(from http://thesdlp.bebo.com/ )

SDLP Cllr Colin McGrath, who was recently elected Chairman of Down District Council, has decided to produce a series of video dairies so he can update constituents on what work he is doing during his term of office.

I share the concerns of Cllr Niall Kelly that while it’s an excellent video, Colin must be a bit of a headbanger in his spare time.

As the Olympics in China begin it has been revealed in a report by the campaign group Playfair 08 that much of the merchandise for the games has been produced in factories with disgraceful levels of pay and unacceptable working conditions. These factories in China make official Olympic bags, headgear, stationery and other products, and are alleged to have been falsifying employment records and forcing workers to lie about their wages and conditions.

While it is too late to demand assurances from the organisers of this years’ Olympic Games on their ethical credentials, it is all the more important that we make sure the London Organising Committee of the 2012 Olympic Game are operating under proper ethical standards. This includes making sure that all licensees and suppliers of Olympic goods are under contractual obligation to reinforce proper labour practices and that independent scrutiny is exercised to make sure all companies comply with the Ethical Trading Initiative.

SDLP Youth will be writing to all Northern Ireland’s MPs to request their support for this campaign and their signatures on the Early Day Motion in Parliament demanding ethical trading at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is important that our elected representatives make it clear to the Olympic organisers that all who work to make the 2012 Games a success should have the right to decent work, living wages and proper conditions.  Already SDLP Youth Limavady Branch has committed East Derry MP Gregory Campbell to sign Early Day Motion 1309 when Parliament reconvenes.