Delhi Police drop 'chop onions, not heads' campaign

Delhi Police have apologized and withdrawn an ad promoting vocational training for street children, after criticism that it promotes child labour.

The Huffington Post reports that the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights found the ad "in bad taste and diminishing the 'dignity and worth' of children, who are our future citizens.” They added, “This advertisement depicts a vulnerable child as a future criminal... besides, teaching a child how to chop an onion does not really do justice to a child.”

Child labour is a huge problem in India, but some saw even worse things in the ad. Juvenile justice expert Ananth Asthana told Indian Express, "It only shows the trivial thinking of Delhi Police on child rights. The authorities have a very wrong perception about juveniles, and this particular ad associates them with murder."

Big changes for teen models in the New York fashion industry

Elle Fanning at 12, 2010 (Steven Pan/Interview, via MTV)

According to Buzzfeed's Amy Odell, there are big changes afoot for New York's fashion industry:

...new legislation proposed by Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein and State Senate Labor Committee Chairwoman Diane Savino, seeks to close the loophole that excludes print and runway models from the same protections as all other child performers. ... Expanding the definition of child performers to include print and runway models would require young models to have chaperones on set, ensure a portion of their earnings goes into a financial trust, and ensure they don’t miss too much school for work.

Seems like ordinary decency to me, but apparently print and runway models in the state have not been protected by strong labour laws — leading to economic and even sexual exploitation.

Here is more, from The Cut:

Other requirements for employing children under 18: If they miss over three days of school, their employer must provide a tutor and space for them to study. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a chaperone. Can you imagine desks and parents backstage at fashion shows? It sounds unlikely, and enforcement might be tricky, especially since models are commonly considered "independent contractors" rather than employees. But establishing some basic rights for these kids — because they are, in fact, children — should be a priority. The bill could pass as early as next week, posing complications for modeling agencies. Alternatively, they could just cast models over 18, which really wouldn't be so bad.

No, it wouldn't. Let teen models model teen clothing to teens, and let adult women do the adult modelling. Then maybe 20-something fashion victims could stop starving themselves to match the way their clothes hang on pubescent models.

Glenn Beck selling ethical jeans?

I really dislike Glenn Beck. I think he's full of shit. But there's one thing about his new line of jeans (yes, jeans!) that I like. Try to guess what it is:

Announcing 1791 Denim from 1791 Supply & Co. on Vimeo.

No, it's not the use of history to create a brand. (1791 was the year the US Bill of Rights was ratified.)

Nor is it, as Racked put it, that it "looks kinda like a Bon Iver video."

And it's definitely not Beck's shitty narration.

Got it yet? It's the domestic production.

Even as President Obama attacks his rival, Governor Romney, on outsourcing American jobs, this jerk of a conservative talking head is investing in a domestic garment industry. With labour laws that prevent the exploitation of children and vulnerable workers.

That's a good thing in my book, no matter who's behind it.

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