I am so excited to be here today to talk to you about something that is very near
to you about something that is very near
to you about something that is very near and dear to my heart and I suspect too
and dear to my heart and I suspect too
and dear to my heart and I suspect too many of you the subject is global
many of you the subject is global
many of you the subject is global poverty and slavery and the question is
poverty and slavery and the question is
poverty and slavery and the question is what is the sustainable solution to end
what is the sustainable solution to end
what is the sustainable solution to end it for human justice this quest for the
it for human justice this quest for the
it for human justice this quest for the answer for me began seven and a half
answer for me began seven and a half
answer for me began seven and a half years ago in Kabara Kabira is the
years ago in Kabara Kabira is the
years ago in Kabara Kabira is the largest slum in all of Kenya it’s right
largest slum in all of Kenya it’s right
largest slum in all of Kenya it’s right outside of Nairobi and it is where a
outside of Nairobi and it is where a
outside of Nairobi and it is where a half a million people are said to live
half a million people are said to live
half a million people are said to live in the space of one square mile you can
in the space of one square mile you can
in the space of one square mile you can imagine that I took this photo when I
imagine that I took this photo when I
imagine that I took this photo when I was there and it’s a pretty typical
was there and it’s a pretty typical
was there and it’s a pretty typical scene you see this young woman actually
scene you see this young woman actually
scene you see this young woman actually more like a girl she’s 15 or 16 years
more like a girl she’s 15 or 16 years
more like a girl she’s 15 or 16 years old most likely and she has a child
old most likely and she has a child
old most likely and she has a child Kabira is full of women that are AIDS
Kabira is full of women that are AIDS
Kabira is full of women that are AIDS positive that are left to struggle on
positive that are left to struggle on
positive that are left to struggle on their own while I was there I had the
their own while I was there I had the
their own while I was there I had the opportunity to sit down with some women
opportunity to sit down with some women
opportunity to sit down with some women they told me something that changed my
they told me something that changed my
they told me something that changed my life forever they said that if we could
life forever they said that if we could
life forever they said that if we could just have jobs that would pay us $8 a
just have jobs that would pay us $8 a
just have jobs that would pay us $8 a day we could thrive and provide basic
day we could thrive and provide basic
day we could thrive and provide basic essentials for ourselves and those we
essentials for ourselves and those we
essentials for ourselves and those we care for I’m thinking that’s it eight
care for I’m thinking that’s it eight
care for I’m thinking that’s it eight dollars a day and as a businessperson
dollars a day and as a businessperson
dollars a day and as a businessperson I’m thinking that is so doable and I
I’m thinking that is so doable and I
I’m thinking that is so doable and I started to imagine what if business
started to imagine what if business
started to imagine what if business could be used as a force for good to
could be used as a force for good to
could be used as a force for good to provide opportunity for people and
provide opportunity for people and
provide opportunity for people and situations like this so I began a quest
situations like this so I began a quest
situations like this so I began a quest to learn about this topic of poverty
to learn about this topic of poverty
to learn about this topic of poverty slavery injustice and do whatever I
slavery injustice and do whatever I
slavery injustice and do whatever I could and I’m going to share some of my
could and I’m going to share some of my
could and I’m going to share some of my research with you and we’re going to end
research with you and we’re going to end
research with you and we’re going to end on a very positive note of how we can
on a very positive note of how we can
on a very positive note of how we can all participate in sustainable change
all participate in sustainable change
all participate in sustainable change well the global poverty number is that
well the global poverty number is that
well the global poverty number is that 700
700
700 50 million according to the World Bank
50 million according to the World Bank
50 million according to the World Bank 90% of that is in sub-saharan Africa and
90% of that is in sub-saharan Africa and
90% of that is in sub-saharan Africa and South Asia over a 26 year period this
South Asia over a 26 year period this
South Asia over a 26 year period this graph shows you that poverty is
graph shows you that poverty is
graph shows you that poverty is essentially unchanged it’s gone down a
