|
Ian McKay (President, Warrnambool Daybreak Rotary Club) spoke about modern day slavery. He told us that slavery is not a relic of the past. In fact, it is estimated that more than 46 million people are currently living in slavery, four times more slaves than those taken out of Africa during the 400 years of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
There are four main types of slavery in the world today:
1) Bonded Slavery - The cycle begins when people take extreme loans under the condition that they work off the debt. The "loan" is designed so that it can never be paid off, and is often passed down for generations.
2) Child Labour - Children comprise about 26% of the slaves today. Most are domestic workers or work in cocoa, cotton or fishing industries. Many are trafficked and sexually exploited.
3) Human Trafficking - The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion.
4) Forced Marriages - Mainly driven by the culture in certain regions of the world, forced marriage is a form of slavery that affects millions of women and girls all over the world.
Three things you need to know about modern day slavery:
1. It is more vast than ever.
2. It is as brutal as ever.
3. It’s more stoppable than ever.
Ian shared several images and stories of modern day slavery throughout the world. Despite slavery being abolished more than 150 years ago there is more slavery in the world today than at any time in history.
Slavery is reinforced by large multi-nationals buying practices and by the market's hunger for cheap products. Our shopping practices can influence large companies to change their policies around supply and work for more ethically produced products.
Ian invited any members of our club to attend Rotary Club of Warrnambool Daybreak on 11th January to hear the Victorian Co-ordinator of the Rotary Action Group against Slavery. Please advise Daybreak club if you are going to attend.
|
