Australian churches prepare for ‘Abolition Sunday’
Source: World Vision
More than 200 years after the ‘official’ end of slavery, Australian churches are participating in Abolition Sunday to speak for the 27 million people worldwide who are still living in slavery and bonded labour.
“On Sunday 23rd November*, Australian churches have the ability to speak out for those who have no voice,” said World Vision chief executive Tim Costello.
“Despite the inspiring efforts of people like William Wilberforce more than 200 years ago, the evils of human exploitation for labour remain. We must continue to speak out on slavery, and advocate for justice on this issue,” he said.
The theme of the day will combine the issues of chocolate slavery and ethical consumerism.
There are hundreds of thousands of children working on cocoa farms in West Africa, routinely carrying heavy loads or working with knives and chemicals, with little or no protection. Many of them have no chance to go to school. The chocolate industry has promised to stop using child and exploited labour in cocoa production but has not specified how or when it will do this.
World Vision has asked the Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia to outline a costed and time-bound plan of action by 1 December 2008 of how it will eradicate exploited labour. World Vision estimates that, to fund its fair share, the Australian chocolate industry would need only contribute $60- $140 million towards the global industry amount over the next 10 years, less than 1 percent of Australian industry revenues.
Abolition Sunday is about promoting the importance of ethical consumerism, empowering consumers to ‘vote with their money’ for the abolition of slavery and bonded labour. It is critical that consumers understand what’s behind the label, and only buy from companies and use products that do not harm or exploit humans, animals or the environment, Mr Costello said.
“Churches have always been at the forefront of social justice movements. Once again we must set ourselves for the struggle against slavery.”