Technology tainted with slavery

Imagine a day in your life without your cell phone, your computer, your laptop or even your favorite DVD player. I cannot! It's a cruel yet true irony that in efforts to make high tech information age products more environmental friendly, we have actually boosted incentives for violence and worst forms of exploitation. Everyone's (almost) aware of the human rights abuses in gold and diamond mines in Africa but when it comes to our cool looking cell phones, handy lap tops, DVD players or video games – we don't get the message. Why? - Haven't they become such an indispensable part of our life?

The disturbing issue here is that of coltan mining in Congo. Coltan, or columbite-tantalite, is a highly radioactive ore valued for its ability to convert to the transition metal tantalum. Companies use tantalum to make a variety of electronic devices, including laptops, DVD players and cell phones along with others.

The civil war in Congo has resulted in the loss of thousands of people's lives and turned the country's coltan mines into a deadly battlefield. The huge demand for coltan shows the picture of business & exploitation of the world's most thoroughly ruined country by the global high-tech economies. Experts say that even though coltan mining has disastrous social and environmental consequences, people in the Congo have calculated that the only thing worse than mining coltan would be not mining it. People there don't see any alternative for themselves against slavery and exploitation.

Congo's first national elections since 1965 have taken place, but true peace and democracy remain vague goals. The population continues to be caught in a deadly vortex fueled by weapons transfers, infrastructure breakdown, ineffective leadership, and insecurity.

There are groups advocating for the issue around the world and forcing the high tech companies to investigate their supply chain. There are also other groups advocating for boycotting these slave made goods. But boycotting cell phones and laptops is not as easy as boycotting slave made clothes or chocolate. Even I cannot think of throwing away my cell phone or laptop but I sure want to do something about this. The issue here is bigger. There are groups encouraging recycling of cell phones. With word spreading, the market for recycling cells may increase, and begin to affect the new phone market. We as technology users need to push the companies that make our cell phones, computer chips and other devices to make sure that the coltan in these products is not stained with the blood of innocent Congolese people.

In this so-called 'free' world, the situation in Congo is about slavery and exploitation of the Congolese, with the prospects of massive wealth only for the rich, powerful and the exploiters. Coltan is the lifeblood of modern day communications – and to fight it is a challenge – are we ready?

Walking through my mind, I am amazed to find, memories of each passing season, which we remember for some reason. Having experienced the fall and winter, we are just a couple of weeks away from experiencing the beautiful spring in DC!

During fall, the leaves were of so many different shades and one could just stare at them in awe for hours, and now is the cold continuing with showers of snow once in a while. Winter will soon end, spring will be here and it would just be the right time to enjoy every minute of the bright, beautiful sun.

Just like the seasons, our moods go up and down and small little things can bring a smile on a dull gloomy day. This Valentine’s was my first after marriage and I was quite upset about not being with my husband. Back home in the evening from office – I saw a packet delivered for me. I opened it and found my ‘smile’ for the day! It was a cute little stuff toy - a dog with a flower in hand and a box of chocolates with a little note sent by my husband. I couldn’t have been happier.

On work front, I had the privilege to represent Free the Slaves in the Shareholders Resolutions and Social Advocacy meeting organized by DC BAR Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section and Corporation, Finance an Securities Law Section and hear some really interesting speakers on the subject.

Shareholder resolutions have become a potent and effective, but controversial tool for public interest organizations to advance environmental, social and human rights issues through the use of corporate governance process and attendant media attention. Some recent campaigns have addressed climate change, animal testing, recycling and human rights.

I learnt about the Social Investments’ firms, which specialize exclusively in socially responsible investing. The firms manage funds for individual and institutional investors who wish to integrate social and environmental standards into their investment decisions and analyze corporate holdings against social and environmental criteria’s. I also got to know about filing proxies and how shareholders could vote their proxies to support the program goals. For example, they can vote for resolutions urging companies to become environmentally responsible or to end certain exploitative practices.

