So what, you may be asking, do I have in common with Scarlett O'Hara?
Well, we both have some Irish ancestry ,
green eyes,
a tendency to think about hard things "tomorrow"
and slaves.
Yes, you read that correctly. I have slaves working for me. At least 50 .
You may have even more.
I took the quiz at http://slaveryfootprint.org and based on what I eat, wear, buy and how I live, it translated to 50 slaves supporting my lifestyle.
January is Stop Slavery and Human Trafficking Month. Shockingly, in this year of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, there are more slaves than at any other time in history! The estimates are between 12-27 million.
Over half are children.
Unlike in Scarlett's day, it's so easy in our world to ignore our complicity. Our slaves are not visibly woven into the fabric or our everyday lives,
their faces are unseen,
their voices are unheard,
their existence is unperceived
as we shop and choose and do all of our normal everyday activities. But as God has been opening my eyes, I now realize that I am both an active and passive participant in modern day slavery. I am complicit.
I am complicit when I buy products without awareness that I am supporting slavery.
I am complicit when I close my eyes to the women and children who are being trafficked for sex right here in my own country, my own state, and yes, even my own town.
Sadly, our evangelical churches have, for the most part, been complicit, too. We who name the name of our God and preach (some of) His word, have been strangely quiet on the issue of social justice.
This, despite the clear evidence that God is not quiet on this issue. God's word has more than 300 verses concerning the poor, needy and social justice. You can read some of them here: http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/g8-bibleverses
But we have abdicated the cause to the secular humanists, to the "liberal, tree-huggers",to those who do not follow our Lord---- when it is clearly God's heart that His people be in the business of justice and liberty and righteousness and freedom.
But there is a movement. There are Christian voices speaking for those who have no voice. This week at Passion 2013 over 60,000 students heard the call for action and took to the streets seeking freedom for the enslaved. Everywhere across our country and across the world, Christian organizations, ministries, and individual Jesus followers are rising up to say, no more slaves in our day! These modern day abolitionists are doing the work to make all of us aware, to cry for justice, to activate our apathy into action for the oppressed.
Where to start? Do one easy thing. Then do another. Then something harder.
Start here. Easy. Be intentional. Shop to make a difference.
Change your makeup: Radiant Cosmetics has a campaign this month to
Kiss Slavery Good-bye ! Radiant's mission is to help garner awareness of human trafficking by raising funds through cosmetics to provide resources for those fighting it and those involved in it. Their company is "beauty with a purpose" and with every purchase they donate time, money and effort to this fight. This month for every lipstick purchased they will also donate one to a victim of trafficking. Easy, right? www.radiantcosmetics.org
Change your accessories: Trades of Hope is a missional company lifting women out of poverty, sweatshops and the sex trade by creating a market for their fair trade,hand crafted, artisan items. By giving women an opportunity to support themselves with dignity ,they and their children are not at risk for slavery. Shop www.mytradesofhope.com/deborahadair
Change your groceries: Look for fair trade labels at your grocery store (google fair trade label for some images to look for) to be sure that your coffee, chocolate, and tea is not being made by slave labor. These are the easiest products to find fair trade choices. For even more options, shop at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods or other stores that carry a large number of Fair Trade groceries.
Change your facebook. "Like" these pages to spread the word about the issue, share pictures and calls for action. Stop theTraffick, End slavery now, International Justice Mission, the Exodus Road, Not for Sale...you get the idea!
A little harder:
Shop for even more fair trade groceries, home goods and clothing by going online.
Begin at http://tradeasone.com .For more options, see www.freetoshop.org and www.shoptostopslavery.com
You can research brands you already use at www.fairtradeusa.org/shoppingguide and
www.freetowork.com You'll learn that it's better to shop at Express than American Eagle, buy Hanes, not Fruit of the Loom and wear Adidas, not Sketchers.
Download to your smart phone some apps to use at the store: the Better World Shopper($1.99) or the Free2Work app (free) .
Spend some time educating yourself about the scope of modern day slavery. There is a lot of information out there. Become an advocate. Share on facebook. Share this blog. Speak up. Write your congressman. Join a group. Donate to stop slavery and trafficking.
Be a modern day abolitionist! Begin now!
"Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!"
Proverbs 31:8-9 (the Message)
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