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Mark

Blog Post #1 November 8, 2024

Modern slavery is a very widespread and deeply concerning issue, affecting an estimated 49 million people globally, according to recent data. Victims of modern slavery are subjected to various forms of exploitation, including forced labor, sex trafficking, child labor, and forced marriages. This crisis spans across nearly every country, impacting both developed and developing nations, highlighting the problem. Countries in Asia and Africa account for the highest number of victims, yet Western countries are also heavily implicated. Mostly as the landing spot for victims or goods made by victims. Modern slavery infiltrates industries ranging from agriculture and construction to domestic work and manufacturing, allowing the exploitation to be undetected. Organized criminal networks and corrupt officials contribute to the complexity of combating these practices. Despite international laws and policies aimed at curbing human trafficking, modern slavery remains a grave and persistent human rights violation that requires a concerted global response.

Modern slavery takes on multiple forms, each with differing methods of exploitation and control. Forced labor, one of the most common forms, involves individuals being coerced to work through threats or violence. This often happens in industries like agriculture, construction, and domestic services and victims receive a promise of pay that is never fulfilled. Sex trafficking, another prevalent form, forces victims into commercial sexual exploitation through manipulation or force, trapping them in abusive environments. Child labor remains a significant issue, with millions of children working under hazardous conditions around the world, depriving them of education and a safe childhood. Forced marriage, where individuals are married against their will, is also considered modern slavery, as it often leads to a life of abuse and restricted freedom. Each of these forms involves severe violations of human rights and persists globally despite legal efforts to prevent them.

Check out this website: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/index.html

Modern slavery exists because of a mix of tough conditions that make people easy targets for exploitation. Poverty is a big reason, as people without money may take risky jobs or be tricked by traffickers in order to survive. When people lack education, they have fewer chances for good jobs and may not recognize risky situations. Countries with weak laws or unstable governments make it easier for traffickers to get away with exploiting people. Discrimination also plays a role, as certain groups—like women, children, and minorities—are often more vulnerable. The demand for cheap labor in industries like clothing and agriculture also drives exploitation. These issues all work together, making it hard to stop modern slavery without major changes.


People who enslave others use different tricks and threats to keep control over them. They might hurt them or threaten to hurt them, so the victims are too scared to try and escape. Sometimes, they mess with people’s minds, making them feel stuck or dependent by giving false promises or using emotional abuse. Traffickers often keep victims in debt by saying they owe money, making it seem impossible to leave. They also keep people isolated, so they have no one to help or turn to for support. Some take away important documents like passports, so victims feel like they can’t go anywhere safely.

Check out this website: https://polarisproject.org/labor-trafficking/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAire5BhCNARIsAM53K1hiqGHJ3xBDy-XsAEWVW8fC6j4_gfkw2N_iImw4qP8DrSbUklP9kEEaAnBMEALw_wcB

“Home.” Anti, 2 Oct. 2024, www.antislavery.org/.

“Global Slavery Index.” Walk Free, 3 Nov. 2023, www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/.

Mark

Blog Post #2 November 15, 2024

9 min read

Apple Inc. is one of the world’s biggest technology companies, known for its innovative and iconic products. The company designs and manufactures a range of consumer electronics, including the iPhone, MacBook, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Apple’s products are renowned for their cool design, advanced functionality, and user friendliness. It is also a leader in software, developing operating systems like iOS, macOS, and watchOS, as well as popular applications such as Safari and iMessage. The company has a global presence, with millions of customers and retail stores worldwide. Apple has taken the world by storm in the last 20 years easily becoming one of the most recognizable brands.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc.

I like Wikipedia for general information on something. It can’t always be considered a credible source but if you would like to read more about Apple Inc . in general, I think this is a great place to start. It may even take you down a longer rabbit hole. Check out the link above.

Apple Inc. designs its products in the United States but manufactures the majority of them overseas, primarily in countries like China, Vietnam, and India. The company relies on a large global supply chain, with final assembly often handled by contractors such as Foxconn and Pegatron in Asia. Apple has U.S.-based manufacturing, such as producing the Mac Pro in Texas, this represents a small fraction of its overall production. The U.S. is Apple’s largest market, accounting for about 40% of its global revenue as of recent years. Millions of iPhones, MacBooks, and other Apple products are sold in America each quarter, making it a key region for sales. Despite this, most components and assembly processes remain concentrated in lower-cost regions abroad. Apple continues to emphasize its U.S. roots in marketing while balancing global manufacturing to stay competitive, particularly in pricing.

Modern slavery happens in the production of Apple phones and laptops because of the way workers are treated in the supply chain. In places where materials like cobalt and lithium are mined, people, including children, are forced to work in dangerous conditions for very little pay. Many factory workers, especially in countries like China, are pushed to work long hours without rest in unsafe environments. These workers often face poor living conditions and are not allowed to leave or rest freely. Apple has faced criticism for not doing enough to stop these practices at its factories. Even though the company has tried to improve conditions, reports still show that workers are being mistreated. This shows that the true cost of the devices we use every day includes the unfair treatment of workers who make them.

The supply chain for Apple laptops and iPhones begins with the mining of raw materials like cobalt, lithium, and rare earth metals, which are necessary for their batteries and other parts. These materials are often mined in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where workers, including children, are forced to work in unsafe and poor conditions for little or no pay. Once the materials are mined, they are shipped to manufacturers in countries like China, where they are made into components like chips, screens, and batteries. In the factories, workers often endure long hours, low pay, and unsafe working conditions, including forced overtime and limited freedom. After that, the parts are sent to assembly plants, often in China or other countries with cheap labor, where the workers continue to face tough conditions. Slavery enters at different points in the process—during the mining and in factories—where people are exploited to meet the high demands of companies like Apple.