essentially unchanged it’s gone down a
essentially unchanged it’s gone down a little bit in South Asia and it’s gone
little bit in South Asia and it’s gone
little bit in South Asia and it’s gone up a little bit in sub-saharan Africa to
up a little bit in sub-saharan Africa to
up a little bit in sub-saharan Africa to put in more personal terms it’s like
put in more personal terms it’s like
put in more personal terms it’s like having to work two full days maybe
having to work two full days maybe
having to work two full days maybe 12-hour days taking everything that
12-hour days taking everything that
12-hour days taking everything that you’ve earned to get one of these with
you’ve earned to get one of these with
you’ve earned to get one of these with soy now
soy now
soy now as I researched jobs and business I
as I researched jobs and business I
as I researched jobs and business I discovered that the fashion industry is
discovered that the fashion industry is
discovered that the fashion industry is a very large industry there are over a
a very large industry there are over a
a very large industry there are over a hundred million people today employed in
hundred million people today employed in
hundred million people today employed in this industry and in South Asia the
this industry and in South Asia the
this industry and in South Asia the average minimum wage is a dollar 90 a
average minimum wage is a dollar 90 a
average minimum wage is a dollar 90 a day poverty level and it’s growing at a
day poverty level and it’s growing at a
day poverty level and it’s growing at a rate of 10 percent a year in South Asia
rate of 10 percent a year in South Asia
rate of 10 percent a year in South Asia and India is the second largest exporter
and India is the second largest exporter
and India is the second largest exporter of fashion products Bangladesh is home
of fashion products Bangladesh is home
of fashion products Bangladesh is home to 7,000 fashion and apparel factories
to 7,000 fashion and apparel factories
to 7,000 fashion and apparel factories thirty percent of those are unregulated
thirty percent of those are unregulated
thirty percent of those are unregulated or illegal in 2013 one of these
or illegal in 2013 one of these
or illegal in 2013 one of these factories collapsed and 1,100 people
factories collapsed and 1,100 people
factories collapsed and 1,100 people died the thing about this it was
died the thing about this it was
died the thing about this it was preventable the owner of the factory was
preventable the owner of the factory was
preventable the owner of the factory was told the day before that there were
told the day before that there were
told the day before that there were cracks in the building and it wasn’t
cracks in the building and it wasn’t
cracks in the building and it wasn’t safe and everybody should evacuate he
safe and everybody should evacuate he
safe and everybody should evacuate he ignored the warning and told the people
ignored the warning and told the people
ignored the warning and told the people in the factory the people that work
in the factory the people that work
in the factory the people that work there if you don’t go to work you will
there if you don’t go to work you will
there if you don’t go to work you will lose your jobs so the next day they all
lose your jobs so the next day they all
lose your jobs so the next day they all went to work and the building collapsed
went to work and the building collapsed
went to work and the building collapsed 1,100 people perished
1,100 people perished
1,100 people perished now the aftermath was all over the news
now the aftermath was all over the news
now the aftermath was all over the news for a couple weeks and it was discovered
for a couple weeks and it was discovered
for a couple weeks and it was discovered that major brands like hmm and gap we’re
that major brands like hmm and gap we’re
that major brands like hmm and gap we’re having their product made in
having their product made in
having their product made in this building amongst other big names
this building amongst other big names
this building amongst other big names they were unaware of this which I
they were unaware of this which I
they were unaware of this which I understand because it was an unregulated
understand because it was an unregulated
understand because it was an unregulated factory they had no knowledge and they
factory they had no knowledge and they
factory they had no knowledge and they were they were really upset about it so
were they were really upset about it so
were they were really upset about it so they put together a coalition of other
they put together a coalition of other
they put together a coalition of other companies to assure building safety
companies to assure building safety
companies to assure building safety going forward which is great but they
going forward which is great but they
going forward which is great but they never addressed the minimum wage and
never addressed the minimum wage and
