Dr. Dienke Hondius of the Univerity of amsterdam publishes a research to make Dutch slave owners visible. They were found in all layers of society, even housemaids, and were payed a compensation in 1863 for their freed slaves. At this state in time, they mostly had inhereted these slaves.
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By 1835 it was still possible to determine where a Suriname Black came from, from what African nation he was stolen. There was also still female circumsision in Suriname. The Loango's were used as rowers, and were known for eating dogmeat and filing their teeth.
The slave trade may have been officially abolished 200 years ago but we all collude to ensure its survival in 2007.
Anil Bhanot guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 17 April 2007 10.30 BST
The Reverend Granville Sharp started his campaign against the slave trade in 1765 although it was not until 1807 that parliament finally passed the bill to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire. It is ironic to note that slave traders were compensated by £20m for their loss of "property" when the total schools' budget for the empire in the same year was just £20,000.
Yet people found it difficult to give up their easy route to profit. Demand for slaves continued. Banking and almost every other industry continued to make huge profits through the evil triangular trade between Europe, the Americas and Africa until almost the end of the 19th century.
Slavery is as rife in the 21st century as it ever was because slavery strikes at the root of man's insatiable greed, which seems never to abate. It is unashamed materialism.
To mark the recent anniversary of the presumed end of the slave trade, media reports focused on cases of modern day slavery; India's bonded child labourers, the trafficking of innocent women from the Philippines and eastern Europe, and so on.
But these malpractices are different to the slavery of 200 years ago. "Slavery" in poverty stricken countries is borne not from the desire for huge profits but a poor individual's struggle for survival; a struggle that we in the west are only too happy to exploit.
The demand for cheaper goods from individuals in richer countries determined to improve their own standards of living, with seemingly no limits, fuels a free market economy where richer countries drive down prices through unfair trade agreements with poorer countries. Because manufacturing costs in developed countries are high, businesses pride themselves on being able to satisfy consumer demand by cutting costs while increasing profits for themselves and their stockholders by giving jobs to the poor in developing countries.
Take the economics of buying a £30 toy for instance, one made in the far east and sold at any UK retail outlet. Almost 50% of the sale price is retained by the retailer. Some 20% will go to the main distributor. If the toy is linked to a blockbuster movie like Harry Potter, 10% will go to the company holding the film rights. After VAT has been paid over to the Treasury we are left with 5% of £30, i.e., £1.50 for the factory in the far east. Out of this, the workers' wages will be in the region of 10 - 15p.
The wage is appalling; the human cost much higher. Are these workers really much better than slaves? Slaves which we all employ, albeit indirectly?
Governments in poorer countries must begin taking action to protect their vulnerable, at the very least securing a living minimum wage for their people. Otherwise, they do little more than conspire with the rich to keep the poor in abject poverty.
Western democracy, too, needs a good shake up. Trade inequalities highlight the fundamental flaw in our democratic systems, which, let's face it, are based not on true benevolence and justice but pure materialism.
We cannot appease our need to feel better by giving a fraction of our huge profits in aid. What we need is good governance and accountability, not just from the corrupt officials of poor countries, but much more so from the richer nations too.
JustShare, a coalition of churches and development agencies seeking to address the widening gap between rich and poor in the global economy, will demonstrate on May Day outside the Royal Exchange to appeal to "the City of London" to share responsibility for the worst forms of child and bonded labour.
It was a person of faith who led the campaign against the slave trade in 1765. What is missing from our governments, our financial institutions and our businesses is a basic commitment to respect for all humanity and fair trade agreements which will ensure a wage of dignity for goods manufactured elsewhere but wholeheartedly consumed by people here.
Article history Law Human rights More from Comment is free on Law Human rights Related 2 Feb 2007 A story that must be told 25 Mar 2007 Stop apologising! 5 Dec 2004 200 years on, the Queen is told to say sorry for Britain's role in slave trade 15 Sep 2006
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