Festival of lights

This diwali, let's take a moment, before we tear the packet of crackers open, and read the label. Where was it made? Most likely we will see the name Sivakasi. Before we light that first sparkler, let's spare a thought for the hundreds, maybe thousands of children in Sivakasi who are working for hours everyday in dangerous conditions to make those crackers. Or let's not. Go on as if we never read those news articles. It is diwali after all. We have to celebrate, right? It is indeed a time to enjoy. Get together with friends, eat good food. And who knows what other products I am using that involved exploitation of cheap labor. My jeans, my shoes, my iPhone, my online banking software. It is not like I will stop using them. Or that my stopping using them will make any difference. There we go. I am good at this. I am good at talking myself out of feeling guilty. What a relief. Happy Diwali friends! Have a blast . . . or two. . . from a safe distance. . .