The International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) and Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) of India recently released a report that details the extensive use of child labor in the production of soccer balls in two villages in India. The report claims that as many as ten major companies use the children in these villages to manufacture their soccer balls. All this despite the fact that the sporting goods industry supposedly put a stop to this practice over ten years ago when it was brought to light in neighboring Pakistan.

This report comes on the heels of a recently-aired segment on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumble" entitled "Childhood Lost" that depicted Indian children stitching together Mitre soccer balls for a paltry 5 cents an hour. Some of the balls were even proudly labeled "CHILD LABOR FREE."

Most of these children are working to pay off debts incurred by their parents to the manufacturing company. This is the sort of despicable practice that occurred in the days of serfs and the feudal system centuries ago and has no place in any modern society.

Now, one of the named companies, Mitre, has filed suit against HBO, claiming that the segment defamed their company and that it wasn't just Mitre employing the children, but other companies as well. This is like getting pulled over for speeding then claiming that "everyone else was speeding too." That's not the point; the point is that you broke the law - duh - and now you have to face the natural consequences.

I've been asked repeatedly my thoughts on the situation, so here it is...Mitre (and everyone else involved) would be best served by putting their time, effort, and money into getting their sports ball facilities certified Fair Trade (like ours are) rather than suing HBO. The lawsuit - no matter who wins - will not benefit the sports ball stitchers in India, but having their facilities qualify for Fair Trade certification certainly would.

Pursuing Fair Trade certification would also benefit the Mitre brand; they would be seen as part of the positive solution, rather than the negative current public image of one corporation suing another. They are simply forgetting that this issue at its core is about human beings.