New report: 36 million people worldwide live as slaves

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Roamer

Guest
#1
Nearly 36 million people worldwide, or 0.5% of the world's population, live as slaves, a survey by anti-slavery campaign group Walk Free says.

The report defines slaves as people subject to forced labour, debt bondage, trafficking, sexual exploitation for money and forced or servile marriage.

It uses slavery in a modern sense of the term, rather than as a reference to the broadly outlawed traditional practice where people were held in bondage and treated as another person's property.

The report calls for much wider international cooperation on slavery. It wants governments to increase penalties for trafficking and to put pressure on businesses to clamp down on the use of slaves in their supply chains.
Given God's demand for justice and heart for the poor and oppressed, I'd be interested to know how big of an issue this is for us, our respective churches and Christian circles. Does your pastor speak about slavery? Do we consider it in our bible studies? Does your church devote time and resources to help end it?

The abolition movement in the 1800s was led by devout Christians - what kind of role does the current church have in the fight against modern-day slavery? Respectful thoughts appreciated.
 
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ChristIsGod

Guest
#2
Who put out this report? That would factor in quite a bit for me as well, in order to give my full thoughts on this issue.

As far a we are concerned as Christians - if you go to a Christian bookstore, see where most every non-book item is made.

I would like to see every human being have a means to earn enough money to live with a roof over their head and enough food for themselves and their family, but that's not the case in many nations. Other than sending Missionaries and literature to these nations, we as The Church haven't shown our care to this world regarding slavery nor cared too awfully much about how humans in other countries are surviving or not surviving - though individuals definitely are.
That's not a broad brush indictment - as we all know brothers & sisters that send help to organizations and ministries that minister to these needs or go themselves to help - but as a whole - the Church in America is not widely known for caring as they once did -- and it boils down to sin in every nation on earth.

I do understand somewhat - that we can't totally over-throw any nation's government and that may be the only way to stop these practices - but we should have had a louder voice against the civil rights of so many are being violated. Instead we just use their products and don't think twice about what conditions these workers are working under.

At the same time - I don't see much hope for any nation at the rate that we're declining morally. This country and all other free nations are slipping into exactly what we were taught would cause nations to fall. Immorality was #1 on the list they gave us in boot camp, on how to take a country down.

It's difficult to even use the email server that I use, because that homepage of theirs comes up with such trash and gore that I truly do fear that we've become so desensitized to suffering of humans and animals that we can't even see how deep it is anymore.
Change the morality of any nation? That's what it boils down to. Abortion is legal. Euthanasia has been legal. Where are we on those issues? Not too many activists on these pro-life issues since it's been legalized. So, if we can kill babies and old or disabled people in our own nation and put naked or half-naked women on almost every News website and other websites that some view or TV channels and Christians don't boycott those sites & channels, at the least --- then how are we to change another nation's morality policies on anything?
Slavery is a Moral Issue - so what have we to show the world for our own morality? - even on here at times?

The least or most that we can do is be a missionary, support missionaries and those that print Christian literature to send to those we can't reach ourselves ... such as www.wmpress.org . We've got to give them the message of Eternal Life. The slavery that's eternal is the main & worst slavery that we're commanded to free fellow humans from and a liberation movement that we Can be a part of.

Give them Christ because there's no way to change a nation's policies if we can't change our own.
 
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ChristIsGod

Guest
#3
Sorry Roamer, it was 3 am-ish when I posted and just now looked up the Walk Free Foundation.
Hmm, hmm, hmm!
Just hit their homepage and it sure does explain a lot by the video and who's in that video.
**removed poster's misstatement which was clarified in post below**
 
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ChristIsGod

Guest
#4
Got an important phone call, right as I was posting above. Sorry for the rush and error.

Yes, I'm against any form of slavery. Hope that was understood.

Just had time to continue to explore that website. I could explain where these folks are leading up to but maybe just some of the key words I just picked off of site will be sufficient .... "Sustainable Development Goals" -- the UN -- Clinton's Global Initiative -- Peace on earth according to the Pope [the Vatican stands by Sustainable Development] -- the plan is toward the "Global Initiative" which in a nutshell is that everyone gets paid ["worker bees"] -- that is, those that survive their "Peace Plan" and their form of Global Socialism is set up digitally.

