human rights and social justice Flashcards
(94 cards)
1
Q
what are human rights?
A
basic rights and freedoms all human beings are entitled to, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.
2
Q
what is social justice?
A
- ensuring society treats people fairly whether they are poor or wealthy. protects everyone’s human rights
- trying to protect people’s rights and opportunities so the least advantaged members of society are treated with the same justice and compassion as the more advantaged people
3
Q
what is the Christian response to human rights?
A
every human being was created as equal and in the image of God, therefore every human being has equal right and is entitled to equal protection.
4
Q
what is the Buddhist response to human rights?
A
- the fundamental moral code of Buddhism is represented by the 5 precepts, which arguably uphold human rights.
5
Q
why do human rights exist?
A
- to prevent world wars or other types of conflict.
- to ensure all people are treated equally.
- ensures fairness - in the workplace, housing, education.
- to ensure people’s safety.
6
Q
is the universal declaration of human rights law?
A
the universal declaration of human rights was created in 1948 by the united nations, to ensure an event like ww2 never happened again and sets out the rights to which every person should be entitled. it was only made a law by the British government in 1994, but in most other countries, it is not a law, just a strong, well-known declaration.
7
Q
what must we ensure we do in order to be entitled to our human rights?
A
- we can only have our human rights if we acknowledge the responsibility to make sure these rights are available
- this includes the responsibility to respect other people’s rights, and the responsibility to help create access to those rights
- e.g. humans have the right to freedom of speech, but the responsibility not to say something that causes offence
8
Q
how did amnesty international begin?
A
- started when two men were wrongfully imprisoned for speaking their opinions. Peter Benenson was infuriated by this and set up Amnesty International.
9
Q
what does amnesty international believe in changing in the world?
A
- implementing the rights of refugees
- fighting the death penalty and normalised torture
- protects the rights of prisoners, and vulnerable women and children
- campaigns for gender and racial equality
- wants to save lives destroyed by armed violence every year - aims to put a stop to abuse, rape, etc.
- raises the importance of dignity, compassion, mutual respect, no matter a person’s race, gender, race, age, sexuality.
10
Q
what has amnesty international done, to set their beliefs in motion?
A
- collects data of abuse from across the globe, and exposes abusers.
- lobbies governments. ensures laws are enforced, and holds governments accountable for their actions and decisions.
- offers education to adults, as well as children, ‘global education’
- have saved many families, children, and communities, and even Aung San Suu Kyi has thanked them for their hard work.
11
Q
describe the difference between equality and justice?
A
Equality is where everyone is given the same opportunity, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Some don’t require aid, and some require more. Justice is where some people are given more aid than others when needed, and some aren’t given any or are given very little, as they don’t require it.
e.g. both the poor and the rich are offered school meals for their children, however you have to pay £2 a day. this is equality. rich people, however, can afford this, and poor people can’t. justice is given when the poor are given aid by the government to pay for these school meals, and the rich aren’t given this aid, as they can afford the fees.
12
Q
what are some examples of social injustice?
A
- children experiencing poverty
- unfair imprisonment
- homelessness
- women’s/trans rights
- unequal access to education and healthcare
- racial discrimination (police brutality)
13
Q
describe children experiencing poverty as an example of social injustice:
A
- children in certain areas of the UK are experiencing poverty, due to no fault of their own, but simply because they were born into this situation.
- they therefore have a lower life expectancy, and overall not have nearly as many opportunities as their wealthier classmates.
14
Q
what is the Christian response to social injustice?
A
many Christians believe it is part of their religious duty to help the poor. they follow the example of Jesus, who reached out to the poor in society.
- ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’.
- ‘God does not show judgement’. people created social injustice out of their own free will, not from God’s will, so they’ll seek to return society to its original, injustice-free state.
- ‘love your neighbour as yourself’
- many Christians living in rich nations feel they have a responsibility towards those in poorer nations.
- they offer practical help to the poor, and include them in their prayers.
15
Q
finish the Christian quote towards social injustice:
‘Let justice _____________________ and righteousness like a ______________________.’
A
some Old Testament prophets were quick to condemn injustice and looked forward to a fairer society
- ‘Let justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never-ending stream’
16
Q
how might Christians help with cases of social injustice in the community?
A
- support a scheme to help the homeless.
