Ho. Ly. fuck, or the free market does not cure all ills

[mme_hardy]

 The Guardian has done an excellent investigative series proving that the Thai shrimp industry is founded on slave labor used to produce fish meal.   "Slave labor" here is not a metaphor: people are bought and sold, kept in captivity, and killed on whim.  (Don't buy Thai shrimp.)

Labour has responded saying that industries should be forced to "declare any use of slavery in their supply chains".  You may think this is pretty weaksauce, until you read the Tory response.

David Cameron's spokesman said on Wednesday it was up to consumers whether they choose to eat prawns that had been produced through the work of slaves.

Roll that one around in your mind.  

Comments

[green_knight]

Welcome to Tory Britain, where a charity (Oxfam) talking about poverty is 'political' and needs to be stopped. Say several Tory MPs.

[legionseagle]

It did have slavery in its manifesto, actually (or, technically, indentured servitude)

[nineveh_uk]

I'd say that No. 10's attitude appalled me, except it didn't - it is exactly what I'd expect in its utterly craven attitude to corporations. How the average customer is supposed to know how a random bag of prawns has been produced and thus be able to make an infomred choice, I have no idea. Personally, I'm quite happy to have that decision made on my behalf by the government. It is, after all, the point of governments.

[adrian_turtle]

Wait. If Labour wants them to "declare any use of slavery in their supply chains," and the Tory response is that they should not have to declare it, how are consumers supposed to choose one way or the other?

[ironed_orchid]

My only surprised is that they said it publicly.

[lexin]

I hate this government. I hate them so much I do not have the words.

[sabotabby]

He is the actual worst.

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

Erm, wouldn't the consumer shave to know about it first, to make an informed decision?!?

[mme-hardy.livejournal.com]

ssssh. The hypothetical consumer is fully informed and makes economically-wise decisions. Actual consumers don't count.