Built on the Backs of Slaves

What does the phrase "built on the backs of slaves" conjure up in your mind? Egypt and the Israelites? Stone temples in far east jungles? I'm sure most of us don't think of our country as such, but it was, and sadly, is. History tells us that we gained great wealth in the slave trade in the United States. This wasn't a north vs. south issue as it is often painted in the history books. The north gained as much as, or possibly more than the south financially from the slave trade. I have just learned that some of the biggest slave traders were northerners who sold the slaves to plantation owners in the south. And, after the abolition of slavery, slavers just kept slaves in places like Cuba where the laws weren't restricting the trade.

There were interesting parallels between the slavery then and the slavery and near slavery that goes on today. I learned that when slaves were kept in Cuba, producing America's and Europe's sugar cane, loads of fish and bread were being transported from northern states to the West Indies. This, I learned, was because the slaves were too busy producing sugar and had to be shipped food rather than fish for themselves. Today, farmers in impoverished countries producing for large corporations which import fruit, vegetables, coffee and chocolate to northern countries (U.S., Canada, European countries) export more than they themselves consume. The difference is, we don't send them any food (or pay them decent wages)to keep them alive in return. So, it's still the south feeding the north at their own expense and with no recourse. Our food, our clothing, our electronics, our toys, our cookware, our dishes....the list of imports made by people who are making rich corporations richer is unending. We got a lot of cheap stuff out of the deal, a better quality of life perhaps? All on the backs of slaves.

Can I live without chocolate and coconut?

Today I took Lissette shopping for her birthday party coming up. We bought balloons and paper plates, baby blue and red sprinkles, streamers and plastic-ware. As we were driving home we sipped on our vitamin waters...they cost about $1.15 each. I began thinking what a luxury item a vitamin water would be in Africa where they can barely find a clean glass of drinking water in some places and where $1 could be a whole day's wages. We've decided that it might be a fun endeavor to eat rice and beans one day per week and send the savings, which might be about $6.00 that night for a family of eight (including our two foster kids), to an organization like Blood Water Mission. Blood Water Mission is an organization dedicated to the fight against HIV/AIDS and the water crisis in Africa, and in the name of Jesus. So, now about chocolate and coconut. Should I indulge in things I know are imported luxuries from poverty stricken nations? I am determined not to. Fair-trade is good...especially when you can really verify that something is fair-trade, which I haven't found to be an easy task, but then I'm spending five bucks on a candy bar! Really? Is it worth it? I have to say, no. It's amazing how difficult it is to live without my usual indulgences, but if I am tempted, I can put that five bucks in my Blood Water jar and think how it is some kid's week's wages and feel better and a bit stupid at the same time. I am realizing the depth of my depravity the deeper we go into this project. So, so long brownies, mocha lattes, coconut butter and chocolate covered coffee beans. I'll miss you, but not that much.

Why you shouldn't buy your grapes from Chile or your pineapples from Costa Rica

We just finished watching two documentaries, The End of Poverty? (watch free on hulu: http://www.hulu.com/watch/151119/the-end-of-poverty?c=Food-and-Leisure/Petsand) and Darwin's Nightmare, which we picked up at our local library. I'm sure some of the information in these documentaries is very controversial, and facts need to be checked, but on the whole, this is what they reveal: People who live in poverty in countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Tanzania and countless others, are forced into servitude by land-owners and corporation owners who export their natural resources to rich white folks. The poorest people are being exploited, living on one meal per day, making one dollar per day, even experiencing famine as they harvest delicious foods for the richest in the world to consume. They make a minuscule amount of money, so we are not supporting the people of these countries when we purchase products from them. We are making rich people richer.

What can we do? I felt so hopeless when I finished each of these documentaries. I sat and cried. I prayed. It is clear in scriptures that it is our responsibility to help the poor...the poor will always be with us...we are to bear oneanother's burdens....and love our neighbors as ourselves. We can say NO to slavery by not purchasing from these huge companies. I also feel that the Lord is revealing to me how spiritual this issue is, after all, we do not battle against flesh and blood. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I could help some with their physical needs, but if I war in the Spirit, I can help so many more. I take for granted our most precious and profitable resource...prayer. We will continue to buy locally, to avoid slave-produced products and produce, but I am even more determined to find out God's heart in this matter and how He wants me to pray. Let's move some mountains!