never addressed the minimum wage and today it’s still the same now some of
today it’s still the same now some of
today it’s still the same now some of these people that are in this world of
these people that are in this world of
these people that are in this world of fashion they can’t live most people
fashion they can’t live most people
fashion they can’t live most people can’t live in a dollar 90 a day so what
can’t live in a dollar 90 a day so what
can’t live in a dollar 90 a day so what happens they’re very vulnerable and
happens they’re very vulnerable and
happens they’re very vulnerable and they’re easily tricked by the lie of a
they’re easily tricked by the lie of a
they’re easily tricked by the lie of a stranger which says I got a better
stranger which says I got a better
stranger which says I got a better opportunity for you and women
opportunity for you and women
opportunity for you and women particularly young women fall for this
particularly young women fall for this
particularly young women fall for this only to be kidnapped and sold to the
only to be kidnapped and sold to the
only to be kidnapped and sold to the local brothel to be a prostitute with no
local brothel to be a prostitute with no
local brothel to be a prostitute with no way out
slavery slavery is at an all-time high
slavery slavery is at an all-time high according to the global slavery index
according to the global slavery index
according to the global slavery index forty five point eight million 18
forty five point eight million 18
forty five point eight million 18 million of that number or 40 percent is
million of that number or 40 percent is
million of that number or 40 percent is in India alone it is said that there’s
in India alone it is said that there’s
in India alone it is said that there’s more money made in slavery today then
more money made in slavery today then
more money made in slavery today then Google and Starbucks make it combined so
Google and Starbucks make it combined so
Google and Starbucks make it combined so you could see there is a connection
you could see there is a connection
you could see there is a connection between slavery and poverty in fact
between slavery and poverty in fact
between slavery and poverty in fact slavery is largely a symptom of poverty
slavery is largely a symptom of poverty
slavery is largely a symptom of poverty so if we’re going to go after slavery
so if we’re going to go after slavery
so if we’re going to go after slavery and try to solve that we’ve got to deal
and try to solve that we’ve got to deal
and try to solve that we’ve got to deal with the poverty in India families can’t
with the poverty in India families can’t
with the poverty in India families can’t afford to live on a dollar 90 right they
afford to live on a dollar 90 right they
afford to live on a dollar 90 right they do the unthinkable some families are
do the unthinkable some families are
do the unthinkable some families are selling their children into slavery and
selling their children into slavery and
selling their children into slavery and in many cases because girls aren’t
in many cases because girls aren’t
in many cases because girls aren’t valued as much as
valued as much as
valued as much as boys they are sold so what do we do
boys they are sold so what do we do
boys they are sold so what do we do what’s being done what do you hear about
what’s being done what do you hear about
what’s being done what do you hear about is the solution to poverty what do we
is the solution to poverty what do we
is the solution to poverty what do we hear most we hear aid is the solution we
hear most we hear aid is the solution we
hear most we hear aid is the solution we need to help those people right they’re
need to help those people right they’re
need to help those people right they’re hungry we need to give them food they’re
hungry we need to give them food they’re
hungry we need to give them food they’re cold any clothing they need shelter
cold any clothing they need shelter
cold any clothing they need shelter right absolutely they need those things
right absolutely they need those things
right absolutely they need those things and in emergency situations that makes
and in emergency situations that makes
and in emergency situations that makes total sense but from a long-term
total sense but from a long-term
total sense but from a long-term perspective I’m not sure in sub-saharan
perspective I’m not sure in sub-saharan
perspective I’m not sure in sub-saharan Africa a trillion dollars of aid has
Africa a trillion dollars of aid has
Africa a trillion dollars of aid has been provided during the same 26 year
been provided during the same 26 year
been provided during the same 26 year period that we see on this graph
period that we see on this graph
period that we see on this graph sub-saharan Africa poverty has gone up
sub-saharan Africa poverty has gone up
sub-saharan Africa poverty has gone up with a trillion dollars no other region
with a trillion dollars no other region
with a trillion dollars no other region in the world gets that kind of aid
