“What?”
That’s probably what you’re wondering. Well, if you are free to do what you want, free to go where you want and free to work where you want, you are better than 27 million people in this world. You are not for sale.
This past week, something really significant happened for us a ministry. We held a seminar with Not For Sale founder, David Batstone and his associate, Brant Christopher. Not For Sale is an organization birthed out of a hope to see the modern day slave trade abolished. This campaign is working to free those who are in bondage. David Batstone has just written an international best seller, Not For Sale, that highlights numerous stories around the globe. It’s a shocking book.
What’s more shocking, though, is people’s reaction to it. David told us many stories during his time here and there is much hope in the world of slavery. Many are joining with NFS and working hard to stop the slave trade. But others don’t believe it. Many would say that there are no slaves, and there has not been since the American Civil War.
Were that only the case. How I long for it to be true that through the passing of laws, slavery had ended.
Unfortunately, it is very real and NFS is calling us as a generation who care for others, to stand for something. During the seminar, we learned a lot. Some of it was amazing, some was depressing, but most of it was very, very challenging.
Like the fact that I can’t eat m&ms until Mars and Co. eliminate slave labour from their workforce. Or that my favourite chocolate, Ghiardelli, is not open about where they source their cocoa beans from. Or the fact that Starbucks sells a few Fair Trade coffee varieties, but what about the rest of their coffee? Is the rest of their coffee slave coffee? I know this sounds extreme, but this is reality.
And the fact is, is that it’s us who drive the demand for such labour. I’m the first to admit that when I see 3 t-shirts for $20, I’m into it. I want a good deal. In fact, I pride myself on always getting a good deal. But at what cost? Something that David mentioned has stood out to me – no matter what the price of an item, someone is always paying. And if it isn’t us, than who is paying for it? Not the conglomerate company…not the source of their material…it comes down to their workers. Did you know that most of the cotton that comes from Uzbekistan is made from children who are forced to work? Their schools actually shut for two months, they are shuffled on to busses and shipped to the cotton fields. Remember when we considered that slavery? Do we still? What then will we do about it? And what price will we pay?
I tell you one thing, I’m going to think before I consume. If we all thought a little bit before we bought something, we might be able to change a life. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE visit www.notforsalecampaign.org to find out more about being a smart consumer. They are also looking for people to help them with their projects-and there are so many great things they do. It’s crazy NOT to be involved.
Let’s be an active part of setting people free!!!!!

from a wanna-be abolitionist.

Also, check out www.free2work.org to see which companies are rated how. Believe it or not, companies like Nike and Gap are actually pretty good! Makes me feel better about my shoes…

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