"He whom the Son sets FREE is FREE indeed" even if it's by death at the hands of those who say, "Peace, Peace" and rule/deceive by "flatteries".

HE said, Be Wise as serpents ~ but Harmless as doves. Amen, and Amen!

Thank you, Roamer!
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
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#5
There may well be 36 million people worldwide in some form of slavery.
We DO live in a fallen world.
I wouldn't be surprised.
I wouldn't be surprised if it was way higher than 36 million.

However, you really should provide some documentation.
Without documentation, it's a non issue; it's no better than a rumor.


I'm not trying to pick on ChristIsGod, this goes for any claim we make about anything.
Claims need to be documented.
The world is full of wild claims about virtually everything.
We need to be discerning.
 
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maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
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#6
It's fairly critical to give a direct link to the website, and to the exact page where you found this information.

Better yet would be to investigate how this survey was conducted, and the background of the organization that carried it out.

This is just good practice for sharing information.
Give the link to the exact page, and do a little research to see how the information was gathered, and if the gathering organization is credible.


I am NOT contradicting the claims of the OP,
I'm just explaining the necessity of links and documentation for posting "news".
 
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#7
Well first off, everyone is a slave in one way or another. So slavery itself is not the problem, but rather the conditions and mistreatment of servants is the problem.

Regardless of that, if anyone is interested in the study of Labor Rights, Working Condition, and Human Trafficking, here is a good site for information that I have used before when I was ghost writing for my college friends doing papers on such topics.

International Labor Rights Forum
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
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#8
GodIsSalvation,

I am not contesting the claims you're making.
But giving the home page of a huge website is not documentation.

If we're going to post NEWS, then we need links to SPECIFIC articles,
or SPECIFIC sets of data, which support and verify the claims we're making.

Until we show information that is SPECIFIC and VERIFIED, it isn't NEWS.

I'm not contradicting your claims, but you shouldn't expect people to read an entire website in order to understand some claim you're making. If you're posting NEWS, you need to post specific articles or data.
 
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#9
GodIsSalvation,

I am not contesting the claims you're making.
But giving the home page of a huge website is not documentation.

If we're going to post NEWS, then we need links to SPECIFIC articles,
or SPECIFIC sets of data, which support and verify the claims we're making.

If we can't show information that is SPECIFIC and VERIFIED, then it isn't NEWS.

I'm not contradicting your claims, but you shouldn't expect people to read an entire website in order to understand some claim you're making. If you're posting NEWS, you need to post specific articles or data.
The claim I have made is that everyone is a slave.

The website I provided is merely for anyone interested in the study of Labor Rights, Working Conditions, and Human Trafficking. Feel free to browse it or not at your leisure. The ILRF to my knowledge is the most reputable Labor Rights monitoring organization in the world at this current time. Human Rights Watch is also a good organization for study of this issue, though they are a bit more broad in their topics covering more than just Labor Rights.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
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#10
The claim I have made is that everyone is a slave.

The website I provided is merely for anyone interested in the study of Labor Rights, Working Conditions, and Human Trafficking. Feel free to browse it or not at your leisure. The ILRF to my knowledge is the most reputable Labor Rights monitoring organization in the world at this current time. Human Rights Watch is also a good organization for study of this issue, though they are a bit more broad in their topics covering more than just Labor Rights.
So...
you posted a NEWS thread titled "36 Million People Worldwide Live As Slaves"
and you have no intention of posting any specific articles or information to support that claim?

You aren't even going to TRY to back up the claim you just made?
REALLY?


If you're going to post OPINIONS, without specific articles or data,
that's fine, but it shouldn't be posted as NEWS.

You can post opinions under other areas of the website.
Opinions shouldn't be posted as NEWS... it's deceptive.
 
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maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
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#11
Let's be realistic.

I can say "36 Million People Flew To The Moon On Unicorns."