in the world gets that kind of aid
in the world gets that kind of aid Jeffrey Sachs a well-known professor at
Jeffrey Sachs a well-known professor at
Jeffrey Sachs a well-known professor at Columbia University well-respected in an
Columbia University well-respected in an
Columbia University well-respected in an advisor of the UN he says that we could
advisor of the UN he says that we could
advisor of the UN he says that we could end global poverty by year 2025 if only
end global poverty by year 2025 if only
end global poverty by year 2025 if only Americans would give more I would love
Americans would give more I would love
Americans would give more I would love to have a conversation with mr. Sachs
to have a conversation with mr. Sachs
to have a conversation with mr. Sachs and say where is your logic poverty is
and say where is your logic poverty is
and say where is your logic poverty is getting worse we’re giving record
getting worse we’re giving record
getting worse we’re giving record numbers to the area of the world with
numbers to the area of the world with
numbers to the area of the world with the most poverty and on top of that
the most poverty and on top of that
the most poverty and on top of that America already gives significantly more
America already gives significantly more
America already gives significantly more than any other country so I’m not
than any other country so I’m not
than any other country so I’m not getting it the numbers just don’t add up
getting it the numbers just don’t add up
getting it the numbers just don’t add up another side effect of Aid it’s widely
another side effect of Aid it’s widely
another side effect of Aid it’s widely documented by Transparency International
documented by Transparency International
documented by Transparency International is a lot of it ends up in corruption in
is a lot of it ends up in corruption in
is a lot of it ends up in corruption in the hands of corrupt individuals these
the hands of corrupt individuals these
the hands of corrupt individuals these two guys took five billion each and put
two guys took five billion each and put
two guys took five billion each and put it in their Swiss bank accounts another
it in their Swiss bank accounts another
it in their Swiss bank accounts another factor that it is a more subtle but I
factor that it is a more subtle but I
factor that it is a more subtle but I think it’s very important to consider
think it’s very important to consider
think it’s very important to consider when we dump large quantity of food and
when we dump large quantity of food and
when we dump large quantity of food and clothing on a country let’s say shoes
clothing on a country let’s say shoes
clothing on a country let’s say shoes what are we doing for the opportunity of
what are we doing for the opportunity of
what are we doing for the opportunity of the local shoemaker wouldn’t it make
the local shoemaker wouldn’t it make
the local shoemaker wouldn’t it make more sense to help the local business
more sense to help the local business
more sense to help the local business grow and thrive another example of that
grow and thrive another example of that
grow and thrive another example of that is Haiti Haiti used to grow and farm
is Haiti Haiti used to grow and farm
is Haiti Haiti used to grow and farm farm and harvest and grow all their own
farm and harvest and grow all their own
farm and harvest and grow all their own rice today they don’t grow any why
rice today they don’t grow any why
rice today they don’t grow any why because we donate so much rice to Haiti
because we donate so much rice to Haiti
because we donate so much rice to Haiti there’s no local market hard to compete
there’s no local market hard to compete
there’s no local market hard to compete with free all right let’s make this more
with free all right let’s make this more
with free all right let’s make this more personal let’s say that you have a
personal let’s say that you have a
personal let’s say that you have a really cool coffee shop a bakery it’s
really cool coffee shop a bakery it’s
really cool coffee shop a bakery it’s going pretty well you’re working really
going pretty well you’re working really
going pretty well you’re working really hard it’s tough to run a business right
hard it’s tough to run a business right
hard it’s tough to run a business right and some of the size to open up a shop
and some of the size to open up a shop
and some of the size to open up a shop right next door to yours but they decide
right next door to yours but they decide
right next door to yours but they decide to give everything away free how would
to give everything away free how would
to give everything away free how would you feel probably not too good I would
you feel probably not too good I would
you feel probably not too good I would suggest that we’re doing the same thing
suggest that we’re doing the same thing
suggest that we’re doing the same thing when we dump products that could easily
when we dump products that could easily
