For years we have known that expensive shoes for privileged people are made cheaply by poor workers in developing countries.

That a child of 11 or 12 spends his day stitching runners in unsafe and unpleasant conditions, while wealthy children play football in the same runners is a sad reality we've almost come to accept.

Boycotting specific brands can be a waste of time when sweatshop clothing finds its way into every boutique and department store in the world. Labour Behind the Label, a British workers' rights organisation, does not call for boycotts, since, they say, this may damage the livelihoods of workers. It will only recommend boycotts at the direct request of workers.

If you are concerned about sweatshop production, but feel helpless to do anything, why not write a letter to your favourite clothing manufacturer, appealing to them to adopt a responsible workers' rights policy? You might feel that your one letter can't make a difference, but remember, without people like you these companies can't survive.

There are a number of organisations that can help, providing draft letters, addresses, information about specific labels and detail of specific abuses.

• Labour Behind the Label http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/

• The Clean Clothes Campaign http://www.cleanclothes.org

• Women Working Worldwide http://www.poptel.org.uk/women-ww/