But if I can't back it up...
it didn't happen.
 
Dec 18, 2013
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#12
So...
you posted a NEWS thread titled "36 Million People Worldwide Live As Slaves"
and you have no intention of posting any specific articles or information to support that claim?

If you're going to post OPINIONS, without specific articles or data,
that's fine, but it shouldn't be posted as NEWS.

You can post opinions under other areas of the website.
Opinions shouldn't be posted as NEWS.
Lol, I did not post this thread, Mr. Roamer posted this thread. I merely commentated on his thread and offered a source on the study of modern day Labor Rights, Working Conditions, and Human Trafficking. There are numerous articles and information which you can find at this source.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
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#13
Lol, I did not post this thread, Mr. Roamer posted this thread. I merely commentated on his thread and offered a source on the study of modern day Labor Rights, Working Conditions, and Human Trafficking. There are numerous articles and information which you can find at this source.
You are correct.
: )
I'm tired, lol.

Anyone reading, please consider all my concerns are directed at the OP, "ROAMER".

GodIsSalvation hasn't done anything silly.
I'm just tired.
 
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ChristIsGod

Guest
#14
You are correct.
: )
I'm tired, lol.

Anyone reading, please consider all my concerns are directed at the OP, "ROAMER".

GodIsSalvation hasn't done anything silly.
I'm just tired.

[Wow - this forum amazes me more and more each day - in a Good way - as for 12 yrs I've never seen one that is run so Well. Thank you sincerely for fixing my post. God Bless the work you folks do here.]
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Brother Maxwell, it may be your glasses that you show here, but with me, it's just dain bramage. :D

Brother Roamer did put the source but at 3am I didn't catch it either through the night-blur of my eyes. lol

I went to the site and gave my blah-blah opinion of their basic tenets above. It's the Walk Free Foundation - and poor Roamer has had to put up with two of us myopic humans due to our sensory over-load now.
Well, I am anyway!


Shalom~Shalom & have a Great day ALL!
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,261
2,386
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#15
[Wow - this forum amazes me more and more each day - in a Good way - as for 12 yrs I've never seen one that is run so Well. Thank you sincerely for fixing my post. God Bless the work you folks do here.]
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Brother Maxwell, it may be your glasses that you show here, but with me, it's just dain bramage. :D

Brother Roamer did put the source but at 3am I didn't catch it either through the night-blur of my eyes. lol

I went to the site and gave my blah-blah opinion of their basic tenets above. It's the Walk Free Foundation - and poor Roamer has had to put up with two of us myopic humans due to our sensory over-load now.
Well, I am anyway!


Shalom~Shalom & have a Great day ALL!
Let me try this again.

I have this personal problem where I get bent out of shape when people post NEWS,
and state things as facts, without giving credible sources.

Although this is a real issue, I could probably deal with it in a calmer way.
: )

I'm sure the OP, Roamer, had the best intentions,
but the support he gave for his post was still a bit thin.

It would be best if he found a link to that survey,
and then just posted the link, so that we can all see it.
If he can post additional articles corroborating it,
that's even better... but not critical.

As Christians, we tend to be very passionate about certain injustices.
That's a good thing.
But sometimes this passion drives us to latch onto stories that aren't actually documented.
Because of this, well meaning people often post NEWS stories that aren't even real stories.
It happens.
We should try to be more astute, and more vigilant.

I'm sure Roamer had only the best intentions,
but mentioning the name of a group who did a survey we haven't seen...
that isn't the same as documenting the story.
He needs to post some links when he has time to do so.
I'm sure it's a real survey, and he's an intelligent and honest person,
but we still need links and documentation when we post NEWS.

Apologies to everyone if I sounded agitated or accusatory,
but well-meaning Christians often post news stories without checking the facts.
It happens so often that the mere appearance of it upsets me.
:)
I'll do my part, and try to breathe into the bag.
But lets all do our part about proper fact-checking and documentation.
: )
 
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VioletReigns

Guest
#16
Does this mean there's no awesome photo forthcoming of the "36 Million People Flew To The Moon On Unicorns."?

