Law School NewYork SAHARA Institute Current World Affairs