- be involved in a local church or food bank.
- organise a weekly youth club for less advantaged young people.
17
Q
what is the Buddhist response to social injustice?
A
Buddhists aim to solve the problem of social injustice using the 4 noble truths, as injustice can be seen as a form of suffering.
- injustice and suffering is inevitable.
- there is a cause to this suffering/injustice
- by realising the underlying cause, we can put an end to this injustice
- by encouraging all people to follow the eightfold path, we can put an end to this suffering/injustice
18
Q
describe the difference between discrimination and prejudice:
A
- discrimination is when you go out of your way to unfairly treat someone based on their sexuality, ethnicity, etc.
- prejudice is when you believe someone is inferior or superior to you without even knowing them - based on first impressions and societal stereotypes.
19
Q
what is equality?
A
having equal rights, status and opportunities
20
Q
what are the general Christian responses to human rights and equality?
A
- prejudice and discrimination is wrong, it damages human relationships.
- you must love God and others through your words and actions, you must also value others by showing respect.
- ‘Treat others as you would like to be treated’ - the Golden Rule.
- society cannot exist in harmony if people aren’t treated equally.
21
Q
what is the Catholic view towards gender equality?
A
- God created men and women at the same time, and both in the image of God. therefore everyone is equal in the eyes of God.
- the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches that we are equal. women can teach and study theology, administer Holy Communion, visit the sick, and host funerals. they can’t however, become priests.
- the CCC teaches that only men can be priests because the apostles were all men, and priests and bishops are descendants of the apostles, therefore they must also be male.
- the CCC teaches that only men can be priests because Jesus was a man and priests represent Jesus.
22
Q
what is the traditional protestant view towards gender equality?
EVANGELICAL
A
- St Paul banned women from speaking or teaching in Church.
- St Paul also used the story of Adam and Eve to show that men should be given more rights than women.
- it’s a Church tradition for only men to have leadership rights.
- although Jesus had female followers, he only chose men as his 12 disciples.
23
Q
what is the modern protestant view towards gender equality?
LIBERAL
A
- in the Creation Story, God created men and women at the same time and made them of equal status.
- St Paul said that we’re all members of Christ, so we all have equal rights, it doesn’t matter if we’re male or female.
- Jesus treated women as his equals - women were also the first to arrive at his resurrection site.
- there is evidence that there were female priests in the early Church.
- they’re happy to ordain women - they argue that the Church should adapt to reflect the importance of equality in today’s society
24
Q
what is the quote from St Paul that promotes gender equality?
A
‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’
25
what is the traditional buddhist response to gender equality?
- traditionally, women are not allowed to become monks, as it is believed that they aren't a complete entity. Buddhists believe that women are not considered fit to attain enlightenment and become a Buddha.
26
what is the Buddhist response to gender equality?
- in Mahayana Buddhism, Buddhist women who dedicate their lives to seeking enlightenment can be ordained as nuns, but not full monks.
- in the Buddhist teachings, there is no difference between men and women. both suffer. women are believed to have the same potential as men to gain the wisdom, insight, and compassion necessary for enlightenment.
- both the Mahayana and Theravada traditions mention women who have become enlightened.
27
what is the Catholic response towards sexuality?
the Catholic Church doesn't believe that being homosexual is a sin, but rather that homosexual acts are a sin. the Catholic Church asks people to live without sin, therefore ask homosexuals to live without sexual activity. the Catholic Church rejects all forms of homophobia, as we are all equal and can only be judged by God.
Catholics have this attitude because the Bible condemns homosexual activity and states that women are made for men in order to procreate. the magisterium continue this view in their reinterpretations of the Bible, written in the Catechism.
the Catholic Church does teach that people cannot control their sexual orientation, but can control their sexual activity. it is therefore wrong to judge someone for something they have no control over.
28
what is the evangelical response to sexuality?
- the Bible is God's word, and it condemns homosexuality, therefore it is wrong.
- the salvation of the Church can remove all sins, including homosexuality.
- hold special prayer meetings to help homosexuals to change their lives.
29
what is the liberal response to sexuality?
- the Bible needs reinterpreting in the light of modern knowledge, so homosexuality is acceptable.
- Christians are supposed to be honest, refusing rights to gay people leads them to lie and hide the truth, which is a sin.
