Chocolate, Coffee, Cotton....

I was just in New York this last week and was able to stay right by time square where everything is happenin. When I was there, it really made me think even more about how much we all consume.  Whether it be food, clothing, or coffee.  If you want something, its pretty accessible.  That being said, it is nearly impossible to make sure all the products you are buying are slave free...sad, but true.  BUT there are ways to be more conscious of  what you are buying and how it was produced.  There are brands out there that are dedicated to supplying quality products that are supporting the people that make them. 

The three biggest contributors to human trafficking as a working slave are the three C's...
Cotton
Coffee
Chocolate

I dont know about you but these are the three things that i consume the most. Again, I am not saying that everything that I have ever bought is slave free.  There is no way of really making sure because of the world we live in and that human trafficking is so hidden.  But I am dedicated in making myself aware of the things that I buy. 

What to look for...

Fair trade.  Again, it is not a guarantee that things that have this symbol are fully legit. But it is a higher possibility that they do not use slaves in the making of this product. This symbol appears in non specialty stores like target, on coffee and chocolate.

Now, a big thing that is coming out is "Slave-Free".  This isnt as common to find but when you are in a store or purchasing a coffee it is always a good thing to ask if their product is slave free.  It gets a little deeper into the production even more than fair trade.

Not For Sale has made an app for iphones and androids that you can use to scan products and learn about what you are buying.  It also gives a grade on if the product is legit.  download it!
http://www.free2work.org/

We cant be perfect, but we can sure try...