Paul Shapiro from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) spoke about the advocacy efforts for humane treatment of animals in agribusinesses. He referred to the egg industry as a huge problem, wherein the hens are confined in some most outrageous conditions. He spoke about HSUS advocating strongly for ‘cage free’ eggs and in this context have been educating shareholders about the important role they can play. He spoke about shareholders resolution and citing a few examples said that while on one hand Wall- Mart is challenging their resolution and not being receptive, Safeway (one of the leading grocery chains) after a couple of meetings have finally introduced new policies representing important progress on basic animal welfare issues and is sure to positively affect many thousands of animals. He said that Safeway's move also sends a strong message to the agribusiness industry that it must rapidly move away from the worst factory farming abuses, such as intensive confinement systems and the conventional poultry slaughter method. Safeway has establish a purchasing preference for cage-free eggs, which is intended to favor producers who are converting away from battery-cage confinement systems. He also mentioned that Safeway has decided to give purchasing preference to poultry slaughterers that use Controlled Atmosphere Stunning, which causes significantly less suffering than the conventional poultry slaughter method.

During the weekend, I met Gargi’s friends Dolly & Nazmul, a very fun – loving couple and we stayed over at their place on Saturday night. Dolly made some excellent food and I was amazed with her pickle making skills...absolutely delicious!

As seasons come and go…memories are locked in our minds…and we remember the gone seasons for a reason!

Cold & Cloudy!

Today is another winter day. The sky is cloudy and the sun would not look down on the people.
The clouds play tricky…they slowly ascend blocking the rays of the sun… leaving emptiness all around. I don’t want to go another day with clouds in my way…please let the sun shine through!

Lately, wierd thoughts about ‘life’ have been hitting my mind. I keep telling myself philosphical stuff like - we all travel on this long road called life, which is kind of bumpy and sometimes tiring, and the end is a secret hidden by a blanket of fog. But no matter what - one has to go on and on... (Is it the weather or may be I am just missing my husband too much!)

Anyway, on another note - few weeks’ back, I went for an event organized by the Global Health Council on ‘Trafficking of Children & Adolescents as a Public Health Issue’. The meeting focused on the fact that sex trafficking of children & adolescents is a worldwide problem with enormous health consequences including HIV and STDs, reproductive health issues, gastro-intestinal diseases and bodily injuries. These health challenges impact both individuals and wider community, yet there is little involvement of the public health community either in terms of data collection or service delivery.

The speakers for the event were distinguished people like Gary Cohen, who’s the Board Director of Perrigo Company, the US Fund for UNICEF, the Academic Alliance Foundation and a member of the private sector delegation to the Global Fund. He serves as an advocate, speaker and expert panelist in forums involving child health & HIV/AIDS. Other speakers for the day were Azra Kacapor Nurkic, who’s the Director for Children and Youth Programs at World Learning Headquarters in Washington DC, Jay Silverman, who’s a public health researcher-his work focuses on the improvement of practice in the prevention of violence against adolescent and adult women in the US and internationally and Brian Willis, Health Advisor for ECPAT USA, who also served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay.

Last weekend, Gargi and me got the opportunity to visit the ‘Kali Maa’ (Hindu Goddess) temple in Washington DC with an Indian couple. It was a sight to see so many Indians together and all women dressed up in ‘sarees’! After offering prayers, we had ‘prasad’ (food) at the temple and then got back home after a nice long drive.

The 'price' of a bride!

In the prosperous districts of Haryana and Punjab in India, where son preference has resulted in a twisted sex ratio, human trafficking shows a different trend. The girls/young women from economically weaker backgrounds in Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal are being bought in groups for ‘forced marriages’. The legal status of such weddings, of course, remains questionable.

The girls/women blame their destiny and see no better a life for themselves. For an exchange of a small amount of money – a girl is married and brought to an alien land as the ‘bahu’ (daughter – in – law). They are forced to speak Haryanvi & Punjabi (local languages) even if they don’t understand a word of it; they are forced to become wheat eaters while they have grown up eating rice all their lives. This is the part of the country where livestock costs more than women.

In a bid to buy girls for marriage, families make frequent trips from all over Haryana & parts of Punjab to hunt for girls in Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand and even Maharashtra. The cultural impact of these forced marriages is already developing. The women’s movements are kept under complete surveillance and they aren’t allowed to visit their home. I remember hearing a testimony of one such ‘bride’ who said, “At least, we have food to eat here”. Because the girls don’t understand the language, they are just supposed to say ‘yes’ to whatever the men demand.

