summary:
Through a series of photos posted on a well- known blog, "Humans of New York", over $2 million has been donated to the Bonded Labor Liberation Front founded by Syeda Ghulam Fatima.
Fatima has given her life to end bonded labor in Pakistan, and thanks to photographs by Brandon Stanton, the word is out to raise even more support. Following each picture are testimonies of some of the kiln workers. Many of them are poor, illiterate farmers who were tricked into taking a small loan from the company, hoping to pay it off in a number of days. However, when they try to leave, owners claim they are still in debt due to room and board. Despite laws against bonded labor, the owners operate with seeming impunity. This is where Fatima- nicknamed the "modern day Harriet Tubman"- and her husband step up to free and rehabilitate victims.
analysis:
Bonded labor is a thin veil over slavery. These workers have next to no chance to overcome their debt, and in many cases the debt passes to the future generations. However, people like Fatima and Stanton help raise that chance. This article has opened my eyes to the tyranny and exploitation of so many villagers by big-shot companies. Although the subject is very gloomy and truthful, overall the article is optimistic to the good people can do when they take the chance. This informs us that bonded labor is a very real and tragic problem and inspires us to take a stand in any way we can.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/19/asia/pakistan-humans-new-york-bonded-labor/index.html
I agree with you, bonded labor is awful and what Fatima is doing is really important. Exposing the exploitation of kiln workers in Pakistan and raising money to help them out like this makes great steps to freeing them from the manipulation they're put under working for these companies.
ReplyDeleteKatie Schell (flex)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vern. Bonded labor is not any better than slavery. I would also like to say that your font is very small.