Rant again. Sorry. Read it though.
Listening to the Hair soundtrack, "Abie Baby" came on. A tribute to Abraham Lincoln (not Lincon, as I assumed). So I decided to look up the Wikipedia entry for this "Great Emancipator," because A) I'm a procrastinating loser, and B) to see the date of the American holiday, as I believed it was soon (February 12th). And found, the "why" of the emancipation. Republicans today in the states applaud Lincoln for being a Repulican and "ironically," according to today's views on the Grand Ole Party, freeing American Americans from chattel slavery. But the reason wasn't because of the actual moral qualms on owning people. No. That wasn't a worry. Except to the abolutionists. Lincoln subscribed to the more popular belief that it was just too darn expensive to own people. I mean, you gotta buy them, feed them, clothe them, house them, provide rudimentary healthcare and daycare (if they died you'd lose your investment!), and if you wanted ones for free, you gotta have some of the females out of work for a few months! Compared to paying some bloke 5¢ a month, really, it's pricey!
Which brings me to today. Labour laws and abject poverty have really changed the situation. You can buy a Mali labourer for like $50 (underground, of course). Hell I can afford that (if you wanted a sex girl without HIV, though, that'd cost you but still much cheaper than when it legal). And with minimum wages going up everywhere - I mean, you have much cheaper disposable slaves... Like, if it gets sick and you have to kill it, $50, big wup. Compared to the ~$50,000/slaveboy (today's funds) of chattel times, really, much more disposable. On a happy note, it's no longer a racist endevour. Really. Just rich people stealing up poor people. Yay. Racial equality.
I apologize for speaking so frankly of such a horror, but it's true.
The Gap is one company that was accused of using unfree labour. Young women from Asia are promised a job in Amerika... And they get that... um, well, the "American Commonwealth," eg off the cost of Guam. Of course, this is legally "America" and they can label their garments "Made in the USA," but labour laws are much different there than in the Continental/Hawaii/Alaskan USA (which I still think are crappy but not horrid there, compared to here, from what I hear). Yes there are laws, and slavery is essentially illegal in all Terran countries, but really, there are also ways of bending and taking the most advantage of laws. These ladies have arranged living conditions, food services, waterworks (at 1 hour of running water/day/dorm) and that jazz, of course for a cost, that their wages barely pay, so it's not 'technically' slavery, or dept labour. They are allowed on their rare day off, to go out "shopping" or so, so long as they leave their passports "for their safety." Also, "for their safety," the factory is surrounded in chain-link barbed wire fences.... with the barbs turned inside. I once remember telling my aunt of such stores and sweatshops, as is proper in genteel conversation, and she responded with the joke "oh but Pablo can sew such tight seams!" If she said that today to me I'd slap her. I don't give a fuck about her relations to me. It's not a fucking joke.
Sorry again for the swears. Emotions, people, emotions.
I like(d - haven't had it in forever) the Spanish hot chocolate mix "Cola Cao." Though I am a little worriesome about the ol' classic commercial from the 50's that's now a jingle in the hearts of many Spaniards, so it's told. "Yo soy aquel negrito / del Africa tropical / que cultivando cantada / la cancion del Cola Cao" (I am a little [black person/n word but not necessairly in a bad context] / from central Africa / who while cultivating, sings / the Cola Cao song). Hmm. Never liked that opening line. It bothers me. Supposedly there is a "Cocoa Protocol" out there to prohibit the use of unfree labour in the Cocoa industry but really, we've seen laws and rules sure as hell don't stop shit.
Slavery today still continues to be a $1.4 Billion dollar a year industry. The good thing about that is today it's the lowest it's ever been, as a percentage of the global gross profit (thanks to the low cost of slaves due to easy acquisition). Twenty Seven Million people work for unfree labour. That's the most people at one time being slaves. Though, at 5‰, at least it's the lowest percent (rather permil) ever.
