Monday, October 21, 2013

MODERN DAY SLAVERY ALIVE & WELL!



Many of us believe that slavery is a thing of the past.  Regrettably, that is not the case.  It is estimated that there are roughly 29.8 million slaves in the world today (roughly the combined populations of New Zealand and Australia)!  The estimated revenue generated by the slave industry is more than $32 billion per annum!
 
Most of the clothes we wear; virtually all computers, cellphones and other technological gadgets; the coffee we drink; the chocolate we eat (and many other foods) and numerous other products we use daily, contain components obtained via slave labour.  The copper used in copper wire is also obtained via slave labour in many countries.

The Global Slavery Index for 2013 (http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/?gclid=CMaPldnOp7oCFfMQtAodc34AHA#overview) has just been released and the results are shocking and sad, to say the least.  Out of the 162 countries examined, South Africa is listed 115th, with an estimated slave population of between 42,000 and 47,000!

Herewith please find an article, summarising the findings of the GSI:  

QUOTE

African countries top list of worst performers in global slavery index

Mauritania has the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world.   
(Author’s note: Although slavery was declared illegal in Mauritania in 1981, it was only criminalised in 2006/7)

Mauritania has the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world, according to the inaugural Global Slavery Index, with 14 other African countries also among the 20 worst performers.

The Index, which will be published annually, is the first of its kind and gives the most accurate and comprehensive measure of the extent and risk of modern slavery, country by country, currently available.

Mauritania is ranked worst on the Index, with the highest estimated proportion of its population enslaved of any country in the world. The West African country, with its deeply entrenched system of hereditary slavery, is thought to have an estimated 150,000 slaves in a population of only 3.8 million. Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia and Gabon follow Mauritania in the top ten of the Index.

The research, which makes recommendations to policy makers in Africa and around the world, reveals:
  • Extreme poverty, conflict and traditional practices such as child marriage and hereditary slavery are all factors in the high rates of enslavement in many African countries.
  • Kenya is host to thousands of displaced people from neighbouring countries including Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia.  These migrants, often irregular, can be subjected to slavery like conditions. Also, Kenyans are known to have been exploited in countries overseas.
  • In terms of top performers, Mauritius ranks 143 out of 162 on the Index and leads the region in terms of stability and the protection of human and worker rights. South Africa is ranked 115 and is also singled out for praise by the report for its anti-slavery policies.

The Index estimates that over 29 million people are living in conditions of modern slavery worldwide. Haiti, a Caribbean nation where child slavery is also widespread, follows Mauritania in second place on the Index, with Pakistan in third. The report estimates that almost three quarters of the world’s slaves are in Asia, with 14.7 million in India alone and another 2.9m in China. 

“It would be comforting to think that slavery is a relic of history, but it remains a scar on humanity on every continent. This is the first slavery index but it can already shape national and global efforts to root out modern slavery across the world. We now know that just ten countries are home to over three quarters of those trapped in modern slavery. These nations must be the focus of global efforts,” said Nick Grono, CEO of Walk Free Foundation.

“Most governments don’t dig deeply into slavery for a lot of bad reasons. There are exceptions, but many governments don’t want to know about people who can’t vote, who are hidden away, and are likely to be illegal anyway. The laws are in place, but the tools and resources and the political will are lacking. And since hidden slaves can’t be counted it is easy to pretend they don’t exist. The Index aims to change that,” said Professor Kevin Bales, the lead researcher on the Index.

UNQUOTE


If you want to see what impact you personally have on modern day slavery, why don’t you go and calculate your slavery footprint: http://slaveryfootprint.org/
Use the blue menu button on the left of the screen to fine tune your answers.  I promise you will be shocked by the results!  I thought I was a conscientious user, as I try to be environmentally friendly and all of that, but it turns out that 63 slaves are involved in manufacturing the things I buy and take for granted every day!

Please feel free to redistribute this information to raise the consciousness of people on the scourge of modern slavery.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Introducing the Amazing Miche Twins!


My sincere apologies for my silence for the past three years.  I fell off my surfboard!  NOT!

Sasha & Rukia as babies
I became the proud parent of two super amazing Pomeranian puppies, Sasha & Rukia.  They were born on Monday, 1 March 2010 and are the cutest little things you will ever see.  Sasha and Rukia are sisters and were bred by my very good friend, Dr Louise Swart, from Gigi and Georgi.  Sasha took after her dad, Georgi, and only weighs 1.5kg, despite being the oldest of the two.  Rukia decided to take more after her mom, Gigi and is three times Sasha's size at 4kg!  Here's a picture of my two little terrorists as babies:

Rukia was almost pitch black and had three white toes.  Her colour has changed so completely now that you will hardly recognise her from her baby photos.  Sasha kept her colour the same through the years, except her little black beard has faded to gold to match the rest of her coat- we iz sooo fashion conscious!

Sasha & Rukia with me
Every single day that these two little bundles of joy has been in our lives have been filled with laughter, mayhem, play and a little bit of murder now and then...  Although they love each other to pieces, there is nothing like a good fight to keep live interesting.  If one of them was sleeping on the floor and then decide to come and lie on the bed with me, they will first go hunt down where the other one is sleeping to see if she is OK and then find a place to sleep.  I think the major problem in their relationship is that Rukia is an absolute morning pup!  Sasha & I still want to sleep and then we get attacked by this crazy little maniac who wants to get up and go play in the garden.  Heavens only know why she can't do this on her own...  Sasha & I are also morning people - from yesterday's side!  Rukia will enter her comatose state by 19:00.  Sasha & I usually hit our peak at around 20:00.  So, you can definitely see where the disjuncture is.

Rukia & Sasha with my mom after their grooming session 
Once a month Sasha & Rukia go for their pamper session at their favourite salon, Le York Grooming Parlour.  They thoroughly enjoy this, though they don't think much of getting bows in their hair!  Sasha gets especially upset when they comb her fringe!  The first thing she will do when she is released, is to come and mess her fringe on my arm, or the couch.  The weird thing is that it takes real hard work for Sasha to get her fringed messed up.  Rukia goes jungle bashing through the garden and it doesn't matter what you do, her fringe remains perfect.

Well, to properly introduce you to the two ladies in my life, here's a little profile of them, compiled by them:
Sasha:
Favourite colour: Pink
Favourite thing in the world: Sleeeeeeeeeeep & my blue blankie
Favourite game: Attacking my granddad and barking at him like a maniac
Favourite food: Bones!!!!!!!!

Rukia:
Favourite colour: Red
Favourite thing in the world: Tummy rubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Favourite game: Running around like crazy
Favourite food: Woolies Chicken
Now that you have met the two terrorists, I will regularly update you on their endeavours.  I will also continue with my regular postings on whatever tickles my fancy.

Until later...

JC