Third World craft

I guess we are all guilty- buying cheap goods from Third World countries produced by people working for a pittance in appalling working conditions.

The recent tragedy in Dhaka has highlighted once again the problems of our global "village".

And it got me thinking about a recent purchase of mine, a "fun sculpture" of a cockerel bought at t local craft fair.

Made in the Philippines it cost a mere £10.

The man whom I bought it from, an about to be retired teacher embarking on a new venture selling craft goods, said he took it along to the Craft department in his school and asked them how much it would cost to reproduce it in Scotland.

He was told that it would take several hours to make the armature alone and as for the intricate basketwork.....