Slavery

[oberland]

Hi all,

Today, at least in England we “celebrated the abolition of slavery” unfortunately it soon became apparent that slavery has not been abolished at all, but is in fact more prevalent than ever.

Three thoughts came to me:

• Man can pass (and has passed) as many laws as it likes banning slavery, it hasn’t worked, is not working, and will never work, because man outside of Christ is corrupt, his heart being deceitful above all things.

• The answer to slavery isn’t in mans house, but in God’s house.

• If every item that contained the product of slave labour were to disappear from Christian’s homes, and off our backs, the Church of Christ would be practically naked, and devoid of possessions.

• That most people reading this thread will agree with the above but do nothing about it.

So what are the solutions?

Prayer certainly, and the individual commitment to wear and possess only those products that we know not to come from slave labour sources would be a step in the right direction, although that is easier said than done, there is a non-Christian organisation called Fairtrade, that seems to be moving in that direction, and although the number of its products is growing it will be some time before you and I can buy products that are sweat shop free.

Please check out the hyperlink below.
http://www.fairtrade.net/home.html

As always your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[atrus912]

I will definatley look at the link.

I think you bring up a very good point, brother.

Have a blessed day.

 

[Dannager]

Today, at least in England we “celebrated the abolition of slavery” unfortunately it soon became apparent that slavery has not been abolished at all, but is in fact more prevalent than ever.

You would be incorrect.

 

[oberland]

From your cryptic reply, I am assuming that you dispute the figures given by government agencies and Christian organisations, that slavery is more active today than in the past (by the way, I am in no way using the present deplorable situation to mitigate the shameful behaviour of my country in the past) if you have other evidences of slavery figures not being as high as has been stated by these organisations, I would be interested in seeing your evidence.


[FONT=&quot]Listed below is a hyperlink to one of any number of sites that would support the fact that slavery is bigger than ever, third only to drugs, and arms in illegal turnover.

http://salt.claretianpubs.org/stats/2000/05/sh0005.html[/FONT]

 

[Dannager]

[FONT=&quot]Listed below is a hyperlink to one of any number of sites that would support the fact that slavery is bigger than ever, third only to drugs, and arms in illegal turnover.

http://salt.claretianpubs.org/stats/2000/05/sh0005.html[/FONT]

Has the percentage of total world population in slavery gone up or down over the last 150-200 years?

 

[Phil4987]

^ You have a point, the world population has exploded in the recent century, but it is irrelevant to the issue. It's not how many slaves there are now compared to them, it's not how many Jews Stalin killed compared to Hitler, it's the fact that it's happening. If all you can do is dispute numbers then you're bringing nothing valuable to the conversation.

As per the topic, I have seen many disheartening documentaries on how many Christian's can rape and kill, yet still get to heaven by asking for forgiveness. It's a shame how immoral and backwards some are.

 

[GorrionGris]

^ You have a point, the world population has exploded in the recent century, but it is irrelevant to the issue. It's not how many slaves there are now compared to them, it's not how many Jews Stalin killed compared to Hitler, it's the fact that it's happening. If all you can do is dispute numbers then you're bringing nothing valuable to the conversation.

As per the topic, I have seen many disheartening documentaries on how many Christian's can rape and kill, yet still get to heaven by asking for forgiveness. It's a shame how immoral and backwards some are.

Absolutely great post

It's a pity I can't have you in my classroom

 

[TheReasoner]

Thank you for a good topic. Shame it has not faced more interest.

We face a gross injustice in the world today. An injustice we in the west often consider nonexistant, or long since abolished. A problem our more barbaric ancestors faced. A problem we are far beyond.
Yet, we use products today that are made by slaved. The difference is mainly that we have moved the slaves out of our sight. And subsequently out of our minds. Slavery still exists. In fact, it thrives. And the irony is; It often thrives due to western corporations.
Our purchasing and consuming habits/culture strengthens slavery. How can we as Christians stand by and watch while this gross injustice prevails?

 

[manchambo]

^ You have a point, the world population has exploded in the recent century, but it is irrelevant to the issue. It's not how many slaves there are now compared to them, it's not how many Jews Stalin killed compared to Hitler, it's the fact that it's happening. If all you can do is dispute numbers then you're bringing nothing valuable to the conversation.

As per the topic, I have seen many disheartening documentaries on how many Christian's can rape and kill, yet still get to heaven by asking for forgiveness. It's a shame how immoral and backwards some are.

If it's irrelevant to the issue, why did the OP say that slavery is more prevalent today than ever?

 

[GorrionGris]

If it's irrelevant to the issue, why did the OP say that slavery is more prevalent today than ever?

That you should ask the original poster

 

[ebia]

^ You have a point, the world population has exploded in the recent century, but it is irrelevant to the issue. It's not how many slaves there are now compared to them, it's not how many Jews Stalin killed compared to Hitler, it's the fact that it's happening. If all you can do is dispute numbers then you're bringing nothing valuable to the conversation.

Of course the distinction is important - in absolute numbers virtually everything has increased - the number of people in slavery has increased, and so has the number of people not in slavery. On that basis you can as justifiably say that "freedom from slavery has increased" as say "slavery has increased".

The only sensible measure is proportionally - has the proportion of the world's population in slavery increased or decreased?

 

[Piedpiper123]

It is a great shame that the Bible is not anti-slavery as then perhaps the worldwide Church would be more involved in ridding the world of this problem than it is.

 

[TheReasoner]

It is a great shame that the Bible is not anti-slavery as then perhaps the worldwide Church would be more involved in ridding the world of this problem than it is.

The church used to be. But even if the bible was more directly anti-slavery. Us Christians have a very easy time ignoring it wherever we see fit. And abolishing slavery would mean less comforts for us in the west...

