One week into 2019 and many of us are already struggling to uphold the resolutions we so hopefully made on December 31st. If you need a bit more motivation to stick to one of these common resolutions, here’s how you can work to abolish modern slavery while accomplishing your goals at the same time.
- Eat healthier or go on a diet
A whopping 71% of people surveyed by Inc. magazine listed dieting or eating healthier as their resolution for 2019. If you count yourself among this number, challenge yourself to eat more locally-sourced or fair trade-certified goods. Agricultural supply chains are often rife with vulnerable populations forced into varied types of indentured servitude. Coffee, wheat, bananas, palm oil, fish, and cocoa are just some of the many consumable goods especially notorious for their poor labor practices. Curate a better and healthier pantry by trying to eat more locally-grown produce and search for the Fair Trade logo the next time you’re at the grocery store.
Search for the fair trade products you often use here.
2. Read more books
Take a break from the fast-paced news cycle and your social media feeds to sit down with more books this coming year. Instead of learning about human trafficking through headlines, pick up one of these recommended books and expand your knowledge about this complicated issue. Then, pass it along to a friend and spread awareness about modern slavery even further.
3. Exercise
Mark your calendar for a fall 5K to benefit LifeWay Network! While you’re training, try to buy sneakers from ethical companies like Etiko, Veja, and even Adidas. Not only do they have ethical labor practices, but many of these companies use sustainable and eco-friendly materials in their shoe construction. A healthier you can mean a healthier environment and workforce too!
4. Quit smoking
Banishing cigarettes from one’s routine is no mean feat. When you find yourself reaching for the pack, remember that the tobacco industry is rife with human trafficking, from the harvesting of the tobacco itself to the vast illicit cigarette smuggling industry. The International Labor Rights Forum found that, for example, over 50% of children between 7 and 9 years old and almost 80% of children aged 10-14 are working in tobacco production in Malawi, a top exporter. The direct contact with tobacco leaves means that these child workers are exposed to an extraordinarily high level of nicotine, one which can permanently alter their brain structure. When you stop smoking, you stop supporting this exploitative industry.
What were your New Year’s resolutions? How can you use them to combat human trafficking? Tell us on Facebook or Twitter, @LifeWayNetwork!