The Mekong Club: ending modern slavery

The League of Women Voters gathered to hear Matt Friedman of The Mekong Club speak  about the use of slave labor to make products we may use everyday.  (This was a joint event with the American Women’s Association’s Lunch and Learn program. )

There are more slaves today than at any other time in history. That shocking fact, presented by Matt Friedman, summarizes the statistics: 45.8 million people in 167 countries are exploited every day for their labor, especially in South-East Asia.  These people make the recognized name-brand products we buy and they harvest or process the food we eat.  The Mekong Club is a leader in engaging and inspiring the private sector to lead the fight against the epidemic of modern slavery.  ​

Matt explained how the Mekong Club works with corporations to ensure that their supply chains do not source from companies using slave labor. The more companies refuse to do business with suppliers using slaves, the demand for slave labor will do down. 

Matt told some shocking stories that made many of us cry. But we are not helpless: we can help to end modern slavery by simply writing an email or a letter to one of our favorite companies and asking them whether their company has a policy of refusing to buy from suppliers that use slave labor.