 

[Captivated]

Being convicted that I must do something about the slavery that exists in the world today, I became involved with a group at my church who promote awareness of slavery and human trafficking via Stop the Traffik (www.stopthetraffik.org). We visit schools and churches or church groups. Tomorrow we are holding a lunch to raise awareness and funds amongst the people who live in our area.

I shop Fairtrade as much as possible, and there are a growing number of Fairtrade products now available on supermarket shelves. I committed to buying only Fairtrade chocolate after reading Stop the Traffik's report on child labour in the cocoa growing areas of the world.

My family are sponsoring a child through a Christian organisation called Compassion (www.compassion.com) as poverty makes children and adults particularly vulnerable to being trafficked.

Please realise that these things aren't just happening in third world countries, they're on our doorstep. There are women and girls being trafficked into Britain and sold at the airports into prostitution or forced labour. They aren't just numbers and statistics, they're people, every one of them made in the image of God.

People shouldn't be bought and sold.

 

[TheReasoner]

Being convicted that I must do something about the slavery that exists in the world today, I became involved with a group at my church who promote awareness of slavery and human trafficking via Stop the Traffik (www.stopthetraffik.org). We visit schools and churches or church groups. Tomorrow we are holding a lunch to raise awareness and funds amongst the people who live in our area.

I shop Fairtrade as much as possible, and there are a growing number of Fairtrade products now available on supermarket shelves. I committed to buying only Fairtrade chocolate after reading Stop the Traffik's report on child labour in the cocoa growing areas of the world.

My family are sponsoring a child through a Christian organisation called Compassion (www.compassion.com) as poverty makes children and adults particularly vulnerable to being trafficked.

Please realise that these things aren't just happening in third world countries, they're on our doorstep. There are women and girls being trafficked into Britain and sold at the airports into prostitution or forced labour. They aren't just numbers and statistics, they're people, every one of them made in the image of God.

People shouldn't be bought and sold.

Yes, it has occurred here as well. Especially women being brought past our borders as sex slaves. Usually to be used as prostitutes. Now, many in our government want to outlaw prostitution to help stop trafficking. Hope it works.

It is a real problem. But it is more concealed from the people who are uninformed on this particular issue than slavery used to be.

 

[Captivated]

It is a real problem. But it is more concealed from the people who are uninformed on this particular issue than slavery used to be.

I completely agree. It is quite easy to be ignorant of the situation. I was! But I think with the publicity about the anniversary of the abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade there is more in the media about it and, hopefully, people are becoming more aware.

 

[Phil4987]

Absolutely great post

It's a pity I can't have you in my classroom

Thx, what do you teach?

Of course the distinction is important - in absolute numbers virtually everything has increased - the number of people in slavery has increased, and so has the number of people not in slavery. On that basis you can as justifiably say that "freedom from slavery has increased" as say "slavery has increased".

The only sensible measure is proportionally - has the proportion of the world's population in slavery increased or decreased?

I disagree. This topic informs us that slavery is still happening, and it is not about how many slaves there are compared to whatnot. Because the OP made an uncourced claim about something minor doesn't mean some fellow should come in and argue with it, while completely ignoring the topic at hand. Which is what you've done, too.

I can pretty much tell that most people don't give a damn anyway, especially considering that slavery generally doesn't affect most people anyway. I, however, can at least not purchase clithing or other goods from countries reputed to engage in using slave workers.

Being convicted that I must do something about the slavery that exists in the world today, I became involved with a group at my church who promote awareness of slavery and human trafficking via Stop the Traffik (www.stopthetraffik.org). We visit schools and churches or church groups. Tomorrow we are holding a lunch to raise awareness and funds amongst the people who live in our area.

I shop Fairtrade as much as possible, and there are a growing number of Fairtrade products now available on supermarket shelves. I committed to buying only Fairtrade chocolate after reading Stop the Traffik's report on child labour in the cocoa growing areas of the world.

My family are sponsoring a child through a Christian organisation called Compassion (www.compassion.com) as poverty makes children and adults particularly vulnerable to being trafficked.

Please realise that these things aren't just happening in third world countries, they're on our doorstep. There are women and girls being trafficked into Britain and sold at the airports into prostitution or forced labour. They aren't just numbers and statistics, they're people, every one of them made in the image of God.

People shouldn't be bought and sold.

Thanks for posting. I signed up now for the newletter and will read more into both of them.

 

[ebia]

I disagree. This topic informs us that slavery is still happening, and it is not about how many slaves there are compared to whatnot. Because the OP made an uncourced claim about something minor doesn't mean some fellow should come in and argue with it, while completely ignoring the topic at hand. Which is what you've done, too. [/quoted]
That's precisely the issue with exagerating the problem.

Yes slavery, and effective slavery, still exists.
Yes there are ways we can (and must) do something about it.
But making untrue claims about the problem and about the long term effects of the work of Wilberforce et al undermines that rather than helping.

To even begin to tackle the problem we need accurate, well informed debate, not wildly untrue sweeping statements.

 

[Phil4987]

Sure, if you care to concern yourself over petty details, continue.

 

[Piedpiper123]

There must surely be far less people in slavery now both in numbers and as in proportion to those who are non-slaves. In Greek and Roman cities more than half the people could be slaves. Before the abolition of slavery in America and other western countries enormous numbers of slaves were used on plantations etc.

There are certainly slaves in the sex industry but cities are not full of brothels.

I think a bigger problem in the world is the large number who are in virtual slavery and are forced to work in horrible conditions for a pittance. Reports have shown that many of these virtual slaves are children.

One slave in the world it too many!