Direct fallout of low female population and more ‘single’ males has been a rise in sexual violence against women. Even though the sex ratio is alarming in terms of falling number of girls, having a ‘boy’ is still the first choice and the villagers resort to sex determination tests illegally - If the doctor writes in red it’s a girl, if blue, it’s a boy.

Even more interestingly, local politicians in this region have been promising brides in return for votes!
……….

Gargi offered me to join her for an all-vegetarian potluck party organized by her colleague and friend Leah last Saturday. This truly was an amazing party for me. For the first time in DC I saw a huge table laid up with mouth watering vegetarian dishes – ‘ALL VEG’. It was fun!

'Atlas' realizing dreams!

In our busy lives, there are bundles of struggle and sometimes failure that pop up for a sudden surprise. Your good friends come around and tell you “Don't be afraid…just be prepared…you know you can win over it!” They are there to tell you to never end your dreams…however tough it may seem because when you believe and you strive hard…you know you can WIN!

Falling, stumbling, collapsing, enduring suffering…one uses every strength from within, trying to play cautiously in the desperate game of life!

Slavery came to an end years back. But...did it really? Did you notice the domestic help in your neighbour’s house (and may be your own house) being beaten black and brown? Did you notice the young girl wearing loud make up and enticing clothes…did you notice the sexual advancement she made towards you with her eyes…did you also notice a series of cuts in her arm…and did you notice the man standing in one corner keeping a close eye on all her movements? Did you notice the little boy in the local restaurant, running around serving food, doing utensils and being badly beaten by the manager if something spills? Believe me…there are worst of such cases happening all around us.

Even today the wind is howling with cries of anguish, if one could hear…fields are being run red with the blood of bondage and commerce is thriving upon buying and selling of humans. Millions of families are suffering…divided, broken and displaced. This time it is not only the aristocracy…the kings…but everyone…just someone like you and me! This is the era of ‘modern slavery’!

Humans captured like animals for ill gotten ideals is the best business today. They are beaten, flogged, raped or worse…and ripped of all that they have.

Ever sat beside a victim of slavery to understand the pain they have suffered…you could hear their hopes silently muttered…dreams to be back with their family and live free as a bird then. Don’t we all have a responsibility…to give them their own freedom…Freedom at any cost!

I always wondered what success meant…Is success about money, name or fame? Or about winning life’s' survival game? I think I have got my simple answer to that. I’ll consider myself successful if I could help even one victim leave behind the past that has soaked within…help them forget the pain that burns through their skin…help them rebuild their lives…and if only I could manage to get a smile on their delicate faces.

Ever questioned…what future do we perceive for generations to come?
What would life be like in the next century?
Don’t we all want a world that’s ‘truly free’…for everyone?

Atlas Service Corps is helping me realize my dream of moving towards a slave free world. As an Atlas fellow, I have got the opportunity to work with Free the Slaves, a non – profit dedicated to end slavery around the world. Atlas Corps is in a contest to win $50,000 simply by getting the most number of people to donate $10 online before tomorrow, Thursday, January 31st at 3 PM EST. With 832 donors we are in fourth place. The top four will all win $50,000. Fifth gets nothing!

This contest ends in less than 40 hours. This is a sincere request, if you want to donate, then please do it now. Please go to www.atlascorps.org and donate $10. We need your support!

'Taare Zameen Par' - Every Child is Special!

Last week we experienced the snow fall in DC! Snowflakes soared down softly and swiftly – it was heaven gushing and splashing whiteness. The beautiful snow covered everything - so white, so pure, sparkling like glitter and shining so bright! It was magical white, a magical blur, something extraordinary and one of God’s most wonderful creations. As the snow began to melt, I realized I can never forget the beauty it possesses – the beauty that makes it such a wonder.

And when the nose gets red, hands get icy and feet get frosty, it’s time for something nice – yes, for a cup of warm tea/coffee!

