That there is still slavery, alive and well, in the world, is a fact that should shock us all. The International Labour Organization estimates that there are, globally, 36 million slaves, a fact that adds $150 billion annually to the criminal economy. Slavery is not only unacceptable morally; it also has a disproportionate impact on climate change and species loss. This is because a lot of it is found in food production, mining, brick-making logging, charcoal production and other activities that damage the natural environment.
An example are the seafood processing camps in the Sundarbans World Heritage site in the Bay of Bengal, a vast area of protected mangrove forest that is a major carbon sink and is home to protected species. It is also a crucial buffer for coastal towns against cyclones. Slaves are made to clear the forest, which releases CO2 and also pushes tigers to the brink of extinction. The profits driving this destruction come from the global market for shrimp and pet food.
If the whole slave population constituted a country it would have Canada’s population and the GDP of Kuwait, but would rank third for CO2 emissions, after China and the US. It is not necessarily intuitive, but enforcement of existing anti-slavery laws would diminish both CO2 emissions and species loss, while also warding off the threat of rising sea levels and destructive deforestation. This would have little or no economic cost for existing (non-criminal) industries and markets, and would help lift depressed economic areas.
Kevin Bales, of the University of Hull, UK, suggests that if freed slaves were paid to replant the forests they were forced to cut, this could generate carbon credits, and selling these credits would help to fund the rehabilitation of land and people. ( Adapted from“Slaves to destruction” by Kevin Bales , University of Hull, UK) .
Epicurus was no supporter of slavery. He appears to have had no slaves himself, welcoming slaves and ex- slaves into his garden. Were he alive today I think he would agree that forced labour is immoral and inefficient and that you get the best work out of people who are free. The modern situation should have much more publicity; people are simply unaware of it. But , having been made aware, how can you continue to buy the products produced by means of slavery?
Comment : In 2015 poll
66% of British consumers said they would switch products if they learnt their favourite product was made involving modern slavery (20% were not sure, 14% said they would continue buying the product). Of the people who knew how they would act (i.e.: answered clearly they would or would not switch brands), the vast majority (83%) would switch products.
• 53% of consumers said they would pay more for their favourite products in order to ensure they were free from modern slavery (24% were not sure, 23% said they would not pay more). Of the people who knew how they would act (i.e: answered clearly that they would, or would not pay more), the vast majority (70%) would pay more to ensure their favourite products were not made with modern slavery.
• Of the substantial group of British consumers who are prepared to pay more to ensure their products are free from modern slavery, some 52-58% are prepared to pay up to 10% more for this guarantee, across food, tea and coffee, clothing and even electronics.
• Consumers indicated that a certification mark from an independent body would be more trusted than other sources, to identify and guarantee products are made without modern slavery.