This article can shed some light on the human trafficking and modern slavery in the DRC. It attempts to show Apple in a positive light with it’s click bait title but the problem still seems to persist. Check out the website above for more information.

Millions of people, including children, work in dangerous conditions to mine cobalt for products like Apple laptops and iPhones, with estimates suggesting around two million artisanal miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone. Many of these workers face toxic exposure, hazardous work environments, and extreme poverty. Apple, along with other tech companies like Microsoft and Tesla, has been accused of benefiting from forced child labor in its supply chain. A lawsuit claims that these companies were complicit in the deaths and injuries of children working in cobalt mines. Although Apple has policies against child labor, the complexity of the supply chain makes it difficult to prevent these abuses. Reports reveal that these miners often live in appalling conditions, with little access to education, healthcare, or safety. The scale of the problem highlights the need for better oversight and accountability in global supply chains.

Overall, I learned that Apple’s production of laptops and iPhones is linked to modern slavery, especially through the mining of materials like cobalt, which is used in their batteries. Many of these minerals come from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where people, including children, work in dangerous conditions with little pay or no pay at all. Even though Apple says it tries to make sure its materials are sourced ethically, there are still reports of child labor and forced labor in the mines. Some minerals are smuggled out of the DRC, bypassing rules meant to stop the use of “blood minerals.” Apple’s efforts to fix these issues have not been enough to stop the abuse completely. This shows that while we may be buying high-tech products, they often come at the cost of human rights violations.

Mike. “Where Are Apple Products Made?” AllAmerican.Org, 7 Nov. 2024, allamerican.org/investigation/apple/.

“Is My Phone Powered by Child Labour?” Amnesty International, 17 Aug. 2021, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2016/06/drc-cobalt-child-labour/.

Mark

Blog Post #3 November 22, 2024

12 min read

The work to make Apple laptops and iPhones happens mostly in a few countries. China does most of the assembling in big factories, like those in Zhengzhou and Shenzhen, run by companies like Foxconn. Vietnam helps make things like AirPods in factories owned by companies such as Luxshare and Goertek. India is also starting to build iPhones, especially newer ones, in places like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Taiwan helps with putting together some of the more advanced parts. In Malaysia, workers put together smaller parts like circuit boards. These countries are picked because they have lots of workers, lower costs, and good factories to get the job done. It also helps Apple diversify it’s labor force.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_supply_chain

****This Wikipedia page can offer lots of additional insight into the geographical location of where Apple produces things. Keep in mind, Wiki is often edited by it’s users so it’s not always 100% reliable. But for the purposes of general information, it is wonderful.*****

Workers involved in forced labor in the production of Apple products, particularly in manufacturing and raw material supply, often come from vulnerable demographics. Many of them are migrant workers from low-income countries in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, or rural regions in China. Some are forced Uyghur laborers from Xinjiang, China, compelled to work under oppressive conditions in their captivity to China. These individuals often face unsafe workplaces, long hours, and exploitative or no wages. Women and children are particularly at risk, with some children involved in mining essential materials like cobalt, used in electronics batteries. Forced labor thrives due to economic poverty, and the high demand from wealthier nations.

The working conditions for people in modern slavery producing Apple products are often harsh and exploitative. Many workers endure extremely long hours, sometimes exceeding 12 to 16 per day. The factories are often overcrowded, with poor ventilation and inadequate safety measures, leading to health risks from exposure to hazardous materials. Not only are there long hours but workers may live in cramped dormitories, sometimes with deductions for lodging and meals taken directly from their meager wages. Reports have highlighted instances of forced labor, particularly among vulnerable groups like migrant workers and ethnic minorities, who are subjected to strict surveillance and limited freedom of movement. Wage theft is another common issue, worsening workers financial dependency on the job. Children, particularly in mining for raw materials like cobalt, often work in dangerous environments, risking injury or death without proper protections. These conditions are perpetuated by systemic gaps in oversight and the immense global demand for low-cost electronics.

***I chose this article because it’s an inside look into the lifestyle of someone destined for poverty and back breaking labor. It is heart breaking to read about Frédéric’s story. Please check this out for more details.***

This article speaks about a boy named Frédéric who quit school at age 9 to work in the Cobalt factory in Democratic Republic of Congo. In order for him to stay in school his family would have had to pay $6 per month and unfortunately they couldn’t. At age 15 he was still working there earning less than $1 per day. His story is a tragic one, he fell down a tunnel and ended up paralyzed. Stories like these are not uncommon according to the author. This story helps raise awareness about what is going on in the supply chain for Apple and other tech companies.

Reflecting on these stories and information about modern slavery I learned a ton. First, I realize how lucky we are here in The West to not have this be our fate. I learned about the economic conditions that make slavery in the production of apple products possible. I learned about how they diversify their supply chain amongst countries. I learned that modern slavery in the production of Apple products is an open secret. Everyone knows about it, but not much is being done. Apple continues to make profits and the world carries on.

“Research Brief – Modern Slavery in Global Supply Chains: The State of Evidence for Key Government and Private Approaches.” Justice and Care, 21 Apr. 2023, justiceandcare.org/policies-and-reports/modern-slavery-in-global-supply-chains/.

“Slavery in Supply Chains.” Anti, 23 July 2024, www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/slavery-in-global-supply-chains/.