China’s recent decision to force a showdown with Vietnam in waters around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea tempers an argument that has gained momentum in recent months — that is, with the growing assertiveness of Russia in Ukraine and China in East Asia, a weakening U.S. is being challenged by increasingly confident […]
Read MoreUkraine crisis
Russia’s annexation of Crimea has led some to wonder whether any other former Soviet countries could follow. The separatist region of Trans-Dniester has already offered itself to Moscow – a request which Russia has promised to consider. “It’s been getting much worse in the past few months,” said a mother of two who didn’t want […]
Read MoreBricks
Humphrey Hawksley reports from the brick kilns of India where more than two million people feed the booming construction sector and economic miracle by working in conditions campaigners describe as ‘slavery.’ Their work goes into building the skyscrapers, offices and call centres, but the bricks they make are now being condemned as blood bricks. India […]
Read MoreSugar
Guatemala in Central America has one of the worst records of violence, corruption and treatment of workers. Humphrey Hawksley travels through the country asking why the European Union is now giving it new trade privileges. BBC’s Our World – Guatemala’s Sweet Deal
Read MoreThe curse of gold
NYAMURHALE, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, May 2012
Demand for gold has been booming, but at present, the gold industry is concerned that too much of its origins cannot be traced. New international efforts are now underway to clean up the industry and make the supply chain more transparent. At present the black market for gold is flourishing. It is easy to smuggle and melt down. A new American law is focusing on one specific area – the Democratic Republic of Congo which produces what are known as ‘conflict minerals.’ The law requires any American company that believes it might be using minerals from there to register with the government. Many of the metals are used in our every-day gadgets such as phones and computers. Humphrey Hawksley has been to the Congo to look at the bottom end of the supply chain. […]
Read MoreGold
Humphrey Hawksley goes to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to investigate the link between minerals, war and business. These are the raw materials used in our every day lives for computers, phones and household appliances. Humphrey asks if a little-known American law might force a change to how multi-national companies do business in […]
Read MoreThe supply chain children
GUJARAT, INDIA, January 2012
Hundreds of thousands children in India are involved in picking and processing cotton. Many are kept out school, work in dangerous conditions and some are not even paid. Campaigners say the big UK clothing stores should do much more to stop child labour being used in their supply chains. One of the main cotton producing areas is Gujarat in Western India. From there Humphrey Hawksley sent this report. […]
Read MoreCotton
Globalisation has brought the world’s goods to the west. But how can consumers be sure they are buying food and clothing manufactured without harming workers – especially children? Humphrey Hawksley travels to the cotton fields and factories of India and discovers rampant abuse and child labour. India’s exploited child cotton workers
Read MoreChocolate
For years, the chocolate industry knew their raw products were farmed in unacceptable conditions – using slavery and children. Humphrey Hawksley first exposed the cocoa scandal more than a decade ago. Returning again to the Ivory Coast, he finds children taken from their parents and forced to harvest cocoa with little evidence that chocolate makers […]
Read MoreExperiments in aid
KARAMOJA, UGANDA, January 2011
Thousands of people in north east Uganda are facing starvation after a severe crop failure and drought. The Karamoja region is one of the poorest parts of Africa. But aid agencies say food handouts alone are not the answer. They are trying out a new approach where only the most vulnerable get help. It’s a policy that has considerable risks. Our World Affairs Correspondent, Humphrey Hawksley reports. […]
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