Being born and raised in Thailand, I can understand why people like these girls resort to training, and fighting. In Thailand there are no welfare programs or any government run organizations alike. Money is everything and if you don't have it you will be on the streets.
I know this all looks very bad to Canadians and it is hard to watch. but most of the Muay Thai schools can be a positive thing. Alot of these young girls without education, would eventually end up working in the sex trade.
I think the CBC should look into what it is like for a poor Thai child or teenager without any formal education, and see how hard it is to make a living, pay for school, and support their family.

What happen to Humanity.
I watched your documentary Girls in gloves ant it made me sick to see those kids in the ring to make money for food, and those idiots around them betting money.
where is the thai goverment and what their are doing with the money that many country give them incliding my own canada.
it is terrible to see those litle kids beating one each other to buy food.
I would like where ever who made this documentary to contact me.
I would like to send money for the twin girls every month for food and education and keep them out of harmsway.
I do bellieve that if those girls does not get the help they need they will end up as sex children like many other kids in thailand.
where is the United Nations, the USA, Canada and the rest of the world.
to see on CBC a documentary like this one it make think that we as human we lost our sense of humanity.
please i would like to sponsor the twins and give them money then they can live and grow in dignity.
Aby Karoud
thank you

This story like some other foreign stories you have covered, allows listeners to hear from those interviewed in the language of their County, foreign and unknown by the majority of viewers. I think the stories would have greater appreciation if the translator spoke in English so we can hear and understand what is being said.

If that is not possible, the typed translators English needs to be either white type on black background or black type of white background. As presented, I can't read what is typed because the white print blends into some background colors making it difficult if not impossible to read.

My personal preference is to hear the English translation. All humbly and respectfully submitted.

Thai Boxing Girls:

Is GM sponsoring these events? See the post on the ringside of the Chevrolet symbol.

That is very disturbing to me.

Yours is one CBC program that I look forward to on a Sunday morning. My congrats to Michael Primeau for producing such an informative and educational program. I truly wish and hope that our younger generation would watch and realize how fortunate they are to grow up in a free country, with opportunities to develop their potentials instead of making a living donning on the boxing gloves! Keep up the good work and I look forward to next Sunday morning. Many thanks and best wishes for the holidays.

I watched this documentary and the reasons what I saw was that I knew that GIRLS POPULATION in all over ASIA will DECREASE for the next few years that why they have poor health develop countries like THAILAND that is why these 7-13 YEAR OLD GIRLS had to make their own life for their education and needs to fight their own way to entertain these poor THAI adults to see the girls get beaten up each other. That is the way how THAI girls were treated.

Let's not kid ourselves: there is no "recreational" Muay Thai or Thai kickboxing in Thailand (like karate for kids might be considered in Canada). It is strictly a gambling based activity, as anyone who's been to Thailand knows. The kiddie version is basically analagous to cockfighting using kids. To believe as Carole does that the sport for children should be regulated is ridiculous. Muay Thai bouts for gambling should be banned for anyone under the age of eighteen.

I think the show misled the audience,making Thailand look brutal and uncivilized by letting young girls fight to entertain adults. I won't deny that it is cruel and I am seriously unhappy to see those idiots in the audience have fun when they watched the girl cry in a battle. But on the other hand, I think it's better than having them involved in sex trade, a vicious scene that we, Thais, are trying to get away from.
It's not easy to argue. But life can be harsh in the third world. CBC Sunday is a great show but should strive to look deeper at the reasons behind why this is happening. In the end the girls are fighting for a better life.

People in other countries may wonder why we let six year olds play such a dangerous game like hockey. People in glass houses eh

When I started playing hockey at six years old in the late 70's checking was still part of the game at that age. I remember one lad wanting to quit because he didn't like being hit. He was actually crying in the dressing room, his father still made him play, said it would toughen him up. This mentality continues in rinks today.

Another condescending Western news story that reinforces how swell and morally superior we are, pure vanity journalism. Look at us we're great, they suck

I was very thankful that for the debate that followed it, it was illuminating. And I thankful to be liveing in the West!!!! but my hear goes out to them, povery really hurts!!!!

Hi,

I'm the filmmaker who shot the documentary and it's never my intention to present this as a purely cruel sport. I've set out to show how these girls have to fight in muay thai to survive. They really have no other choice. And as some have pointed out rightly, many of these country kids do end up in the sex trade eventually, so this sport although hard to watch, do offer them a better alternative. It's a complex story, and hard to know who to blame. The parents for leaving them to fend for themselves? The government who doesn't regulate this sport? The adult gamblers? Or the boxing camps even?

I know eventually these girls are clear about their circumstances, and most of them aren't being forced to fight.

I hope that provides some sort of a consolation to those disturbed by this

What about the parents that push very hard their daughter at very young age into competitive gymnastics?
Jecky Jean OULARE

It was heartbreaking to see those little girls fighting. Their sad faces really told the tale that this was not something they enjoyed. How can we help? Is there an agency in Thailand working to help girls like this. I would be happy to donate.

