“Roadkill” – a Bus Ride to Human Trafficking
I’ve received a lot of invitations to plays about human trafficking. At first, I’d go. I wanted to support the organizations fighting this problem and see how they use theater to raise awareness. But, I have to be honest, many of them felt contrived at best. Most seemed to glory in the suffering, a la … Continue reading
Monticello and Lost Genius
A highlight of 2012 for me was visiting Jefferson’s Monticello on our way back up to DC after the holidays. See, I have a strange and unshakeable crush on Thomas Jefferson, and have for a long time. I told my husband this was like the hometown date on The Bachelor. I was checking out Thomas’s … Continue reading
Potential Step Forward on Forced Labor in China
In November 2011 I visited the Laogai Museum here in DC and spoke with its founder Harry Wu. You may remember from that interview that the Laogai system is a form of “re-education through labor” used in China against dissidents for the last 50 years. In that interview Wu said, “No one should be able … Continue reading
Thanksgiving Over Not Writing (About Some Things)
Don’t be fooled by the title. I’m planning to write over Thanksgiving, and I’m planning to love it. However, I won’t be writing about human trafficking. And that’s something I’m grateful for this year. Leading up to Thanksgiving, I’ve noticed an onslaught of information about human trafficking on the web and in conversation. First there … Continue reading
“Happy Halloween” as a Journey
It’s that time of year again: the time of year when everyone eats a ton of crappy, cheap candy and brags about it. And it’s the time of year I become tempted by cynicism. A few years ago, I found out much of our chocolate has a connection to human trafficking in West Africa. It … Continue reading
Hershey Is Now Certifiably Something
Long time readers of this blog know that I’ve been after chocolate companies for years, ever since finding out their supply chains often take advantage of child slave labor on some West African farms. Hershey has been particularly unresponsive to campaigns calling for reform – up until now. After years of staying silent on the … Continue reading
Good Eats, Movie Review, & My Sad Hoodie Story
This week I’m trying something different: a non-injury-induced video blog. (If you get this by email or RSS, you may have to click through to the site to see it). Feedback appreciated! *One clarification: While Boat People SOS is founded by Nguyen Dinh Thang, who is working on the Aramark case in Jordan, I think … Continue reading
Convict Porters and the Long Mile
Earlier this week, I interviewed my husband Michael about some of the human rights concerns in Burma / Myanmar. In his answer, he cited the problem of forced portering, in which the Burmese army takes people from villages and forces them to walk with heavy loads on their backs. This form of slavery has particular … Continue reading
Something We Can All Agree On
China and the United States produce the largest CO2 emissions in the world. But do you know who comes in 3rd? No, it’s not the E.U., Brazil or Australia. It’s not India or the state of Texas. It’s slavery. Earlier this week I heard from Kevin Bales – author and co-founder of Free the Slaves … Continue reading
Victoria’s Secret and the Fairness of Fair Trade
If there’s anything in this world that grosses me out, it’s slavery and the word “panties.” Maybe that’s why I’ve avoided discussing the recent news that a Fairtrade-certified cotton distributor allegedly sold products tainted with forced child labor to the lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret. (Oh yeah, I also hate the word “tainted.”) No one has … Continue reading