when we dump products that could easily support the local business so let’s
support the local business so let’s
support the local business so let’s think about that another example that’s
think about that another example that’s
think about that another example that’s really popular that is what’s called the
really popular that is what’s called the
really popular that is what’s called the buy one give one program or model you
buy one give one program or model you
buy one give one program or model you buy this great product typically
buy this great product typically
buy this great product typically fashion-related and for every one that
fashion-related and for every one that
fashion-related and for every one that you buy a donation of charity is given
you buy a donation of charity is given
you buy a donation of charity is given on your behalf
on your behalf
on your behalf feels good sounds good
feels good sounds good
feels good sounds good but I would suggest that that charity
but I would suggest that that charity
but I would suggest that that charity when you give that food or those shoes
when you give that food or those shoes
when you give that food or those shoes or whatever it is to that region of the
or whatever it is to that region of the
or whatever it is to that region of the world that is in need aren’t we doing
world that is in need aren’t we doing
world that is in need aren’t we doing the same thing as just giving lots of
the same thing as just giving lots of
the same thing as just giving lots of product to places where the local
product to places where the local
product to places where the local business could potentially handle that
business could potentially handle that
business could potentially handle that another part of that is what if that bag
another part of that is what if that bag
another part of that is what if that bag is made in the conventional fashion
is made in the conventional fashion
is made in the conventional fashion industry that pays the minimum wage of
industry that pays the minimum wage of
industry that pays the minimum wage of $1 90 a day aren’t we in fact
$1 90 a day aren’t we in fact
$1 90 a day aren’t we in fact perpetuating the one thing that we want
perpetuating the one thing that we want
perpetuating the one thing that we want to stop poverty
to stop poverty
to stop poverty I’m here to share some really good news
I’m here to share some really good news
I’m here to share some really good news okay
okay
okay and also it’s been heavy Michael Porter
and also it’s been heavy Michael Porter
and also it’s been heavy Michael Porter another well-known professor at Harvard
another well-known professor at Harvard
another well-known professor at Harvard he has been studying social needs
he has been studying social needs
he has been studying social needs poverty and he is concluded that
poverty and he is concluded that
poverty and he is concluded that actually business has the greatest
actually business has the greatest
actually business has the greatest chance of solving most of our social
chance of solving most of our social
chance of solving most of our social issues and businesses that incorporate a
issues and businesses that incorporate a
issues and businesses that incorporate a social value into their business are
social value into their business are
social value into their business are more competitive have better brand
more competitive have better brand
more competitive have better brand differentiation I totally support that
differentiation I totally support that
differentiation I totally support that because for the last five and a half
because for the last five and a half
because for the last five and a half years we’ve been running our business
years we’ve been running our business
years we’ve been running our business and doing just that so you remember the
and doing just that so you remember the
and doing just that so you remember the women in Kibera well after a few years I
women in Kibera well after a few years I
women in Kibera well after a few years I started a business that is providing
started a business that is providing
started a business that is providing great jobs in India the most enslaved
great jobs in India the most enslaved
great jobs in India the most enslaved impoverished country in the world and
impoverished country in the world and
impoverished country in the world and we’re working in three regions of India
we’re working in three regions of India
we’re working in three regions of India and it’s really cool to see the impact
and it’s really cool to see the impact
and it’s really cool to see the impact on lives and we’re delivering a high
on lives and we’re delivering a high
on lives and we’re delivering a high quality product that’s competitive and
quality product that’s competitive and
quality product that’s competitive and meets the needs of consumers we have
meets the needs of consumers we have
meets the needs of consumers we have learned and proven that we do not have
learned and proven that we do not have
learned and proven that we do not have to compromise humans anymore to get what
