How Do I/We Avoid the Promotion of Human Trafficking When Celebrating?
Human trafficking, modern slavery, includes labor, slavery-like practices (such as debt bondage, forced marriage, and sale or exploitation of children), and sex trafficking. While celebrations of family and community exist year-round, the end of the calendar year usually finds a more abundant amount of these celebrations in a shorter time frame. As a member of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN) Family, we have committed to educate ourselves and others about the inherent violence of human trafficking, pray for an end to this grave injustice, and to work for systemic change with regard to policies and programs that empower individuals to abstain from these slave-like conditions.
A new report, The Global Slavery Index, is published by the Walk Free Foundation. Walk Free is committed to ending all forms of slavery in this generation. It is the first Index of its kind-providing an estimate, country by country, of the number of people living in slavery today. A key finding from this inaugural Index is that there are an estimated 29.8 million people enslaved around the world. In addition to providing factual information about slavery, the Index also identifies the factors that shed light on the risk of modern slavery in each country and examines the strength of government responses in tackling the issue.
Using quantitative methods, it provides the first measure of the prevalence of modern day slavery in 162 countries, reflecting a combined measure of three factors: estimated prevalence of slavery by population, a measure of child marriage, and a measure of human trafficking in and out of a country. It places the figures in its findings in the context of what governments are doing to tackle it. The annual Global Slavery Index will be critical in directing efforts to eradicate modern day slavery. The entire Index can be viewed here.
With regard to the purchase of products for our celebrations, a helpful website is located here. This website reveals the story behind the barcode in that it rates companies on a school-based grading scale examining child and forced labor in the supply chains. Those companies with whom individuals plan to purchase products of food for celebrations (i.e. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and others) would do well to visit this website looking for the word, "Industry." To the right of the word, individuals may choose the industry and the word, "view" to observe the details of the company. Downloadable iPhone and Android applications are also available at the website.
When considered as a percentage of population, the prevalence of modern day slavery is highest in Mauritania, Haiti, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Moldova, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, the Gambia and Gabon. However, when considered in absolute terms, the countries with the highest estimated numbers of enslaved are India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Taken together, these ten countries account for more than 76% of the total estimate of 29.8 million enslaved. The top 10 countries ranked for their low prevalence are: Ireland, Iceland, UK, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, and Denmark.
Reflections/Actions:
A new report, The Global Slavery Index, is published by the Walk Free Foundation. Walk Free is committed to ending all forms of slavery in this generation. It is the first Index of its kind-providing an estimate, country by country, of the number of people living in slavery today. A key finding from this inaugural Index is that there are an estimated 29.8 million people enslaved around the world. In addition to providing factual information about slavery, the Index also identifies the factors that shed light on the risk of modern slavery in each country and examines the strength of government responses in tackling the issue.
Using quantitative methods, it provides the first measure of the prevalence of modern day slavery in 162 countries, reflecting a combined measure of three factors: estimated prevalence of slavery by population, a measure of child marriage, and a measure of human trafficking in and out of a country. It places the figures in its findings in the context of what governments are doing to tackle it. The annual Global Slavery Index will be critical in directing efforts to eradicate modern day slavery. The entire Index can be viewed here.
With regard to the purchase of products for our celebrations, a helpful website is located here. This website reveals the story behind the barcode in that it rates companies on a school-based grading scale examining child and forced labor in the supply chains. Those companies with whom individuals plan to purchase products of food for celebrations (i.e. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and others) would do well to visit this website looking for the word, "Industry." To the right of the word, individuals may choose the industry and the word, "view" to observe the details of the company. Downloadable iPhone and Android applications are also available at the website.
When considered as a percentage of population, the prevalence of modern day slavery is highest in Mauritania, Haiti, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Moldova, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, the Gambia and Gabon. However, when considered in absolute terms, the countries with the highest estimated numbers of enslaved are India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Taken together, these ten countries account for more than 76% of the total estimate of 29.8 million enslaved. The top 10 countries ranked for their low prevalence are: Ireland, Iceland, UK, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, and Denmark.
Reflections/Actions:
- What experiences do I/we have connecting our food and other products used in celebrations with labor trafficking?
- From Catholic Social Teaching: "... Whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where men are treated as mere tools for profit, rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others of their like are infamies indeed. They poison human society, but they do more harm to those who practice them than those who suffer from the injury." (The Church and the Modern World, #27)
- What observations encourage greater reflection and research about the countries with the most prevalence and those with less prevalence for human trafficking?
- How can I/we be more intentional about the products I/we purchase so as to guarantee I/we are not contributing to enslavement of others to produce products?
- How can our consumption choices in keeping with the women religious vow of poverty or the call to live simply be perpetuating the enslavement of others? What options do I have for changing this perspective and my actions?
- On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25), individuals and groups are invited to help raise awareness of the violence of women in all parts of the world. International resources are located here.
- When purchasing clothing, how do I/we ensure that women and girls in the garment industry are not exploited?
- Pray for those who are caught in the web of human trafficking and pray, also, for the perpetrators that they may come to recognize the dignity of all persons.
