Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6
Prayer breaks chains and gives favor that is supernatural. It enables rescue and puts people in the right place at the right time.
Greetings! For the next few months I’d like to continue our focus on labor trafficking. This month I’d like to talk about a newer topic in the labor industry – and that is the connection between makeup and the mineral Mica.
In February I attended a webcasting of the Justice Conference. It was an incredible conference that featured speakers such as Eugene Cho and Bernice King, each speaking about what Justice does or should look like in our world, as Christians who serve a justice loving God. It was also here that I first heard about a mineral used commonly in shimmery makeup that is obtained primarily through child labor in India.
You can imagine my shock and dismay. I have been a fairly moderate user of makeup since high school, and part of what helps that moderation is the shimmer I use and love. (A little goes a long way!) That shimmer is from a mineral mined in India called Mica, and it’s used in a lot of different cosmetics – eye shadow, eyeliner, powder, lip gloss – you name it.
And it’s not just shimmer make-up: This article from The Guardian in March 2014 also states Mica is used in cell phones. This January 2014 article from The Age says, “Mica is a mineral coveted for centuries for its unique lustre. But its myriad uses in modern products now make it a valuable commodity. It is mica that gives make-up products such as eye shadow, nail polish, lipstick and concealer their shimmer. Mica gives automotive paints their shine, is used in building materials, and as an insulator in electronic chips. It is found in lasers and radar.” The article continues, “In all of India, only Jharkhand has the high-quality mica, the quality for the cosmetics industry, so the demand is strong. Ninety per cent of the mica mined in Jharkhand goes overseas; electronics, paints, automobiles and cosmetics industries are the major buyers.''
So what can we do?
The first step here is getting the word out. No one cared about where the shimmer in car paint or eye shadow came from until we knew young children were working in dangerous conditions, exposed to scorpions and snakes to obtain this material, instead of going to school. Spread the word, and let’s make it known.
The second thing we can do is become responsible consumers. A friend of mine was concerned that her makeup contained Mica from child labor sources. She wrote the makeup company, Estee Lauder, and received a response back. She can now make informed decisions on what new cosmetics she will or won’t buy from them. As quick as you are to "like" a Facebook post, be quick to google a company for their contact information. E-mail or call and ask if your makeup comes from verified sources that don't use child labor.
The next thing you can do is evaluate your choices. Focusing on the makeup component here, perhaps you will choose your next shimmer cosmetic purchase from a Mica-free company. There are several green and fair trade companies that provide Mica free makeup. Or simply buy matte. But taking a moment to look around can help make a difference. Your dollars speak to product demand. And if we’re saying (sending e-mails) and showing (with our purchases) that we don’t want this mineral when mined by children, we can make a difference. And while you’re at it – skip unnecessary mica purchases. If you’re choosing between a fun book or a Hello Kitty shimmer pack for your granddaughter’s birthday, perhaps choose the book. This isn’t a forever kind of choice, either. This is until responsible sourcing of Mica is found and accounted for.
And please, don’t go on a makeup purge! Throwing out what you already own won’t help anybody. Your purchasing power is just that – purchasing power. Don’t throw out all you own and think it’s making a difference. Use what you have, and the next time you head out to purchase, evaluate making a purchase that comes from a company with responsible Mica practices, or that doesn’t use Mica at all. Even swapping out one shimmer cosmetic for a Mica-free cosmetic in your next shopping trip can make a difference.
Above all, make sure to keep praying. Let the items in your makeup drawer remind you that real people helped make these. Real hands and fingers touched these products, and enabled them to be in your stores and cabinets. When you’re putting on your powder in the morning, say a short prayer for the people who helped make this from start to finish. And pray for this industry, as they seek a solution to this Mica issue, that child labor would not be a part of their solution. Lastly, pray for Jharkhand which makes a living from this mineral.
Our prayers and our practical steps, no matter how seemingly small, make a difference.
Standing in the gap with you,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Anti-Trafficking Specialist
Aglow International
