Conscious Consumerism & You
Human trafficking is a multi billion dollar industry, and it is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. As an advocate, the statistics can be overwhelming. Although we want to help, it’s easy to feel powerless to stop these grave abuses against women, children, and men. Human trafficking thrives in secrecy, yet it still touches many facets of our lives. Every day, we have a choice to interrupt human trafficking schemes and fight for rights of all people. This is because many common products — from your cup of coffee to the necklace you’re wearing — could be made by people who are not earning a living wage.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash/CouponSnake
In a previous blog post at Dressember, author Lucas Moore writes that: “Forced labor trafficking is when people are employed to perform work against their will, with some sort of threat motivating them to perform. Victims of trafficking are often deceived into working, manipulated with violence, left in poverty due to debts owed, or imprisoned. Victims might have their passports revoked, or be told they will be reported to the government as illegal immigrants if they do not work—recent immigrants are sometimes targeted for this very reason. Other victims are manipulated into labor because of threats made to their family members.”
“Being a conscious consumer means buying and consuming in ways that are consistent with your beliefs and values.”
While we cannot directly change the conditions for these workers, we can cut off the demand for products that are known or suspected of being produced through forced labor. That is why in the month of August, our posts will be focused on being a conscious consumer. To us, being a conscious consumer means buying and consuming in ways that are consistent with your beliefs and values. This includes researching how your goods are made, services are provided, and ultimately understanding that where you spend your money matters.
To make decisions that support the fair treatment of workers requires information. And though supply chains are intentionally kept in the dark, our goal is to educate consumers about where they could make a difference. Looking for a Fair Trade label on your bag of coffee or purchasing your next necklace from a brand like Sela Designs will disrupt labor trafficking.
As long as sourcing and production remain in the dark, we cannot trust brands to protect workers’ rights. Many products are well known for including child labor or forced labor in their supply chains. The U.S. Department of Labor and the International Labor Organization have published detailed statistics on products they know or suspect use human trafficking in their supply chains. With this information readily available, we believe it is our responsibility to make better, more ethical decisions to achieve a world with dignity. Stay tuned over the coming weeks to learn which products may be linked to human trafficking, and in turn, how you can become a conscious consumer.
About the Author
Emma Beavins is from Franklin, Indiana—a mid-sized town in the heart of central Indiana. Emma is an avid reader, caffeinated-beverage consumer, and a firm believer in the pancakes-are-better-than-waffles debate. Emma enjoys running half marathons and spending quality time with friends, preferably over breakfast. Emma is studying English and Spanish at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana where she hopes to be able to use her verbal and written communication skills to advocate for various social justice issues.