Act Now: Remember Modern Slavery For Passover 2011

This Passover, remember the 27 million people still enslaved in the world today. And act! Slavery is not only in our past, it is in our present. But there are actions you, your friends, and family can take TODAY to help prevent slavery in our future. SLAVERY IN SUPPLY CHAINS The problem: Slavery in the […]
April 15, 2011

This Passover, remember the 27 million people still enslaved in the world today. And act!

Slavery is not only in our past, it is in our present. But there are actions you, your friends, and family can take TODAY to help prevent slavery in our future.


SLAVERY IN SUPPLY CHAINS

The problem: Slavery in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s the deadliest spot in the poorest continent on earth. Millions have died in the conflict between rebel militias and the national army. At stake: vast mineral wealth and control of slaves who are forced to work in and round the mines. Free the Slaves investigators have found at least seven different types of slavery around Congo mines—including sexual enslavement of children, debt bondage, child soldiering and forced labor.
Your connection to slavery in Congo: Tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold from Congo mines end up in our laptops, cell phones, batteries and jewelry. The products you use every day could have the sweat and blood of slaves at their source.
Now you know.
A California solution: Support the Blood Minerals law (SB 861) Recently, Congress signed the DRC Conflict Minerals law, a landmark piece of federal legislation that requires companies to report what they are doing to eliminate conflict from the minerals in their supply chains. Now, a new California bill is in the works that will make it illegal for California to contract with companies that don’t comply with the federal Conflict Minerals law. On April 12, SB 861 was passed by a committee of the California State Senate. Up next: the bill will be brought to the Fiscal Committee. Let’s make California the first Blood Mineral-free state in the country. Sign the petition to show your support for the enactment of SB 861.
GOAL SIGNATURES BY APRIL 26: 1,000 (936 to go)

BEYOND CONGO MINERALS

Slavery has been traced in supply chains of products we use every day, like cotton, chocolate, tomatoes and cars. More work must be done before supply chains are transparent. But here’s what you can do right now: buy products that are most likely to be slave free, like:

  • Fair trade, organic and direct trade CHOCOLATE
  • Sweatshop free clothes made from organic COTTON
  • Fair trade and direct trade COFFEE

DONATE

Free the Slaves and the frontline heroes we support need your regular donations to continue our work. Donate today, and help eradicate slavery.


SPREAD THE WORD

Print out our Passover one pager below, and spread the word to your family and friends.

To keep up-to-date with the latest in the anti-slavery movement, go to:

Can you help end the conditions that cause modern slavery?

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