Slavery today, modern-day slavery, is more complicated, more immense, and more large-scale than ever before. The number of slaves now are greater than any other time in history. It has become so bad, in terms of the number of people involved, that there are more slaves now than in the 1800s, a time period that is known for slavery! Slavery is something that many thought was over, but not many realize it's not. The one difference between the 1800s slavery and modern-day slavery is how urgent people are to fix this issue. Back then, slavery was a very public thing and there were countless abolitionist trying to end it; now, not so much.
To me, the real problem is not awareness, it's doing something about it. People hear about these things and think "Oh no this is terrible" and that's where it ends. They move on with their lives doing nothing to help the situation. Today, people don't think of this forced labor as slavery, which is why people don't reach that sense of urgency. Many think it's not that bad and that this issue can be fixed simply. Nothing will change if no one does anything about it.
So what is the solution? The solution is in the people. People care about money so much these days that they don't care about how their workers feel. Just like the solution to the underground criminal network, people need to be aware and report suspicious situations. People need to start becoming aware of their surroundings and realize that you could be walking next to someone who has been trafficked. If people do that, then modern-day slavery can be fixed. I believe that it is the people who can make the most change.
But for now, us as individuals can make a change. We can stop purchasing products from companies that use slave labor. We can check the ingredients in food products and make sure the clothes you buy are coming from a place where workers are treated right. Individuals can do their part by spreading awareness to others, and that is how change happens.
Good stuff, Johan. It made it easier to understand the current state of slavery by comparing it with slavery in the 1800s. You emphasized that we have to more urgent, and that we have to act now, but what exactly should we do in order to end slavery? I think you can improve you blog by writing down specific actions that we can take now.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you emphasised the caliber of this modern day slavery issue. Also, I agree with your solution that awareness is the problem. I wrote that people don't really act when they hear about modern day slavery. Like yours, I also said that the solution was in the people and that they can make the difference. However, I also think that governments around the world should prohibit modern day slavery and start change.
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