to compromise humans anymore to get what
to compromise humans anymore to get what we want one region that we are doing our
we want one region that we are doing our
we want one region that we are doing our work in is sana gachi Kolkata India sana
work in is sana gachi Kolkata India sana
work in is sana gachi Kolkata India sana gotcha is a region of Kolkata it’s known
gotcha is a region of Kolkata it’s known
gotcha is a region of Kolkata it’s known as the largest red-light district in all
as the largest red-light district in all
as the largest red-light district in all of Asia where 10,000 women work as
of Asia where 10,000 women work as
of Asia where 10,000 women work as prostitutes many of them were trafficked
prostitutes many of them were trafficked
prostitutes many of them were trafficked in at a young age of 10 years old this
in at a young age of 10 years old this
in at a young age of 10 years old this picture was taken of me last month when
picture was taken of me last month when
picture was taken of me last month when I was there and I’m looking down in
I was there and I’m looking down in
I was there and I’m looking down in Tucson agachi where all the brothels are
Tucson agachi where all the brothels are
Tucson agachi where all the brothels are directly behind me is where we have our
directly behind me is where we have our
directly behind me is where we have our work and we’re creating jobs for people
work and we’re creating jobs for people
work and we’re creating jobs for people I want to tell you one story
I want to tell you one story
I want to tell you one story there is a woman that grew up in sauna
there is a woman that grew up in sauna
there is a woman that grew up in sauna gachi her mother was a prostitute she
gachi her mother was a prostitute she
gachi her mother was a prostitute she had to do her homework in the same room
had to do her homework in the same room
had to do her homework in the same room that her mother was serving clients if
that her mother was serving clients if
that her mother was serving clients if you can imagine that as she got older
you can imagine that as she got older
you can imagine that as she got older the men started to pursue her but
the men started to pursue her but
the men started to pursue her but luckily she escaped and eventually
luckily she escaped and eventually
luckily she escaped and eventually learned about the work that we’re doing
learned about the work that we’re doing
learned about the work that we’re doing and I can tell you today she is thriving
and I can tell you today she is thriving
and I can tell you today she is thriving and she’s making enough money to provide
and she’s making enough money to provide
and she’s making enough money to provide for herself and her mother her mother
for herself and her mother her mother
for herself and her mother her mother and her are free of this injustice and
and her are free of this injustice and
and her are free of this injustice and they’re doing great so here’s what we
they’re doing great so here’s what we
they’re doing great so here’s what we can do here’s how we all can participate
can do here’s how we all can participate
can do here’s how we all can participate in sustainable change here’s something
in sustainable change here’s something
in sustainable change here’s something that you can identify with
that you can identify with
that you can identify with if 25% of Americans shifted just $65 in
if 25% of Americans shifted just $65 in
if 25% of Americans shifted just $65 in their fashion spending to an ethical
their fashion spending to an ethical
their fashion spending to an ethical brand and it’s really easy to find these
brand and it’s really easy to find these
brand and it’s really easy to find these brands because they put humans before
brands because they put humans before
brands because they put humans before profits and they’re happy to tell you
profits and they’re happy to tell you
profits and they’re happy to tell you about how their pay structure works and
about how their pay structure works and
about how their pay structure works and they’re very transparent and there are
they’re very transparent and there are
they’re very transparent and there are many brands that are coming onto the
many brands that are coming onto the
many brands that are coming onto the scene every year if we did this a
scene every year if we did this a
scene every year if we did this a million lives would be changed I believe
million lives would be changed I believe
million lives would be changed I believe Nelson Mandela said it best
Nelson Mandela said it best
Nelson Mandela said it best as long as poverty and justice and gross
as long as poverty and justice and gross
as long as poverty and justice and gross inequality exists in our world none of
inequality exists in our world none of
inequality exists in our world none of us can truly rest thank you
us can truly rest thank you
us can truly rest thank you you
you
you [Applause]
”
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