Slavery. It's not over. It's how our food is grown and harvested, our clothing is made, our shelter is provided, and our gadgets are assembled. Here you'll find out how to avoid it as much as possible, how to take stock of it being in your life, and how to help eradicate it from the planet.
Avoid ItYou can begin by looking for labels that say fair trade/fair-trade/fairtrade.
Are you confused? You should be. There is no global standard and different regions want to take care of making sure their products come from good sources. And that's good, right? So many people who want to look out for other people. You may have heard the system of fair trade has flaws. It does, but all systems do and this one is doing a load of good. Plus, by you purchasing things with the accreditation, you're showing the market, through your force of demand, that this is important to you that people are treated well. Suppliers need to know that. Without market demand, farmers can't and won't seek certification. Market demand and what it can do is the reason why "economics" is in the name of my website. What about if you buy organic? Though it's a different certification, slavery is not as likely to be in the supply chain. Many people who care about how things are made are also ethical about who makes them. Try to get to know your food suppliers, your clothing manufacturers, and other companies that make things you use. Find out about their supply chains by looking it up online with a phrase like "Does Nestle chocolate have slaves." If it does (spoiler alert, they do), you can buy your chocolate from someone who doesn't (there are many!). Take StockYou never asked to be born in a country that is wealthier because, in part, it had slavery. You didn't ask for your modern day chocolate, coffee, seafood, sugar, cotton, electronics, and more to have slavery in the supply chain. You don't ask for slavery to still be in developed countries. Yet, here we are, together, facing this reality. How much? I'll go first. I wear only used clothes, eat organic, have a 10 year old laptop, got an iPhone 11 after my iPhone 6 and I have 29 slaves in my supply chain. The slave trade never died, but it is getting to be less of a presence on our planet per capita. How many slaves do you have? Try out this calculator. It's kludgy so if it doesn't work on a computer, try a tablet or phone or vice versa. Something will work and when it does, it's a well put-together interface.
Eradicate ItSlavery is exploitation. You can't exploit those who are empowered and who have knowledge. If you have destitution, there is greater risk for slavery. What do you think it would take for you to make good on your life being supported by slaves and you having opportunities because your country was founded on it?
You can give back and pay it forward by donating to groups that help eradicate slavery directly. You can also give to help eradicate extreme poverty and poverty. See my charities page for some suggestions, under "people". This list is ever-growing and a group not included doesn't mean it didn't pass my vetting process. It just may mean I don't know of it. Please contact me if you have a suggestion. |
More on coffee and sugar.
More on fair-trade/fair trade/fairtrade.
More on the culture of modern-day slave owners.
Over 70% of slaves are female, a report from International Labor Office.
Overview by Washington Post 2013 on global slavery (U.S. had .02%, or 60,000). See pics below and at article's link.
More on fair-trade/fair trade/fairtrade.
More on the culture of modern-day slave owners.
Over 70% of slaves are female, a report from International Labor Office.
Overview by Washington Post 2013 on global slavery (U.S. had .02%, or 60,000). See pics below and at article's link.
Pics from Washigton Post article on slavery from 2013.