Slaves – Sunset Observer #18…by Whitney Farmer, MBA – Un Pop Culture | @MDWorld

October 23, 2013 Whitney Farmer 6 Comments

Today, 29.8 million people live as slaves. This report was the first of what is anticipated to be released annually by the Walk Free Foundation, sponsored through the financial commitment of Australian-based mining magnate Andrew Forrest.

The top ten offending countries in terms of total numbers are, in order: India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.

The greatest offending countries in terms of percentage of population are Mauritania, Haiti, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.

It’s okay to be struck by the irony of a billionaire who arguably got that way in an industry that globally reaps direct economic benefits from slavery, even if he has no direct knowledge of his connection. And it’s okay that he is committed to doing this work now. Active repentance can improve the world. Alfred Nobel used his wealth garnered from his invention of dynamite first rolled out in the Crimean War to fund the Nobel Prize for Peace.

There are surprises in the report such as the admirable anti-slavery policies of Brazil which has in the past often fallen short in reports of how endemic poverty have precipitated human rights abuses. Significantly, it is not only impoverished countries which are cited as being important slavery offenders. Cultural traditions lead people to believe that it’s okay to own other people. Near where I live and twenty minutes from Disneyland, a Saudi Arabian princess in Irvine, CA was charged in July with human trafficking.

The report extended its definition of slavery to include forced marriage leading to de facto servitude and sexual slavery, debt bondage, and the exploitation of children. The explicit definition used to guide the analysis was, “…the possession and control of a person in such a way as to significantly deprive that person of his or her individual liberty, with the intent of exploiting that person through their use, management, profit, transfer, or disposal.”

And this describes the life today of almost 30 million people. 30,000,000 people.

In related stories of suspected human trafficking, this week in Greece and in Ireland, blonde children have been taken into custody after reportedly being rescued from Gypsy/Roma/Traveler families who bore no visible appearance to them. The genetic testing of the Greek child showed that she is no relation to the couple who claimed to be her parents. They have now been arrested.

A concern that bears comment is that the prejudices that continue to be endemic against this migrating community now appear to be stirred and are coming to the surface.  Gypsies stealing blonde children as they sweep through towns is as common an image as gypsies being horse thieves. In the last few days, French officials pulled a schoolgirl off her bus and deported her to Kosovo because she is Roma. Her father was born there but she has never been there and does not know the language. Schools in France are declared to be sanctuary sites which was brought again to official remembrance after the deportation ignited student protests in Paris and beyond.

It is because I love the Gypsy/Roma people that I support prosecution against any form human rights violations regardless of who is the offender. These events in Ireland and Greece are aberrations and not the norm for their culture. They love children.

And it is for this same reason that I also support even suspicious efforts that help a child get an education.   Illegal or not, let children go to school. Access leads to skills which leads to reduced economic vulnerability which leads to fewer slaves. Perhaps children should be viewed as global ambassadors with diplomatic immunity to go across all borders and into all schools until they reach the age of maturity…

Slavery is nightmarish but thankfully can be successfully addressed through well-written laws. The best laws are those that have a moral heart. What is more troubling is when governments do not provide protection, either because of actively allowing such abhorrent practices or from not enforcing those laws which are on the books. And money is the root of all kinds of this evil.

My 12th grade Honors teacher Bill Donohue once asked a Socratic question in class that is still worthy of meditation: What would you do if you were invisible?

Extending it further, how would you treat a person who no one else could see?

NEXT TIME: Maybe something shallow…

Image of ‘Maria’ in protective custody pending investigation into her identity, courtesy of greece.greekreporter.com.