*sigh* :rolleyes:
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,704
3,649
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#17
Does this fall under the tension between preaching a 'social ' gospel vs a 'preached' gospel?
It could be argued hundreds of millions are enslaved to sin in which only the power of the Gospel can free them in more ways than one.
One the 'social' side, one of the definitions of slavery in the report was 'debt bondage'...well, wouldn't that include tens of millions alone here in the USA? How would you go about freeing those slaves?
 

skipp

Senior Member
Mar 6, 2014
654
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#18
I don't see why there should be any tension between the two. We fight against social issues like abortion and gay marriage, why not slavery also?

I agree with Maxwell about fact checking.
 
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gene77

Guest
#19
Let me try this again.

I have this personal problem where I get bent out of shape when people post NEWS,
and state things as facts, without giving credible sources.

Although this is a real issue, I could probably deal with it in a calmer way.
: )

I'm sure the OP, Roamer, had the best intentions,
but the support he gave for his post was still a bit thin.

It would be best if he found a link to that survey,
and then just posted the link, so that we can all see it.
If he can post additional articles corroborating it,
that's even better... but not critical.

As Christians, we tend to be very passionate about certain injustices.
That's a good thing.
But sometimes this passion drives us to latch onto stories that aren't actually documented.
Because of this, well meaning people often post NEWS stories that aren't even real stories.
It happens.
We should try to be more astute, and more vigilant.

I'm sure Roamer had only the best intentions,
but mentioning the name of a group who did a survey we haven't seen...
that isn't the same as documenting the story.
He needs to post some links when he has time to do so.
I'm sure it's a real survey, and he's an intelligent and honest person,
but we still need links and documentation when we post NEWS.

Apologies to everyone if I sounded agitated or accusatory,
but well-meaning Christians often post news stories without checking the facts.
It happens so often that the mere appearance of it upsets me.
:)
I'll do my part, and try to breathe into the bag.
But lets all do our part about proper fact-checking and documentation.
: )
Oh. But, this has been going on in the news for a while now (check BBC). So, if people read or watch the news on a regular basis, I'm sure they would have come across this issue of slavery and how many slaves there are in the world. Heck, there's SO much slavery going on in my city, which many people are oblivious to, though they do know about it. Whether it is 3.6 million (which I think there is more BTW), or 3600 slaves, there's still the issue of slavery that is being addressed in this thread.

What I found strange is that you didn't respond to any of the OP's questions on slavery, and instead all your posts were on not being deceptive to the readers and providing proof. Come on! Everyone, here, knows that slavery is still happening. Moreover, I didn't know that people got onto CC to READ the news. Anyone can google any "claims" made on here and know in a matter of seconds whether it is true or false. But, I think you spent a lot of good time and energy in reprimanding the OP and other folk, rather than researching the topic and/or providing your insight in the matter.
 
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gene77

Guest
#20
Does this fall under the tension between preaching a 'social ' gospel vs a 'preached' gospel?
It could be argued hundreds of millions are enslaved to sin in which only the power of the Gospel can free them in more ways than one.
One the 'social' side, one of the definitions of slavery in the report was 'debt bondage'...well, wouldn't that include tens of millions alone here in the USA? How would you go about freeing those slaves?
"My sister is ten years old. Every morning at seven she goes to the bonded labor man, and every night at nine she comes home. He treats her badly; he hits her if he thinks she is working slowly or if she talks to the other children, he yells at her, he comes looking for her if she is sick and cannot go to work.... I don't care about school or playing. I don't care about any of that. All I want is to bring my sister home from the bonded labor man. For 600 rupees I can bring her home - that is our only chance to get her back. We don't have 600 rupees... we will never have 600 rupees." - Lakshmi, nine year old cigarette roller in Tamil Nadu, India. 600 rupees was then equivalent of approximately $17.50.
(An excerpt from True Grit: Women Taking On the World, for God's Sake, "Vital Statistics on Child Labor", page 59)

^That, my friend, is the "debt bondage" that is being talked about.