It’s that time again! The time when people come together in love for friends and family for the Holidays. However, for certain people around the world, the Holiday season isn’t a time of family, friends, and celebration. Instead, it is a staunch reminder that they are slaves, that they are forced to make products for people who probably don’t value the freedom they have. To combat this travesty, it is up to us to not support modern-day slavery. How can we do this during the Holiday season? By giving gifts not made by modern-day slaves.
The topic of modern-day slavery is nothing new for the Inquisitr . Previously, it was reported areas most prominent for growing chocolate utilize a labor force that may consist of children kidnapped from their homes. They are at times forced to work up to twenty hours straight. In the Middle East, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) captures Yazidi women – some being underage – and turns them into slaves. Summarized, modern-day slavery is not just present, but quite prominent.
How prominent is said modern-day slavery? According to a collective report by RYOT , the estimated numbers on modern slavery, calculated by Walk Free Foundation of Australia, found slaves contribute to the production of at least 122 goods in 58 out of 167 countries. The United Nations also released a report estimating 21 million slaves are trapped into forced labor.
Despite the grim numbers, many people are just ignorant to the realities of modern-day slavery. Andrew Forrest, chairman of Walk Free Foundation, made a statement on this ignorance.
“There is an assumption that slavery is an issue from a bygone era. Or that it only exists in countries ravaged by war.”
Along with chocolate mentioned earlier in this article, slaves make everything from pirated video game consoles, cotton, and clothing. Just two years ago, Gordon Brown, the prime minister of England, shared details about the discovery of child slaves in India forced to make Christmas ornaments and decorations. The attached video below details Brown’s discovery.
Just by the harrowing direction of this article, it seems everything is made by a person in chains. Thankfully, that is not true. The organization Not For Sale began a campaign known as Free2Work , which compiles and rates all retailers and companies on a letter grade scale. This includes store policies, transparency, and worker’s rights. This also includes ethics in which the campaign looks to see if said companies and retailers buy or create goods utilizing slave labor.
Now that you’ve read the report on the possibility that your Christmas gifts may be a product made from slaves, what are your opinions on it? Are you going to take the time to research if said gifts are made earnestly and ethically?
[Image via Google]