- people are guided by the Holy Spirit, if it guides them to be gay, it must be okay.
- Jesus teaches us to love and accept everyone, he rules no one out.
30
what is the Buddhist response to sexuality?
the 5 Moral Precepts teach that sexual behaviours are desires, which are acceptable, as long as you do not follow sexual misconduct.
- Buddhists believe in anatta, in not being attached to your current form. therefore, Buddhists are open to the idea of gender fluidity, as it means the person has realised their detachment from their current body.
however, overall, Buddhists believe that celibacy is preferred to marriage (monks), and the only forms of sexual contact within marriage should be for procreation.
31
describe the social injustice of disability:
- largest minority in the world.
- includes physical, learning, and mental disabilities.
- 20% of the world suffers from a disability: 1 in 5 people.
- 'Disability isn't a choice, discrimination is.'
- the UN created: 'The rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.'
32
describe the social injustice of racial discrimination:
- 1300 resumes sent in to employers - people with traditional black names are 50% less likely to receive a call back than people with white names.
- prison sentences for black men are typically 10% longer for the same crime. black men experience 3.6x more police brutality.
- 45% of indigenous families have experienced racism at some point.
- stress caused by racism has been linked to breast cancer, hypertension and heart disease.
- half of medical students believe that there are biological differences between difference races. they're also less likely to prescribe medicine to black people.
- racism is often learnt from someone's environment or up bringing.
33
why does racism and discrimination happen?
- culture
- misunderstanding
- ignorance
- experience
- fear
- upbringing
- unintentional
34
describe the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), and how it was reached:
in order to reach the 1995 DDA, people had to protest for equal treatment of disabled people, but the authorities and the Government were against this for a long while, but eventually gave in, as the disabled were campaigning so often and alerting the public of the Government's actions. the Government was pressured to introduce the act after this.
- since the day the act was introduced, people have been much less discriminated against, but still face many problems.
- all public places (schools, hospitals) must be wheelchair accessible.
- privately owned land and things (e.g. SWR) don't have to be wheelchair accessible.
'You can go to the train platform, but you can't get on a train'.
35
describe the case study of Ida Phillips vs the Martin Marietta Corporation:
- Ida Phillips was a single mum with a pre-school aged child.
- looking for a job in 1971.
- the MMC (aeroplane manufacturer) had a policy of never hiring women with pre-school aged children, because they were 'unreliable employees'.
- even though Ida was very well qualified for the job, she was turned down because she had a young child.
- SEXISM. society frowns upon her if she doesn't have a child, but she's frowned upon if she does have a child, and tries to support it and herself.
36
describe the Equality Act 2010:
- there were too many laws designed to deal with discrimination, and it was starting to get confusing where they began to overlap.
- the Equality Act 2010 was created, and it's an important piece of anti-discrimination legislation in the UK.
- age
- disability
- gender re-assignment, sexual orientation, sex
- marriage and civil partnership
- pregnancy and maternity
- race
- religion or belief
- people are protected from discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
- people are protected at work, school, housing, and on other premises, and when using public transport, or when using services (e.g. restaurants, hospitals). basically all public places.
- protected in clubs or associations, or in public bodies (e.g. local council/government department).
37
describe the Christian argument against racism:
'There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.'
the story of the Good Samaritan details two countries at war. a man needed help, and the men of his own country walked past him. a man from the opposing country helped him, regardless of their races.
38
describe the history of racism in South Africa and the USA:
- in the 20th century, races were kept apart with black people being discriminated against in countries such as SA and the USA
- the actions of Christians such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu (SA) and Dr Martin Luther King Junior (USA), with the help of others, persuaded their respective governments that racist policies were unfair and needed to be changed
39
describe the Buddhist response towards racism:
- racism is unkindness, causing suffering.
- it goes against the 5 Moral Precepts - harming living things, wrongful speech.
- goes against the 8-fold path - right speech.
- develop loving-kindness towards everyone
- however, some black and Briton Buddhists feel they don't quite fit in, as Buddhists are mainly asian, and often, writings are in Chinese or Thai.
- this forces converts to attend Buddhist centres ran by white teachers, as they feel more comfortable there.
40
give an example of racial positive discrimination:
a business might employ someone from an ethnic minority partly to help make the workplace more diverse
41
what is the Christian response to disabled people?