Many things we buy daily are quite unfairly made. Made choices and research brands before you buy. Especially in the fields of sugar, cocoa, textiles (clothing too), steel (cars!), and other labour-intensive products. People aren't stupid when they are forced into slavery. It's unbrideled capitalism that allows it to prosper. Horrible injustices. You can't be sick as a slave anymore! You are too disposible! In the past they'd take basic care of you, I mean $50,000 is a lot to lose. But, $50, just break it's neck and throw it in the river. And if one gets pregnant! Abort! Where's the clothes hanger? (I am yes pro-choice but though that allows for the possibility of legal and safe abortions if needed and wanted it still vehemently opposes forced abortions, especially unsafe ones. That's why it's called pro-choice and not pro-abortion).
And this entry hasn't even touched the sex-slave trade! I spared everyone.
Which brings me to today. Labour laws and abject poverty have really changed the situation. You can buy a Mali labourer for like $50 (underground, of course). Hell I can afford that (if you wanted a sex girl without HIV, though, that'd cost you but still much cheaper than when it legal). And with minimum wages going up everywhere - I mean, you have much cheaper disposable slaves... Like, if it gets sick and you have to kill it, $50, big wup. Compared to the ~$50,000/slaveboy (today's funds) of chattel times, really, much more disposable. On a happy note, it's no longer a racist endevour. Really. Just rich people stealing up poor people. Yay. Racial equality.
I apologize for speaking so frankly of such a horror, but it's true.
The Gap is one company that was accused of using unfree labour. Young women from Asia are promised a job in Amerika... And they get that... um, well, the "American Commonwealth," eg off the cost of Guam. Of course, this is legally "America" and they can label their garments "Made in the USA," but labour laws are much different there than in the Continental/Hawaii/Alaskan USA (which I still think are crappy but not horrid there, compared to here, from what I hear). Yes there are laws, and slavery is essentially illegal in all Terran countries, but really, there are also ways of bending and taking the most advantage of laws. These ladies have arranged living conditions, food services, waterworks (at 1 hour of running water/day/dorm) and that jazz, of course for a cost, that their wages barely pay, so it's not 'technically' slavery, or dept labour. They are allowed on their rare day off, to go out "shopping" or so, so long as they leave their passports "for their safety." Also, "for their safety," the factory is surrounded in chain-link barbed wire fences.... with the barbs turned inside. I once remember telling my aunt of such stores and sweatshops, as is proper in genteel conversation, and she responded with the joke "oh but Pablo can sew such tight seams!" If she said that today to me I'd slap her. I don't give a fuck about her relations to me. It's not a fucking joke.
Sorry again for the swears. Emotions, people, emotions.
I like(d - haven't had it in forever) the Spanish hot chocolate mix "Cola Cao." Though I am a little worriesome about the ol' classic commercial from the 50's that's now a jingle in the hearts of many Spaniards, so it's told. "Yo soy aquel negrito / del Africa tropical / que cultivando cantada / la cancion del Cola Cao" (I am a little [black person/n word but not necessairly in a bad context] / from central Africa / who while cultivating, sings / the Cola Cao song). Hmm. Never liked that opening line. It bothers me. Supposedly there is a "Cocoa Protocol" out there to prohibit the use of unfree labour in the Cocoa industry but really, we've seen laws and rules sure as hell don't stop shit.
Slavery today still continues to be a $1.4 Billion dollar a year industry. The good thing about that is today it's the lowest it's ever been, as a percentage of the global gross profit (thanks to the low cost of slaves due to easy acquisition). Twenty Seven Million people work for unfree labour. That's the most people at one time being slaves. Though, at 5‰, at least it's the lowest percent (rather permil) ever.
Many things we buy daily are quite unfairly made. Made choices and research brands before you buy. Especially in the fields of sugar, cocoa, textiles (clothing too), steel (cars!), and other labour-intensive products. People aren't stupid when they are forced into slavery. It's unbrideled capitalism that allows it to prosper. Horrible injustices. You can't be sick as a slave anymore! You are too disposible! In the past they'd take basic care of you, I mean $50,000 is a lot to lose. But, $50, just break it's neck and throw it in the river. And if one gets pregnant! Abort! Where's the clothes hanger? (I am yes pro-choice but though that allows for the possibility of legal and safe abortions if needed and wanted it still vehemently opposes forced abortions, especially unsafe ones. That's why it's called pro-choice and not pro-abortion).
And this entry hasn't even touched the sex-slave trade! I spared everyone.