Re-capping the facts 6 years after the BP Oil Spill

A lot of us have cars, and in order to run these cars we need to fill up with petrol. I will ask you, if you, yourself fill up your car at BP garages. If your answer is no, then it could be because of the reason I am about to discuss. If you do, I am sure, you don’t do it out of consciousness, more out of desperation and you will fill up your car wherever the nearest garage is, and if that happens to be BP then so be it. But I am going to remind you of a shocking ethical crisis that occurred almost 7 years ago now, to aid you in making more conscious decisions. 

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened almost 7 years ago now. Now I am sure, much like other massive crisis in the world such as the 911 bombings and the 7/7 bombings, you remember just what you were doing when it happened.

It was on the evening of 20th April 2010 when a gas release and subsequent explosion occurred on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig working on the Gulf of Mexico. 11 people died in a result of this explosion and many injured. I want to give you some facts about the oil spill:

More than 200 million gallons of crude oil was pumped in to the Gulf of Mexico for a total of 87 days. TWO HUNDRED MILLION GALLONS. To think about that number is just ghastly and if you can’t picture it in gallons picture it in FIVE MILLION BARRELS of oil. Yep - that’s a lot. 

16,000 total miles of coastline have been affected, including the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Destroying so much marine and sea life. 

Even though the gushing well was capped in July 2010 oil is STILL washing up on shores, which could cause long-term damages to people living in the area.

Responders used 5.5 million feet of boom, a barrier placed in the water, to collect and absorb oil.

Of the 400 miles of Louisiana coast, approximately 125 miles have been polluted.

Over 8,000 animals were reported dead just 6 months after the spill, many that were on the endangered species list.

BP is responsible for close to $40b in fines, clean up costs and settlements as a result. With an additional $16b due to the Clean Water Act. 

I hope that this has reminded you of such a terrible incident that happened, and will encourage you to think with your eco-warrior cap on before turning to BP when you need petrol. 

Leave your feedback and comments below!

-Ethically Sourced’s Laura.

Teach our girls to dress better or teach our boys not to rape?

You may have clicked on the post for several reasons… One may be to find out my use of the word slut and why I am posting such a term on an ethical blog, another may be that you already know what “Slutwalks” is, and you are ready to hear another opinion on the subject that is “Slut-Shaming” or you may be here because I told you to be! Either way, you’re here now. 

In a nutshell, SlutWalks is a march set up for rape victims, rape victims’ friends and family, rape victims’ boyfriends/husbands/girlfriends/wives to all come together and walk to create awareness for the victims of rape. More specifically rape victims who have been raped due to what they are clothed in.

The main face of the SlutWalks movement, is Amber Rose who defines herself as “Certified Slut, Feminist” who went through her fair-share of slut shaming. From her first encounter aged 14, when she was playing the game 7 minutes in heaven and a young boy convinced Rose to get down on her knees, only for him to pull out of his genitals and fling open the door for their friends to think Rose was performing oral sex. 

To her ‘baby daddy’ and ex-husband calling her “nothing but a stripper and a h**” and her ex-boyfriend the famous Kanye West telling press in an interview he had to take 30 showers before he got with his now, wife Kim Kardashian-West. 

SlutWalks stands up for women being able to wear whatever they want, and still maintain the rights to not be raped. Although the campaign is publicised around the world of women walking in provocative outfits, a lot women went out there in just a t-shirt and jeans displaying signs saying “I am wearing what I was raped in, did I ask for it?” and on the opposite side, a woman dressed in her bikini holding a sign saying “so every time I go swimming… I’m asking for it?”

I have a such a strong opinion on this topic, I don’t believe women should be conscious of what they want to wear just because in the back of their mind they’re thinking “I can’t wear that, because when I am walking home at night, I might get raped.” I believe this isn't a state of mind women should have when dressing themselves for a wedding, for a night out, for a girl’s night… anything! 

Many people have been caught saying that women should look at what they wear before they go on a night out, and ask themselves whether it is “inviting” or “suggestive”? What?! No. 

Instead, I believe we should be teaching our sons, brothers, nephews and even daughters, sisters and nieces: 
rape is wrong, 
rape is unacceptable and 
if you want to have sex with someone they are well within their right to decline, to say no and you are obliged to accept that. 

Which is where I believe our educational system is failing the kids of today. We need to educate today, to have a more positive tomorrow. 

I’d love to hear some feedbacks, and comments below on this topic as it is something I love talking about! 

Ethically Sourced’s Laura.

53 slaves work for me everyday - What about you?

What if i told you that slaves are working or have worked for you right now in this moment? What if i told you that 53 slaves (approx.) work for me every single day? 

Modern slavery is a multi-billion dollar industry with estimates of up to $35 billion generated annually. The UN estimates that roughly 27-30 million individuals are currently caught in the slave trade industry worldwide today and 8.3 million people are fighting to end modern day slavery.

What is modern day slavery you ask? “Surely slavery was eradicated years ago?” you tell yourself. Well unfortunately, you are wrong. Modern day slavery is very present and very relevant to everyone in the first world just as much as the third world. Human trafficking is intact one of the most common forms of modern day slavery, this includes prostitution and drug mules. 

The facts are there and very evident yet citizens of the western world just don’t seem to understand that we all fall victim to “using” modern day slaves. 

How did I find out that 53 slaves work for me daily? Well, the most obvious way to find out is, look in the tags of your clothing, where your personal items are made. It may say “made in turkey/Mauritius/Bangladesh” most of the time these brands have used sweatshops to produce these garments are products in which the citizens of these countries; men, women and even children work in unbearable conditions with rock bottom minimal wages, working around the clock ungodly hours. Furthermore you can take a test to see just how many slaves work for you on modernslavery.com which is where i managed to find out the approximate number. The questionnaire will ask you a number of questions about your lifestyle such as “How many pairs of shoes do you own?” obviously only expecting an approximate guess. 

How do I join the 8.3 million people fighting to end modern day slavery? 

Anti-Slavery Day is 18 October, there are so many events and things to do in the U.K, in support of Anti-Slavery a few of these things include: 

Jump For Freedom (Skydive)

Manchester Slavery Walks

Trafficking and Exploitation on the Mediterranean Migrant Routes

Walk for Freedom London and Plymouth

A Guided Museum Tour at Wilberforce House

Back to Life Exhibition

Just Enough Festival

And many more…

Although, if you can’t attend or do any of these events there are ways to alert people about modern day slavery and bring awareness to people of what help there is out there such as the UK Modern Slavery Helpline and to keep yourself aware there are the AntiSlaveryDay Twitter and Facebook which alerts its followers on the latest news of Modern Day Slavery in the U.K and even internationally.

A lot of people are mistaken when they believe their gesture will not make a difference but, in reality it does. The more people that are on board, the more people that are aware, the stronger the chances of beating modern slavery each day at a time... And that's a start.

Please feel free to leave your comments and feedback down below as I love to hear what people have to say!

Ethically Sourced's Laura.