- Join people throughout the world by making a commitment to do your part to build a world without slavery. Visit this site and click on Take Action to sign on to the international campaign to end modern day slavery.
- View a short video on modern day slavery.
- An interesting article on Walmart's Human Trafficking Problem is located here.
- Start small and continue, looking for fair trade products or find individuals/small companies that make their own products in your country of origin.
The Harvest of Justice Season
National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) continues to encourage supporters of migrant farm workers to host a sacrificial meal honoring the hands that harvest food. The basic idea is to gather friends, family, and/or faith communities to pray and reflect on farm workers' lives giving thanks for their labor and seeking justice on a variety of issues with them. The simple dinner allows for further education of farmworker issues and a free-will collection to be given to the NFWM movement. More information is located here. Oxfam America also offers the opportunity to host a hunger banquet with materials and instructions.
Reflections/Actions:
- What actions can I make in solidarity with migrant farmworkers in eating a simple meal no matter what amount of food is set before me?
- What stories of migrant farmworkers can I share at the table with those whom I gather?
- From Catholic Social Teaching: "Yet the workers' rights cannot be doomed to be the mere result of economic systems aimed at maximum profits. The thing that must shape the whole economy is respect for the workers' rights within each country and all through the world's economy." (On Human Work (Donders translation), #17.) What other consequences do countries experience as a result of not addressing the root causes of labor injustices?
- To avoid exploitation of migrant farmworkers, the NFWM union label shopping guide.
- Harvesting Justice: Transforming Food, Land and Agricultural Systems in the Americas is downloadable (click on "get a copy" tab). You can also find "Sowing Seeds for Learning and Action," a popular education curriculum including more than 100 games, discussion guides, and action items.
- A two-minute video on farmworkers is located here.
- Sample prayer if desire to use: Holy God, source of righteousness and hope, where is your justice if we, your followers, do not bring it to bear against the wrongs you lay before us? As we sit at the table each meal, cause us to remember the farmworkers who daily endure hardship and exploitation so that they can feed their families.
U.S. Legislative Updates
Farm Bill and SNAP: Last week House members agreed to sit down with Senate members in a committee to reconcile their versions of legislation. It is not known what aspects of the Farm Bill and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will come from this committee. As stated previously, the Senate seeks to cut $4.1 billion from the SNAP program while the House desires almost $40 billion in cuts to the program.
Immigration reform still awaits action in the House with approximately 16 working days in the calendar year and the many days of fasting, prayer and action officially over. No need to let up on the pressure of House members with comprehensive immigration reform messages. Yes, skeptics predict the House will NOT act this year as it found difficulty with the budget issues that were not considered as complex. Catholics Confront Global Poverty in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services and the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops are urging individuals to raise the question with Congress as to the root causes of migration that include extreme poverty, unemployment and violence in countries of origin. With legislation being introduced by a variety of individuals, the voting may come in a quick manner. U.S. Catholic Bishops are watching legislation co-sponsored by California Jeff Denham (H.R. 15) that contains elements of comprehensive immigration reform, especially a path to citizenship.
Reflections/Actions:
Immigration reform still awaits action in the House with approximately 16 working days in the calendar year and the many days of fasting, prayer and action officially over. No need to let up on the pressure of House members with comprehensive immigration reform messages. Yes, skeptics predict the House will NOT act this year as it found difficulty with the budget issues that were not considered as complex. Catholics Confront Global Poverty in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services and the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops are urging individuals to raise the question with Congress as to the root causes of migration that include extreme poverty, unemployment and violence in countries of origin. With legislation being introduced by a variety of individuals, the voting may come in a quick manner. U.S. Catholic Bishops are watching legislation co-sponsored by California Jeff Denham (H.R. 15) that contains elements of comprehensive immigration reform, especially a path to citizenship.
Reflections/Actions:
- Individuals are invited to contact both U.S. Senators and Representatives urging them to AVOID SNAP benefit cuts, reduce funding, restrict eligibility, reduce benefits or make harmful structural changes. With regard to protecting those individuals most vulnerable, one might ask, "why does Congress continue to allow federal income tax breaks to large corporations and at the same time take food out of the mouths of hungry children?"
- Review and reflect upon the comprehensive immigration reform elements.
- November 13 is the feast of St. Frances Cabrini, a patron of immigrants. Catholics are invited to a national call-in day urging U.S. Representatives to pass a comprehensive immigration reform legislation that includes a path to citizenship and opposes the SAFE Act as it is focused on enforcement that will likely increase detentions and deportations and encourage racial profiling and unconstitutional detentions without addressing the root causes of the broken immigration system.
- Catholic Relief Services recently had an excellent editorial letter in the New York Times laying out the facts of immigration reform. Resources from facts and figures to talking points continues to be at the Justice for Immigrants website.
- Individuals are urged to continue making phone calls and sending messages to House members and House Speaker John Boehner on a consistent basis. Sample messages are located on the Justice for Immigrants website and talking points are located here. It is important to urge Speaker Boehner to place immigration reform up for a vote.
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