India bars children from circus work

[Feuer Frei!]

Only now eh?

INDIA'S top court today banned traveling circuses from employing children and ordered raids to remove young workers from troupes, the broadcaster NDTV reported. The Supreme Court ruling came after a children's rights group filed a petition that drew the court's attention the widespread prevalence of child labor, including in circuses, and also trafficking in children, the report said.
Children are often trained to perform high-wire acrobatic acts, juggling stunts and other attractions for audiences in India, where circus companies move from town to town throughout the year, AFP reported.
"The court has ordered the government to rescue all children below 14 years of age and also instructed them to formulate a rehabilitation policy for the minors," said Colin Gonsalves, a lawyer for the Save the Childhood Movement, which brought the case.

Circus professionals claim that training performers from a young age is crucial to developing skills and pointed to European circuses, which are allowed to sign up children if one parent accompanies them and a full education is provided.
Circuses have suffered a decline in popularity in India as TV, cinemas and video players have spread into poor, rural area

SOURCE

[nikimcbee]

...but how will Reece, Jim, and Herr Berbunch earn a living? Did they think about that?

[Herr-Berbunch]

Why join the circus when there are more menial jobs to perform, like sweatshop stiching for huge multi-nationals?

[Jimbuna]

I'd like to see the same thought and consideration given to performing bears.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, so much for "running away to join the circus".

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I'd like to see the same thought and consideration given to performing bears.

Bears will not work in sweat shops.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Bears will not work in sweat shops.

They will if you stick a metal ring through their nostrils and continually beat them into submission

[AVGWarhawk]

Yeah, I never understood that really. Here, with the traveling circus, PETA will show up at the shows to protest. I'm thinking circus with animals is really a thing of the past. If we want a circus of people (which we do) then that is their decision to walk the tight rope or swallow fire. The animals on the otherhand are pressed into service for peanuts. No pun intented.

[Jimbuna]

That's the reason I seldom went to the circus because I considered it as kind of condoning the cruelty that I believe exists behind that big top out of view of the public.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

That's the reason I seldom went to the circus because I considered it as kind of condoning the cruelty that I believe exists behind that big top out of view of the public.

The Moscow circus was pretty cool though.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

The Moscow circus was pretty cool though.

True but so many lesser quality outfits existed especially in my younger days and where have they all gone now?

On the odd occasion a travelling circus visits my area all I hear are complaints of poor quality entertainment...beats me why people bother going anymore.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

That's the reason I seldom went to the circus because I considered it as kind of condoning the cruelty that I believe exists behind that big top out of view of the public.

Me too. I just don't get enjoyment out of animals being forced/encouraged/trained to do stuff they don't do naturally. Not my bag baby.