WOW, makes me go back 30 years ago when parents encouraged kids to fight in peewee hockey!
Anyway, now that we know the errors of capitalism and while we, as society, try to change values and vision of corporations (humanitary goals instead of $$$ alone) I see that it will be more difficult to change mentalities for a new global mentality including respect!
It will be hard work but I'm optimist about it. I just hope that basic values of respect and dignity of the human being
will prevail.
tks!

Although many things were glaringly obvious from watching this piece, I would like to extend applause to Evan for making mention of this small tidbit-THESE YOUNG GIRLS HAVE NO FOOD IN THEIR HOME! As I watched the debate that ensued after the footage, I could not help but be surprised at the fact that there was repeated mention of the girls being exploited through boxing, but very little focus on the fact that this extreme poverty is the underpinning of these activities. If these girls had access to the basic necessities of life, do you think for a moment that they would be exposed to such horrid condtions? Although the footage was shocking in itself, I was more distressed by the apparent lack of understanding that these activities are manifestations of complete and utter poverty!

Can anyone after viewing this barbarity not agree with the assertion that not all "cultures" are worthy of respect? Can we not look with disdain upon twenty-first century child gladiators? (Or the flogging of a victim of rape in Saudi Arabia?) Can we not assert that Judeo-christian culture is, indeed, superior?

Judeo-Christian culture is superior? That makes me laugh. You are looking through rose coloured glasses. I'm sick of this holier-than-thou attitude, how about all the pedophiles and vain preachers in your Superior Christian Culture? So people that are of your faith have never wronged? As Amanda McEvoy said, these people are doing so because of utter poverty.

hello,
as a girl just 4 or 5 years older then thewm i felt saddened that the girls have to resort to such animalistic behavior!
ellen

this is for :Tanny Chia
This is an amazing piece of work. Very professional and great investigative journalism.
Obviously these girls are abused however this looks more like a "pick your poison" proposal so judging is not the point.
Do you still keep in contact. Maybe we can help. Send me an email.

klip@fluidmovie.com

I couldn't avoid to be so shocked by the film. And eventhough, we have seen that 218 million children are in slavery producing goods for north america, and 300 thousand children in armies, plus 70 milion in the sex trade in different cultures, this is very shocking because it shows that the thailand culture, authorities, parents and people flock like animals to see such shocking espectacle. This thai culture is truly a heartles abominalble pack of animals. How can a parent send his child to be abused in such a horrible carnage. We have hockey in canada and eventhough it is not quiet as shocking it right up to it. I gues this sense animality is universal, but never good, or even acceptable, plain disgusting to see humans partaking in this crimes.
Natanael

shocking subculture? bloodsport? Why are these girls led to believe that they have no choice but to fight for a living?

come on cbc. this sounds way over-dramatized.

did nobody read the subtext? these girls did not seem upset that they were fighting. they chose to fight and wanted to.

muay thai (thai boxing) is to thai children as hockey is to canadian boys. it is their national sport.

a few years ago i made a documentary on child thai boxers in thailand. i followed a 10 year old, 15, and 21 year old for a month. these children were PROUD to be up there in the ring.

i think it's sick that some people look upon other cultures and their traditions as barbaric.

the female host of this show made these kids out to be exploited. they are not. of course the gym is going to take a cut. a lot of the gyms takes these children under their wings and train them and feed them. they need some finances to survive.

cbc actually took a 'shocking sub culture' stance on this piece, but the actual doc did not seem to share that voice. i saw these fights taking place all over, many of them with friends and family watching and chearing at a local weekend fair. how is this sub culture? they were happening everywhere!

sorry if my thoughts seem rambled and un-organized. i'm just not impressed with the position cbc took.

There are many organizations that offer assistance to young children in need in third world countries. I've been sponsoring two lovely girls from Eastern and Northern Thailand for several years through World Vision - a dollar a day. And through these small donations they are able to attend school and pay for clothing/ food. Take a look: worldvision.ca

Re; Girls in Gloves

Why do you think we are interested in what
a bunch of 'low life's' do!
I'm sure the 'bleeding-hearts' will say
'Oh!, what disturbing images!'

Hey!, that's the way they have to live in order to survive! we 'candy-ass, spoon fed
wimps' have NO idea of how it is to live
in a 'third world' culture!

BUT, peronally, I don't give a damn!
I don't care about the rest of the world's
'hardships', in one way, or another we ALL
have hardships!

Give me issues that affect Canadians,
propose a solution, ect-ect.!!
But don't waste my time, (or the taxpayers money), on this shit!
There is NOTHING we can do about it!, so just let them go and kill each other!

Barry
Toronto

this is a very interesting piece, and it really inspired me to take a closer look at cultures in other countries and their "customs" but yea great story telling too. :)