modernslavery

Child Labour: Modern-Day Slavery

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The obscenity of a society that closes its eyes in the face of the major issues


Child labour is one of the most obscene issues in our society, one of those problems people don’t want to see. Even though prohibited by legislation worldwide, the number of children exploited is growing. According to Unicef, 2021 registered the first increase in two decades, with cases rising to 160 million worldwide because of covid-19.

There is a consistent number of countries where child labour is not forbidden. Poverty and discrimination are the main causes, but conflicts and the pandemic gave a big hand in spreading the situations that degenerate into this modern-day slavery.

Child labour: modern-day slavery for the western world


Exploited children produce goods that fill the stores of the western world. Or call it that side of the world where either people ignore or pretend to ignore these issues. Whether it’s having the latest mobile device or a fancy car, it’s considered better than facing the truth about the small hands that extract the materials used to make our toys.

And so, we dedicate each day to specific matters giving them the priority for that day. Specifically, the world day against child labour was on 12 June. On an annual basis, we see impactful graphics and beautiful words that end up in nothing. They just become content for social media, but nothing ever changes.

These kinds of stories are as old as the earth. So, if we aren’t able to eradicate them, but we still abuse children’s rights, we have serious problems.

There can be no true sustainability without ethical labor. And if sustainable products are a priority, addressing child labor must come first. How can we talk about sustainability when the number of children involved in production chains has increased over time?

There is an organization committed to creating lasting change, called Still I Rise. Their projects are not endless; they focus on solving specific problems in a given area before moving on to the next. Education is at the heart of their mission, and they open schools to empower those in need.
Please, check them out here and donate if you can!

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Modern Slavery: The Hypocrites

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Enes Kanter exposes Nike’s hypocrisy on forced labour and Uyghur Minority


Modern slavery is a topic we frequently discuss because it is horrific and unacceptable. What concerns us even more is the hypocrisy surrounding it.

Brands are the new gods. Sell people a famous name, and in return, you’ll get silence and blindness.

However, as members of an evolved society, we cannot turn our heads to the other side pretending nothing happens.

The system of exploitation, built on forced labor and minority oppression, is directly linked to superbrands. Not only fashion brands, to make it clear. Indeed, every field finds benefit and – profit – in this rotten practice. In fact, there’s no better way to maximise profit.

Though we are just a drop in the ocean, we believe it’s crucial to voice our thoughts and help raise awareness about this issue.
While popular magazines have highlighted it, many people simply don’t engage with written content. People don’t like reading. Or they don’t care enough about things that do not affect them personally. Which, by the way, is a scary attitude.

So, how can we make the message resonate with a large audience?

modern slavery - via Enes Kanter
Modern Slavery – via Enes Kanter


Here comes Enes Kanter, an NBA player. We admit we know nothing about the sport he plays. Zero. But that’s not the point. In fact, we admire him for his bravery in showing up consistently in support of human rights. For many that tend to hide, there are a few who talk out loud.

And so, it was with immense pleasure that we saw his recent posts about the Uyghur minority, forced labour camps and brands hypocrisy, asking Nike’s accountability.

We need more brave humans like Enes Kanter to speak the truth to reach the masses. Just like we need more people that open their eyes and feel touched. Fundamentally, we must find a way to put an end to labour exploitation.

Hypocrite Nike - via Enes Kanter
via Enes Kanter


In conclusion, if as humans, all we have done is invent new forms of slavery to satisfy our fake needs, then we have failed.

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