Christians help the disabled, treat them with love and kindness. they would not shun them. this is because Jesus helped the disable - e.g. he healed a man with cerebral palsy, and made him walk again.
- 'love your neighbour as yourself'
- oppose discrimination as it doesn't demonstrate equality or love
42
what is the Buddhist response to disabled people?
a Buddhist feels that people are only disabled as a result of their own actions and karma - the person must deal with that themselves. Buddhists can't heal that for them. people, if they have been made disabled, are supposed to be disabled, and to experience this life.
however, Buddhists still believe in treating the disabled with karuna and metta.
43
give an example of a campaign against racism:
- 'Show Racism the Red Card'
- designed to help educate football fans and remove racist abuse from football
44
describe freedom of religion in the UK today:
- Christianity is the main religious tradition here
- but nobody is forced to be Christian because the Government protects the freedom of religious expression
- this gives all individuals the right to follow whichever faith they choose or none
- laws forbid the persecution of members of any faith
- any person can encourage anybody else to follow their faith, provided they don't preach hatred and intolerance
45
what is the Christian response to freedom of religion?
- encourage tolerance and harmony
- different Christian denominations fighting each other or different religions is against Bible teachings
- 'If it is possible ... live at peace with everyone'
- 'Be completely humble and gently; be patient, bearing with one another in love'
46
what is the Buddhist response to religious freedom?
- the Buddha encouraged people to listen to the teachers of other religions with respect
- very few Buddhist traditions try to persuade others to become Buddhist
- in Buddhist countries, people are usually free to practise Buddhism as much or as little as they wish
- 'I always say that every person on this Earth has the freedom to practise or not practise religion. It is all right to do either'
47
however, where have Christians and Buddhists both not shown that they're unable to live in harmony with other denominations/religions?
Christianity: In Northern Ireland, different religious and political views have caused conflict for many years between Protestants and Catholics
Buddhism: In Myanmar, some Buddhists have shown intolerance and encouraged violence towards Muslims, who are a religious minority
48
what is positive discrimination?
treating people more favourably because they have been discriminated against in the past or have disabilities
- e.g. to give disabled people opportunities they would not otherwise have, such as giving wheelchair users front-row positions at a football ground so they can see the match
49
what are some examples where people's freedom of religion has not been allowed?
- China is currently placing Christians, Hindus and Muslims in 're-education camps', and they're never let out.
- Catholics used to boil Protestants alive in Britain.
- Elizabeth I fined people £12 who didn't attend church. If they couldn't pay, they'd either have their property confiscated, or be sent to prison.
- Queen Mary killed Protestants for their beliefs. Elizabeth I then came to the throne, and started killing Catholics.
- in China, Iraq and North Korea, Christians must meet in secret, as they're killed, beaten and raped for their faith. this is because country leaders often see organised religion as a threat to their power.
50
what is the Buddhist response to freedom of speech?
Buddhists follow the 8-fold path, which says that we must practice right speech, but also have the right intention when we speak. they also follow the 5 Moral Precepts, which tell Buddhists to abstain from harmful speech.
51
describe the different Christian responses to freedom of speech:
Inclusivists:
'We should show love to all, and be tolerant to others. the Bible says, 'We need to bear with one another in love', meaning we must try and get along with each other, despite our differences. If people are morally good (including in their speech), they can get to Heaven whatever their religion.'
Exclusivists:
'We don't all have to get along with other religions - only Christians get to Heaven, anyway. We should try and convert people to Christianity.'
52
what are examples of the main causes of poverty?
- war/corrupt governments
- high taxes
- addiction
- high interest loans
- unfair trade/poor wages
- disease/disability
- climate disasters/natural disasters
- human trafficking
- bad investments
- family/upbringing
- debt
- lack of effort
- immigration
- lack of education/unemployment
53
describe debt as a cause of poverty in more detail:
- many of the poorest countries owe money to wealthier countries, which they have borrowed for things such as healthcare and education
- debt is also a reason why individual people go into poverty in the UK, as not everyone is able to work or is fit to work
54
describe unemployment and natural disasters as two other causes of poverty:
unemployment: not everyone is able to find work or fit to work
natural disasters: flooding, drought, etc. are common throughout the world. they can destroy crops and properties, leaving people with no food or shelter
55
what are the different attitudes towards the responsibilities of those living in poverty?
