Rock & Roll stops the traffic*

My mate Thomas over in Glasgow is helping push a concert featuring Klearkut, Ashley Ballard, Yvonne Lyon and The Glasgow Gospel Choir on Nov. 20th. The cause – STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I can’t make the show, but maybe Elijah and his bride and Erikito and her husband can make the show.

Here’s a brief history:

In 2001 the chocolate industry committed to eradicate the worst forms of child labour. In 2007 the world is still waiting.
Nearly half the world’s chocolate comes from cocoa plantations in the Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa
Twelve thousand children have been trafficked to work on these cocoa plantations.
We want all chocolate companies to be able to give us a traffik free guarantee: that the cocoa beans which make their chocolate have not been harvested by trafficked children.
Download resources for you and your community to fight for a traffik free guarantee on chocolate at www.stopthetraffik.org/chocolatecampaign

It’s amazing to think that human trafficking and slavery still takes place today – but it does – even in the “Good ole’ U. S. of A.”
in fact KERA’s Think had a full hour dedicated to the issue on yesterday’s show. Host Chris Boyd spoke with Journalist John Bowe. His new book, “Nobodies: Modern American Slave Labor and the Dark Side of the New Global Economy” (Random House, 2007), exposes a practice which fuels the low prices that benefit us all.

In the interview Bowe makes the statement that most slavery in the U.S. isn’t as much about saving money – as it is about how we view others. When the cost of pesticide increased 1 cent per pound, the growers simply increased the cost of oranges. Yet when the workers asked for a pay increase of 1 cent per pound, which would have doubled many of their yearly incomes, the growers said, “No. We can’t do that.” When asked why not, the growers responded, “Look my tractor doesn’t tell me how to farm.”

Yet we (myself included) let these atrocities continue when we make uninformed buying decisions. When will it stop?

* I wonder how many people will recognize this blog post title (leave a comment if you do).

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Jonathan Blundell

I'm a husband, father of three, blogger, podcaster, author and media geek who is hoping to live a simple life and follow The Way.

2 thoughts on “Rock & Roll stops the traffic*”

  1. Hi MY name is DJ.for twenty-two years of slavery
    8 years ago I escape from this tragedy. I promise all victims if I would get out that I would start angels in the fiels rescuing human trafficking. Last year I develope my Non-profit Organization against human trafficking. I been developing some brochures for education and awearness. I have seen your picture and I was wondering if we can used this picture for our brochures and awearness and education. It would be an honor,however with alot of people suwing we decided to communicate with you,and inform us if is o.k. to used this picture.

    Thank you,DJ
    Angels in the Field
    P.O.Box1693
    shelton WA 98584
    360-545-6604
    360-970-0416

  2. Hi MY name is DJ.for twenty-two years of slavery
    8 years ago I escape from this tragedy. I promise all victims if I would get out that I would start angels in the fiels rescuing human trafficking. Last year I develope my Non-profit Organization against human trafficking. I been developing some brochures for education and awearness. I have seen your picture and I was wondering if we can used this picture for our brochures and awearness and education. It would be an honor,however with alot of people suwing we decided to communicate with you,and inform us if is o.k. to used this picture.

    Thank you,DJ
    Angels in the Field
    P.O.Box1693
    shelton WA 98584
    360-545-6604
    360-970-0416

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