wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Katie from merrick, ny March 28, 2008 - 12:16PM

  our own presidental candiate Hillary Clinton contributes to slavery overseas. She invests in the bio fuel company Brenco (Brazil Renewable Energy Co.), a biofuel company and last month, agents of the Brazilian Labor Ministry’s slave-labor investigations unit raided facilities run by Brenco where 1,500 workers, most of them cane cutters, were kept in what the ministry described as “degrading” conditions akin to slavery."Workers at five separate locations inspected by the ministry “complained they were suffering from hunger and cold, and all of the locations were overcrowded and with terrible sanitary conditions. They were apparently held against their will in the abysmal housing provided them, not allowed to leave after their workday was through" Worldwide slavery will not be resolved if even the people we wre to look up to can not abide by basic moral standards

  
  
• [2] Paulo from Paterson, New Jersey March 28, 2008 - 12:30PM

  I am actually from Brazil, and my family were sugar cane growers. The common practice at the time was to force the workers into debt. There would be a general store on the plantation where goods could be purchased, but they were overpriced and often workers had to buy it on "credit". That credit would continue to mount and be virtually unpayable.

  My grandfather moved away from this treatment of the workers, and indeed, annually, most planters would throw out all the workers when they weren't needed anymore. The men would go off and try to find temporary work elsewhere and then come back when it was time to start the growing process again. My grandfather allowed the women and children to stay on the farm while the men found jobs elsewhere. So that when the Communists started killing plantation owners by convincing their workers to rise up, my grandfather's workers refused to do so. They knew he went out of his way to help them, and ultimately he went out of business because of that generosity.

  
  
• [3] Melissa from Brooklyn March 28, 2008 - 12:41PM

  Thank you. I have no words. Just thank you. This was an interview that we needed to hear. Now there are actions to take. We are not so far removed from the issue of slavery that we can sit back and do nothing.

  
  
• [4] Ginger Corbett from forest hills, ny March 28, 2008 - 12:57PM

  Very moving interview. We need to hear more of this and how politicians in capitalists countries are intrisically involved in the perpetuation of slavery.

  I thank you. I thank your guest for sharing his experience with us. I am definetely reading his book. Would love to hear more of his work and his new book.

  I was so touched by his story. Thanks.

  
  
• [5] Pam from Wstr. March 28, 2008 - 01:04PM

  In this Passover season, when the many religions of more than half of the world's peoples observe holy days, I hope that this interview will spur into action one and all to the benefit of Free The Slaves, https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/SSLPage.aspx?pid=184&srcid=183 . It's the least that one should do.

  
  
• [6] Kiki from NJ March 28, 2008 - 01:08PM

  Your guests words brought me to tears.

  
  
• [7] Edith Goldstein from 90 Gold St. Apt.16K New York, NY 10038 March 28, 2008 - 01:25PM

  I 89 years old and by now have built up a resistance in self-defence to "Good Causes" because my income is limited. However, the interview this morning with the author of "A Crime So Monstous", moved me so much I am ready to do what I can. Edith Goldstein

  
  
• [8] chestinee from Midtown March 28, 2008 - 02:41PM

  Katie, do you think Hillary was aware of this when she invested? Do you know if she has divested?

  
  
• [9] jennifer from inwood, nyc March 29, 2008 - 01:11PM

  having lived in haiti for a year when i was 9 years old, i feel a pang of guilt when i think of the girls who were "loaned out for domestic services." it is a very common practice which the family close to my family also practiced. the girl (my age) did not attend school, was worked to the bone and was subject to taunts and beatings. i remember my mother being horrified by all this and especially so when she heard a derogatory nickname for this girl escape my lips. she very much wanted me to befriend the girl but i wasn't interested in the slightest as it was not socially expedient. i think of myself as an upright, moral citizen, but this is a reminder of how societal norms can cloud our judgement.

  
  
• [10] Lori from New York City March 30, 2008 - 01:17PM

  I'm sorry I missed this peice on wnyc. Are most of the slaves women/girls?