Christians:
- even though the Bible says 'the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat', Christians believe it is important to help those who need assistance
- Christians also encourage the poor to help themselves by finding work, but realise some are unable to do so
Buddhists:
- teaches that poverty deserves compassion, but that people also have a responsibility to themselves to create the conditions needed for a healthy life
56
who's fault is poverty? society or the people?
some think it's society's responsibility, especially if people are in poverty through bad luck as a result of how society works. others think more responsibility should be placed on people to make an effort to get out of poverty or not to get into poverty in the first place
57
what are some ways in which people become rich or poor?
rich:
- having a successful job/business, inheritance
poor:
- unemployment, laziness
58
who helps the poor get out of poverty?
- charities, food banks, NGOs
- schools/colleges (education to allow you to get a better job, free school meals).
59
why would a Christian, and why would a Buddhist help someone in poverty?
Christian:
- the Golden Rule
- Jesus helped the poor
Buddhist:
- they gain good karma
- shows karuna, metta (4 sublime states)
60
why could the national lottery be a positive thing?
- gives people the chance to get out of poverty
- shares wealth
- develops people's patience
61
describe the parable of the rich young man, and relate it to a quote about a camel:
- the rich young man does everything God asks of him (e.g. he follows the 10 commandments), but when ordered to sell all his possessions to the poor, he refuses.
- this is because he doesn't care about others and is selfish, despite his loyalty to God. this makes him unworthy of Heaven.
'It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than a rich man to enter Heaven.'
- the camel, in order to fit through the eye of the needle, must shed its fine accessories and riches atop it, in order to squeeze through the gate to heaven.
62
what is the Christian attitude towards wealth?
- the Bible teaches that wealth is a blessing from God
- the Bible also teaches that wealth is associated with dangers such as greed and selfishness: 'For the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil'
- Jesus did not teach it is wrong to be wealthy, but said that focusing on wealth brings the danger of ignoring God and neglecting the spiritual life: 'You cannot serve both God and money'
63
what is the Christian attitude towards using wealth?
- while everyone needs money to live, Christians believe those with excess money should give it to the Church for its upkeep and mission, including providing for the poor
- wealth should be used to help those in need
- the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats states that those who help the poor are rewarded with a place in Heaven
64
what is the Buddhist attitude towards wealth?
- Buddhists often shun material possessions. Buddhist monks and nuns often own nothing at all.
- this is because they believe that getting too attached to anything in life can prevent enlightenment. you can have possessions but you must not attach your status to them or desire more things. letting go of wealth is a way of overcoming attachment, which is a spiritual obstacle
- what matters is not how wealthy someone is but how they got their money, their attitude towards it and what they do with it
- the Buddha taught that happiness is not achieved through craving and accumulating wealth but through enlightenment
65
what is the Buddhist attitude towards using wealth?
- the Adiya Sutra says a person can use their wealth for three purposes:
1. to provide pleasure and satisfaction for themselves, their family, and friends
2. to keep themselves safe
3. to give offerings to monks, nuns, or the poor
- places a lot of emphasis on using one's wealth to benefit others
- also important to give freely without expecting anything in return
66
what are the key Buddhist beliefs about poverty?
- wanting to help the poor (karuna - develops one of the four sublime states).
- actually helping the poor shows metta (another of the four sublime states).
- helping others produces good karma.
- giving away possessions can help guard you against greed.
67
why might different jobs have different wages?
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- hours worked (night shifts earn much more than day shifts).
- qualifications needed.
- necessity of the job (key workers during Covid were given a pay rise afterwards because their necessity was recognised).
- type of job.
68
what is the UK living wage?
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
for people aged 25 and over, it's £10.42. this is the minimum wage to not live in poverty in the UK. based off of a 36 hour week. this is not obligatory, however - not all companies do this.
69
what are the advantages and disadvantages of the minimum wage?
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- minimum wage means companies can't exploit their workers, as they must pay a certain amount of money, can't just make someone work for £1 an hour.
- if people at different ages earn different amounts of money for the same exact work done, this could be seen as unfair and ageist?
- they're seen as dependents, so the money they're earning isn't used to pay rent or bills, so they don't need as much.
