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.
One of the answers to that question is: You can make a difference with your purchasing power.
We know today that there are more than 29 million slaves worldwide – and over 24 million are trapped in some form of labor slavery. Because your money dictates the demand for products, your money can keep an operation flourishing or send it floundering. With people waking up to this reality, larger corporations are listening to their consumers, and making necessary changes to become more responsible. Of course these changes don’t all happen overnight. But progress, not perfection, is what we’re looking for.
Free2Work
Not For Sale has developed a website called Free2Work which rates popular clothing, electronics, chocolate, toys, shoes and more according to their labor practices. While its rating system does not encompass all brands, it is a helpful starting place when evaluating your shopping choices. Take a minute to view the site here and see where some of your favorite brands rank. Start by choosing an industry under the orange Industry tab. You may choose to start your search with "Apparel" - select and press view to get the results.
You might be surprised to see how some of your favorite companies are joining in the fight to end slavery and make responsible and effective changes in their practice. You might also be surprised or disappointed to see some of your favorite brands taking an opposite approach. Be sure to click on the brand name, and see what the individual ratings are in Policies, Transparency, Monitoring, and Workers Rights – not just the Overall score. Check it out and see for yourself.
Once I know the rating, what do I do?
Once you know the rating on a favorite or common brand, you have several different choices:
If you are pleased with the result:
Continue to buy the brand, and spread the news! I’m happy to know that Hanes is rated an “A-“. I know that I can buy that brand while shopping and feel I am making a responsible choice. Both Adidas and Reebok, while earning a “C” in workers’ rights, maintain an overall score of “B”. When shopping for my nephew who always likes tennis shoes, this Christmas I know I can feel better buying him shoes from Adidas or Reebok than other brands.
If you are not thrilled with the result:
What do you do when your favorite brand is rated, well, a lot lower than you were wanting? H & M is rated at “B+” – this is a favorite store of mine. But in the category of workers’ rights, it scores a “D”. Here’s where it can get tough. You need to act according to your convictions.
Allow me to give you some suggestions for how to deal with this:
First, e-mail or call them to voice your concern over their labor practices. Second, determine if there is another similar brand you can switch to. Be practical. Are there brands that look/taste/work the same as the one you prefer? If so, give them a try. See if they work. If they meet your needs– great! If they don’t work, you will need to make a choice – do you want to give up that brand entirely? Taper off use of that brand? Or continue using?
This choice can be really overwhelming. I prefer a grace approach. We are looking for progress in labor policies, not perfection. For me, this situation is not a black and white situation, and there is no company with perfect labor policies. What I’m looking for is a company that is making strides toward a changing labor force where they value all their employees, and treat them with emotional and financial dignity. I once heard the speaker of an anti-trafficking organization tell how it took him 6 months to give up Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, because no matter how hard he wanted to give up unethical chocolate brands, there was no other brand that tasted the same. Changing our spending is all about lifestyle choices. Don’t make you hate yourself, or make your family hate you, for making drastic changes that don’t meet your family’s needs. Take this journey one step at a time. Sure, you might give up that cleaning solution a few months from now, but let your choices work out in a practical way, so that responsible spending can truly be a lifestyle, not a fad.
If the result is really bad:
After all the grace I just gave you, here’s where it’s really hard – sometimes you just have to cut the cord, and buy a new brand. But don’t just say “no” and walk away. When you break up with this company, let them know – “It’s not me, it’s you.” Take a second to e-mail or call the company and let them know why you aren’t purchasing their brand anymore. It can be tough, but follow your convictions. If the Holy Spirit is leading you, FOLLOW. Your choices are making a positive difference. And you never know, maybe the company will e-mail you back with updated information that changes your choice. It has happened before.
DON’T host a bonfire:
Sometimes in light of the news we receive regarding brands, we think the solution is to throw away all of our ‘tainted’ goods. I would encourage you NOT to do that. Before you toss your Kindle away, think about your purchasing power: It’s all about demand. If you already own your goods, keep them. Don’t waste someone’s labor. Throwing them out and buying another is not only a waste of money, it’s creating more demand.
Shop second hand:
Shopping at used clothing stores and even brand name used clothing stores are ways to keep brand names with low scores, and not highly affect the demand. Since the clothes have already been made and sold, the companies are not receiving compensation for whatever you buy here. So if vintage is you or your friend’s thing, consider this your jackpot!
PRAY:
When I buy new clothes I am trying to start a habit of praying over them. This is not a weird religious thing – this is a practical thing. Take just a minute and look at the tag on the clothes, or packing on the electronics, etc. Note the country it was produced in, and take a second to pray for the salvation, blessing, and freedom of everyone that was involved in the making of this product.
It’s so easy to think that everything is factory made. But even in factories, this product was touched by human hands. And that human has worth, value, and is ultimately our brother or sister. What a good habit for us all to get into.
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
