Children in High Demand Organizations

Child Labour

October 04, 2001

Upstate 'Soap' Cult Fined for Child Labor

Publication: New York Post
Author: Kenneth Lovett

Albany -- The state yesterday fined the controversial Twelve Tribes cult $2,000 for illegally using underage children as workers in their factories.

The fines come in the wake of a Post investigation that found the cult used unpaid child laborers to churn out its soap, furniture and other products, including some that were sold in Robert Redford's Sundance catalog.

After several spot checks of the group's various manufacturing plants, the Labor Department found two cases of child-labor abuse, both involving 15-year-old workers.

One violation was found in a Twelve Tribes-run candle manufacturing plant in Greene County; the other in a nearby furniture factory.

The two businesses were each fined a maximum $1,000.

Labor Department spokeswoman Betsy McCormack said it's "quite possible" that the cult could have cleaned up its act after the Post series sparked the investigation.

"We fully explained to them the labor law and the consequences for not following the labor law," McCormack said.

"Hopefully, they will remain in compliance."

She hinted that future spot checks of the factories are likely.

Twelve Tribes members in April admitted to pushing the envelope on child-labor laws, but argued its businesses are family-owned cottage industries where the kids help their parents - not sweatshops.

The businesses have 60 days to appeal the fine.

Cult members could not be reached for comment.

Twelve Tribes is led by Elbert Eugene Spriggs, whose racist teachings and strict child-discipline policy has brought the communal group considerable controversy.

http://www.rickross.com/reference/tribes/tribes30.html

Posted by Julia at 12:02 PM

February 12, 2001

Leaving the Fold: Third-generation Scientologist grows disillusioned with faith

Astra Woodcraft, apostate and defector, is the latest enemy of the Church of Scientology.

Woodcraft, 22, never really joined this controversial psycho-spiritual movement, at least not as a free-thinking adult. Astra was born into it.

Founded in the 1950s by L. Ron Hubbard, a prolific science fiction writer and freelance philosopher, Scientology describes itself as "the only major new religion established in the 20th century," as a bridge to increased awareness and spiritual freedom.

Woodcraft, a third-generation Scientologist, paints a different picture.

Continue reading "Leaving the Fold: Third-generation Scientologist grows disillusioned with faith"

Posted by Julia at 07:44 AM

Article 32 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. 2. States Parties shall take legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to ensure the implementation of the present article. To this end and having regard to the relevant provisions of other international instruments, States Parties shall in particular: (a) Provide for a minimum age or minimum ages for admission to employment; (b) Provide for appropriate regulation of the hours and conditions of employment; (c) Provide for appropriate penalties or other sanctions to ensure the effective enforcement of the present article. Article 36 States Parties shall protect the child against all other forms of exploitation prejudicial to any aspects of the child's welfare. --UN Convention on the Rights of the Child