Excerpt from article:

Two years ago, WSU students joined a long line of college activists to protest Cougar gear made in sweatshops. In cardboard boxes emblazoned with their battle cry – “I’d Rather Go Naked than Wear Sweatshop Clothing” – Progressive Student Union members prepared to fight.

However, the fight was not to be had. WSU officials were already considering going sweatfree and signed a policy within a week, said Alyce Anderson, WSU trademark department program administrative manager.

The strongman regime is making huge profits on the backs of the nation's children while ignoring calls to halt its violations of international labor regulations.

As youngsters in the United States return to school, children in Uzbekistan will be returning to the fields. For them, it is the autumn cotton harvest. From now through the end of November, instead of attending classes, 2 million Uzbek children ages 6 to 15 will be forced to spend their days picking cotton.

By Tasneem Khalil

This is one of the most shocking stories of forced labour that involves children.

The setting of this story is the Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan – one of the most brutal among post-Soviet dictatorships. The Islam Karimov regime is notorious for its ruthless repression of any kind of opposition or threat – political, social or economic.