Causecast

by SARAH NELSON, Contributing Writer

Our insatiable demand for stuff results in a great deal of pressure for cheaper goods. But we rarely take a step back to consider that our addiction to consumerism is one of the largest driving forces behind the atrocities of human trafficking and forced labor. Think about it: cheap stuff requires cheap labor.

In an effort to fight against the inhumane side-effects of hyper-consumption, the International Organization for Migration has launched the Buy Responsibly campaign. The campaign is designed to encourage consumers to take charge of their purchasing and do their part to end human trafficking.

A “gray industry” of exploited human labor develops when governments fail to protect the rights of workers. This “gray industry” threatens the assurance of humane working conditions and fair pay. It’s not just the government though; private companies have a responsibility to ensure the proper treatment of their employees. In fact, in many countries, corporations are better equipped to take care of their workers than the government is. However, the reality is that they don’t always do it. And the way human trafficking relates to our consumer addiction is just plain staggering.

Check this out:

• Worldwide, approximately 12.3 million people are believed to be working in conditions of forced and exploited labor.

• Even in industrialized countries, 113,000 people work in conditions of forced labor.

• In the United Kingdom, between 500,000 and 600,000 irregular migrants are believed to work in exploitative conditions.

• The Philippines, along with many other countries, are active supporters of human trafficking because of the economic benefits that countries gain from the remittance amount.

• South Africa is expected to see an increase in the amount of prostitution during the upcoming 2010 World Cup.

While Buy Responsibly is a Euro-centric project (for the most part), the principles are not limited to Europe. With that in mind, who would you believe holds the record for consumption? No surprise there – Americans are the biggest consumers.

Here’s the Buy Responsibly Public Service Announcement. You’ll never look at the tomatoes in your salad the same way again.

Here’s what you should do, and a little bit about what you should NOT do:

• DO make a conscious effort to buy Fair Trade products. Fair Trade products ensure economic, environmental and social standards are fair to the consumer and producer. Fair Trade USA offers a list of companies that are Fair Trade Certified.

• DO let companies know that the proper treatment of their workers is a significant factor in your purchases. Companies can’t function without consumers, so realizing that human rights could affect their bottom line should push them in the right direction.

• DON’T launch a boycott without all the facts. Boycotting certain products could have adverse effects on those involved in production – like total unemployment. Plus, slave-trade is wide spread. If you boycott everything, you’re going to eventually end up naked and really hungry. Boycott with specific demands and tangible goals in mind.

• DO stop the boycott once companies implement change. Ethical changes are a good thing. Companies deserve to be rewarded when they make the effort to adjust their business to reflect ethical practices.

Photo by austinevan, flickr.