- the minimum wage isn't fair, otherwise the 'living wage' wouldn't be a thing. if the minimum wage were to rise, however, food prices and the cost of living would also rise, which is just as problematic.
70
describe unfair pay:
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- minimum wage in the UK protects the very low paid, though this may not be seen as enough, so they pay the 'living wage', which is slightly more.
- there are workers who are exploited in the UK and there are those who do not deserve the wages and bonuses they get.
- low paid workers often do jobs of great necessity for our everyday living, so it isn't as if the job is worthless, yet the wages they are paid by the government of employees are unfair.
71
describe the minimum wage in other countries than the UK:
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- in many developing countries, large companies pay their workers very low wages in order to increase their profits
- for example, in West Bengal in India, hundreds of thousands of people work on tea plantations for around £1 a day, which is about half of what they're legally entitled to
72
what are the religious responses to fair pay?
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
Christians:
- support fair pay for everyone as this contributes to an equal and just society: 'Do not exploit the poor because they are poor'
Buddhists:
- many Buddhists consider it very important to balance profit with ethics
- taking workers' time and energy without paying them a fair wage goes against the 2nd moral precept (to avoid taking what has not been freely given)
73
name some ways people are exploited globally:
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- working as slaves (born on a slave site, forced to work as a slave for life as a result of this).
- unhealthy work conditions.
- having no choice about where they work, due to extreme poverty, or manipulative employers.
74
describe the Rana Plaza factory incident:
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
in 2013 in Bangladesh, over 1100 workers lost their lives and over 2000 were injured as the eight story Rana Plaza factory collapsed. these workers were being exploited, due to unhealthy work conditions (flashcard 52).
75
what piece of scripture shows that Christians support the idea of fair wages?
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
'Do not exploit the poor, because they are poor.'
76
describe payday loans:
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
those in poverty often take loans to pay for what they need. loan companies exploit this by offering same day release of money, but the rate to pay it back can be huge, even 1000s of percent interest.
people paying weekly only at the minimum rate will see that what they owe actually increases rather than reduces. each payment only pays off some of the interest on the loan, which gets bigger the longer it takes the pay the loan back.
the poor often fall behind with payments and some take on another loan to pay the first one off. this is a vicious cycle of increasing debt. in 2015, the UK government implemented restrictions on interest, but it was nowhere near enough and poverty continued to increase.
77
what are the 'for's' and 'against's' of payday loans?
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
for:
- helps people in the short-term, in an expensive emergency.
- helps the 'middle class', just those who make some money, but not enough money for emergency sums.
- people would otherwise refer to loan sharks, which are even more illegal. prevents theft (prevents breaking 10 commandments/5 moral precepts).
- all Christians are able to have free-will, we should choose if we want to have a pay-day loan or not.
against:
- worsens the poverty crisis. targeted at the poor, so in theory is exploitation, 'Do not exploit the poor because they are poor'.
- people in poverty are put in even more debt. doesn't comply with Buddhist 'right intention'.
78
what is the Buddhist response to payday loans?
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- teaches that making money by exploiting the poor is an example of greed and against the 2nd moral precept
- also teaches that every person has a responsibility to create the conditions for a healthy life, and this includes not getting into debt if they can help it
79
give some statistics about human trafficking:
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- 21 million people worldwide are victims of forced labour.
- generates over 7 billion dollars every year.
- around half of all people trafficked are between the ages of 18-24.
- 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation. 19% of trafficking involves labour exploitation.
- 80% of victims are women.
80
what is the lifestyle of a trafficked child?
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- cramped, unsanitary sleeping and bathroom conditions. unclean clothes.
- work from the minute they wake up to the minute they sleep.
- 1 nutrient-lacking meal a day, and that is rushed, between work, on the floor.
81
name some reasons for human trafficking:
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- due to war, some people are promised new, safer lives in different countries by trafficking organisations.
- people are co-erced into working for criminal organisations, and they can't alert the police because they are in the country illegally, usually as prostitutes.
- some children are sold to criminal gangs as slaves due to their family's poverty, and their family use this money to support their other children.
- other children are sold to criminal gangs as slaves, and their income doesn't go to them, but goes to their family instead, who use it to fud themselves. the child then lives in awful conditions as a result.
