31 March 2007
18 March 2007
Just stop it . . .
An excellent article by Kevin Bales, president of Free the Slaves. What will it take to get the world's governments to focus sufficiently on contemporary slavery? How can 27 million people still remain enslaved in today's world. How can this be?
Well, it happens and, as Mr. Bales points out, it often happens right under your nose. That slavery came to church in suburban Fort Worth is an extreme yet highly ironic reminder of how comfortable westerners may be unwitting accomplices to this horror even in cases where we think we're helping.
What I don't follow entirely is Mr. Bales' resigned acceptance of the opacity of the supply chain of goods that make there ways to rich countries. Taking up Mr. Bales' example of cocoa, I would guess that slave-owning suppliers could always under-bid legitimate suppliers. I would guess it's safe to assume the law of supply and demand is encouraging slavery. Mr. Bales suggests that boycotting certain goods such as cocoa is akin to killing the patient in order to stop the disease: this is because legitimate (often family-owned businesses) would be wiped out along with the illegitimate. The only way to attack slavery, therefore, is through relentless enforcement, which means spending money. In addition, industries should be relentlessly pressured at the public policy level to step up to their responsibility to aid in this enforcement. Not sure how well big business would take to this idea. Not sure I give a damn.
So. Let's not let the beltway pundits and the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal pull the wool over our eyes, yet again, with the old "consumers demand low prices" and "over-regulation" shell games. On this one, you can be sure the industries and their lobbyists would hammer at our obliging representatives in government. They will do so successfully unless there is a counterbalancing force -- which can only be at the grass-roots level -- which can keep the focus on the real issue: ending slavery.
Of course, there is a long way to go before we even get to the point of government action. Mr. Bales needs to be watched and encouraged -- who will join him in the cause?
The Wal-Mart defence just doesn't cut it, not on this one.
Well, it happens and, as Mr. Bales points out, it often happens right under your nose. That slavery came to church in suburban Fort Worth is an extreme yet highly ironic reminder of how comfortable westerners may be unwitting accomplices to this horror even in cases where we think we're helping.
What I don't follow entirely is Mr. Bales' resigned acceptance of the opacity of the supply chain of goods that make there ways to rich countries. Taking up Mr. Bales' example of cocoa, I would guess that slave-owning suppliers could always under-bid legitimate suppliers. I would guess it's safe to assume the law of supply and demand is encouraging slavery. Mr. Bales suggests that boycotting certain goods such as cocoa is akin to killing the patient in order to stop the disease: this is because legitimate (often family-owned businesses) would be wiped out along with the illegitimate. The only way to attack slavery, therefore, is through relentless enforcement, which means spending money. In addition, industries should be relentlessly pressured at the public policy level to step up to their responsibility to aid in this enforcement. Not sure how well big business would take to this idea. Not sure I give a damn.
So. Let's not let the beltway pundits and the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal pull the wool over our eyes, yet again, with the old "consumers demand low prices" and "over-regulation" shell games. On this one, you can be sure the industries and their lobbyists would hammer at our obliging representatives in government. They will do so successfully unless there is a counterbalancing force -- which can only be at the grass-roots level -- which can keep the focus on the real issue: ending slavery.
Of course, there is a long way to go before we even get to the point of government action. Mr. Bales needs to be watched and encouraged -- who will join him in the cause?
The Wal-Mart defence just doesn't cut it, not on this one.
17 March 2007
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