‘Every Child is Special’, that’s the tag line of Aamir Khan’s directorial debut film ‘Taare Zameen Par’, which released a few weeks back. To me, it is one of the most unforgettable films that I have seen so far. I so agree with one of the reviews that I read about the movie “It is not a movie for children but more like a movie about children”. All in all, the target audience for the movie is ‘everyone’ - parents, brother, sister, teacher, all grown-ups - everyone would in some or the other way identify with the movie. The story revolves around an eight-year-old boy - Ishaan Awasthi who suffers from undiagnosed dyslexia and lives in his own dreamy world. Ishaan gets in trouble at school every now and then and his parents decide to send him away to a boarding school where he can be properly disciplined. (Ishaan’s stay at the boarding school took me back to my boarding school days). In his new school, Ishaan is discouraged to find that he's still a misfit and now he doesn't even have his parents with him. Later, Aamir Khan who plays the character of an art teacher - Ran Shankar Nikumbh understands that Ishaan suffers from dyslexia and decides to support him to realize his full potential and nurtures his talent. Darsheel Safary has done a brilliant job in playing the character of Ishaan Awasthy.

It is not uncommon in a country like India where children experience the discredit of being self-ambitions and consider it their duty to fulfill their parents’ ambition while living their own life. ‘Taare Zameen Par’ is a genuine effort to demystify such thinking and encourages the idea that every child is special and has special talents within him/her. Grown – ups need to understand that, support them and cultivate that talent in their upbringing.

The movie has scenes which leave one deeply moved and moist-eyed. The movie has received an enthusiastic response and it truly deserves it. A must watch f you still haven't - GO NOW!

America's Giving Challenge!

Take the CHALLENGE and learn how simple technology can be a force for good and giving. Oh yes! I am talking about the America’s Giving Challenge. It encourages everyone and anyone with access to Internet, punch of passion and commitment, and belief in new and innovative ideas to take the challenge!

Parade and the Case Foundation, leaders in the area of online fundraising for nonprofits, are proud to partner with Network for Good and Global Giving to process donations made through America’s Giving Challenge. The Challenge reinforces the fact that good can be achieved when great people, great ideas, and great opportunities come together. The Challenge is at its near last and most interesting phase right now…with non-profits struggling to be on the top slot.

The Challenge has also come to prove what marketing and social networking can do for nonprofits. The idea is that through the use of charity badges, the eight nonprofit winners who manage to attract the largest number of unique donors will win $50,000 for their cause. This really is amazing! I surely see the need for e – philanthropy in India, which is so not known or may be put into use. The best thing about the challenge is that it has the potential to make "all donors feel equal in the eyes of philanthropy." Anyone can support a cause that he/she may be passionate about for as little as $10 and feel like an empowered donor!

I am sure most of us read the quote in the Washington Post article from GlobalGiving's Dennis Whittle: "It used to be that if you wanted to give and have an impact, people thought you had to be Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey. But because of the way the technology works, you can be an 'ordinary Oprah.' If you've got $10 or $100 or $1,000, you can come and find a school in Africa to support, and you can get updates from the field to get responses to your support." The Challenge has such a feel good factor and I can’t wait to see the final results.

I have also reached almost the last pages of David Bornstein’s How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas. The book profiles some twenty social entrepreneurs and their organizations; and provides insight into what makes a social entrepreneur special. It also inspires you to be one! The book has highlighted individuals across the globe; who took charge of social problems and could find innovative, even unique, solutions.

On work front…am damn busy with the FTS Freedom Awards 2008. Almost buried under the pile of nominations – reviewing, researching, analyzing and questioning…whoops! This surely is enriching my knowledge on organizations doing some exemplary work around the globe. There is just so much to learn.

On Sunday, I dressed up in my traditional dress for Shakranti (festival) prayers and Gargi gave me a surprise with a lovely home baked cake. This was to celebrate my belated birthday and my more than a month old marriage. I was so touched…thank you Gargi!

On a serious note, these challenges and awards are very popular right now, but I am interested to see what happens when the fanfare has died and the prizes have all been awarded.

And here’s an appeal – I am an Atlas Fellow and my sponsor organization Atlas Corps is moving strongly towards expanding its program. It is a great concept where non-profit professionals from developing countries are chosen to come and volunteer (learn & contribute) at some of the most prestigious non-profits in the United States. It is an organization that has been successful entirely because of public support. Atlas Corps is trying hard to maintain itself in the top slot in the America’s giving Challenge. A contribution of as little as $ 10 can make a difference - so please go to www.atlascorps.org and consider making a $10 online donation today!