- people may pay organisations to take them across borders, due to a lack of understanding, or desperation.
ALL OF THESE REASONS ARE FINANCIALLY MOTIVATED.
82
why do people stay in these trafficking systems?
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- fear
- lack of understanding (they may not realise that they're being trafficked)
83
describe the case study, 'Operation Fort':
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
operation fort = police movement, took years of planning, took down the criminal organisation responsible in the end, imprisoned the entire gang.
- in 2021, over 400 Polish victims were put to work in the West Midlands.
- lured from Poland in the promise of a better life, work. had to do forced labour.
- trapped in a tiny house, with eleven others. no running water (they had to wash in a river), awful living conditions, derelict building.
- the gang made over £2 million.
84
describe 'Rebecca's story' (sex trafficking):
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- in Las Vegas, 90% of prostituted women and girls (as young as 12 years old) are controlled by pimps (men who control prostitutes, and arranges clients for them, taking a percentage of the earning in return).
- Rebecca met a man, who seemed like the ideal boyfriend. he encouraged her to move to Las Vegas, and isolated her from her family.
- she was forced into being a prostitute, and expected to make a certain amount of money each day, he was using her young daughter as blackmail.
85
describe the case of the Cameroonian being trafficked in the UK:
EXPLOITATION OF THE POOR
- victim was already subject to abuse, torture and violence in Cameroon - not a good place for women, so she escaped.
- became homeless in the UK after being rejected asylum and refusing to return to Cameroon (scared).
- individual was provided with accommodation and a false identity by the criminal organisation, she got a job at a mobile phone shop. she was forced by the gang to steal SIM cards that they could sell.
- she was put in prison for 14 months, for false identity and two accounts of theft.
- UK says that with their improved laws now, she's protected, and wouldn't have been sent to prison, and they would have realised she's being trafficked. she was then granted asylum.
86
what are the religious responses to people-trafficking?
Christian: goes against Jesus' teaching to 'love your neighbour as yourself'
Buddhist:
- against moral precepts
- may not have been a recognised problem when Buddha was alive, but he criticised the caste system in India at the time, which exploited the poor and forced them to work in bad conditions for little money
87
describe 'send a cow' (A.K.A. the ripple effect):
- looks for communities in poverty (mainly in Africa, e.g. Rwanda, Ethiopia).
- seeks to help these communities long-term (instead of sending them emergency shelter, they send them livestock for families to breed, meaning they can have an income to support themselves).
88
what is short term aid?
- help given to communities in a time of disaster or crisis
- help given directly to the poor to relieve their immediate needs
- also called emergency aid
- e.g. providing supplies of food and water after an earthquake
- e.g. giving money directly to homeless people on the streets
89
what are the pros and cons of short-term aid?
pros:
- important for short-term survival
- displays compassion and kindness
cons:
- does not tackle the underlying causes of poverty
- can make people reliant on whoever is giving out aid
90
what is long-term aid?
- help given to communities over a longer period of time, which has a more lasting effect
- e.g. providing better education to help people find better-paid work
- e.g. providing farmers with tools to improve their efficiency
91
what are the pros and cons of long-term aid?
pros:
- helps people to become more self-reliant
- helps to solve the root causes of poverty
cons:
- may take time to have an effect
- does not help with short-term survival
92
what is the Christian response to giving aid?
- believe they have been given a responsibility by God to look after the world and the poor
- Jesus' teachings mean they have a duty to show compassion and 'to love your neighbour as yourself'
- many Christians try to balance providing immediate help to those in poverty with helping people to use their own gifts and talents to get themselves out of poverty
93
what is the Buddhist response to giving aid?
- generosity and compassion are important values
- the Buddha taught that Buddhists should give freely, without expecting anything in return
- for many Buddhists, it is also important to give what will be of genuine help. this means some Buddhists might prefer not to give money directly to homeless people, as they cannot be sure how the money will be spent. they may prefer to give to a homeless charity instead
94
what are other ways a Christian or Buddhist may help the poor?
- buying Fairtrade products, which have been made by workers who have been paid fairly and work in good conditions
- supporting soup kitchens, food banks, and charities that provide help for those in poverty or assist them in finding work
- supporting campaigns that promote greater equality and a just society, such as the Living Wage campaign
