Change Your Role in Forced and Child Labor | P.J. Tobia | TEDxNashville

Summary

In this TED talk, PJ, a foreign affairs producer, explores the hidden connections between everyday consumer products and exploitation, such as child labor, forced labor, and trafficking. Using examples like gold mining in Indonesia, tea plantations in India, and the Thai shrimp industry, PJ highlights the inhumane conditions workers endure to supply products we use daily. He urges the audience to take action by learning about one product's supply chain and advocating for change. By focusing on one item, PJ believes individuals can influence companies and legislation, pushing for a more ethical global economy.

Takeaways

• 😀 The talk begins with a tribute to Jim Ridley, a fantastic newspaper editor and mentor who influenced the speaker's storytelling style.
• 😀 The speaker uses a survey to engage the audience, asking about their purchases of products like laptops, gold, tea, and frozen shrimp, highlighting that nearly everyone in the room is complicit in the global issues surrounding these products.
• 😀 As a foreign affairs producer, the speaker sheds light on the exploitation of workers, particularly children, in industries producing common products like gold, tea, and shrimp.
• 😀 The speaker shows a video that highlights child labor in gold mining in Indonesia, where children work in dangerous conditions for minimal pay, with little access to education.
• 😀 A significant portion of the global gold supply (15%) comes from small artisanal mines like the ones in Indonesia, where exploitation is widespread.
• 😀 The U.S. Department of Labor lists over 350 products made by forced or child labor, some of which are sold in everyday stores across the world.
• 😀 The reality of exploitation is not limited to developing countries but also involves U.S. imports, including products like tea and shrimp, made under slave-like conditions.
• 😀 Tea plantations in India are depicted as horrible places with poor living conditions and child labor, with workers earning as little as $3.50 per day.
• 😀 The Thai shrimp industry is also scrutinized, with reports detailing the trafficking and forced labor of workers, leading to death on fishing boats and horrific living conditions on land.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that boycotts, while well-intentioned, can sometimes worsen the situation by reducing wages or driving industries underground, and advocates for a more targeted approach.
• 😀 The speaker encourages the audience to take action by focusing on just one product, researching its supply chain, and getting involved in advocacy to improve conditions for workers in that supply chain.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the TEDx talk?

The main theme of the talk is to raise awareness about the widespread issue of forced labor, child labor, and human trafficking in global supply chains, and to encourage individuals to take action by learning about and addressing these issues in the products they consume.

How does the speaker connect everyday products to forced labor and child labor?

The speaker uses a survey of common products such as laptops, smartphones, gold, tea, and shrimp to show that many of these goods are produced under exploitative conditions involving child labor, slavery, and trafficking, often in countries far from the consumers' everyday lives.

What example does the speaker give to highlight child labor in gold mining?

The speaker mentions two children, Duku and Yoyo, from Indonesia, who work in gold mines for just a few dollars a day, without regular school attendance or breaks. This highlights the link between gold production and child labor.

What role does the United States play in the global issue of forced labor, according to the speaker?

The U.S. is one of the largest importers of goods, many of which are connected to forced labor, child labor, and poor working conditions in other countries. Consumer choices in the U.S. contribute to the demand for these goods, making the country complicit in the exploitation of workers worldwide.

How many products are listed by the U.S. Department of Labor as being made using forced or child labor?

The U.S. Department of Labor lists over 350 products that are made using forced labor or child labor in various parts of the world.

What is the significance of tea plantations in India to the issue of forced labor?

Tea plantations in India are notorious for terrible working conditions, with workers living in dilapidated housing, earning low wages, and facing exploitative practices. Some workers, including children, pick tea leaves under these harsh conditions, despite the presence of 'fair trade' labels on some products.

What is the issue with the Thai shrimp fishing industry?

The Thai shrimp fishing industry is connected to human trafficking, where men from various Asian countries are trafficked, forced to work on boats under inhumane conditions, and sometimes even killed. Their labor produces shrimp that ends up in grocery stores worldwide, including in the U.S. and the UK.

Why does the speaker suggest choosing just one product to research and advocate for change?

The speaker suggests focusing on one product because it allows individuals to learn in depth about its supply chain, the conditions under which it is made, and the workers involved. By becoming informed about one product, individuals can take more targeted actions to demand change and improve the lives of those affected.

What is the potential problem with boycotting products linked to forced labor?

Boycotting a product may unintentionally reduce the price of the product, which could result in even lower wages for workers in the supply chain. Additionally, in some cases, these low-paying jobs may be the best available option for workers in those regions.

What legislative action has been taken to address forced labor in global supply chains?

In February, a bill was passed in the U.S. that closes a loophole allowing goods made by children and slaves in other countries to enter the U.S. market. Additionally, the 'End Modern Slavery Initiative' is a bill currently being debated, aiming to reduce slavery in targeted populations through international collaboration and funding.