this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2024
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The Brazilian farm workers exploited to harvest an everyday ingredient (www.bbc.com)
submitted 7 months ago by recreationalplacebos@midwest.social to c/news@beehaw.org
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Carnauba wax is a product you may not have heard of, but you have almost certainly consumed it - it is added to sweets to stop them melting, to pills to make them easier to swallow and as a thickener in lipstick and mascara.

Workers in Brazil's poor north-eastern state of Piauí rely on harvesting wax from carnauba palm trees to earn a living. But the power is in the hands of big business who, authorities say, are turning a blind eye to exploitation.

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[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

i dunno if thats the case here but its common for the workers to be lured in by promise of a "good" salary. it happens so readily and easily because of good ol capitalism-induced desperation.

they scrape what they can to get across state lines to work there, and surprise, they are now slaves that cant go back, as they target people from poorer states far away. plus most of the time theres some sort of "you owe me for that shitty shack i let you sleep in with a bunch of other slaves" arrangement.

it happened in grape plantations that supply the common (and fucking expensive) brands that sell wine and grape juice all over the country. just a big one off the top of my head because it was particularly big in the mainstream media too.

i dont think any of those removed ass slavers suffered from serious consequences, and there are probably many many other instances we just havent uncovered. you can easily guess this is rampant

[–] Megaman_EXE@beehaw.org 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I wish we could have a system that didn't exploit people. It seems that unless you're at the top of the capitalist hierarchy, you and those around you are getting the short stick. There's no ethical consumption under capitalism

Then throw a roll of the dice for where you are born, and your outcomes vary greatly. It's frustrating that it is so unfair for so many people.

I sometimes think that I'm struggling, but then I hear about all these unfortunate souls trapped in an absolutely terrible situation, and it simultaneously makes me grateful but frustrated. I don't understand how some people can treat others with so little regard.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

On one hand, I’m glad the Justice system in Brazil is doing its best; on the other hand, that’s another industry that can’t seem to survive without unpaid externalities.

[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

another industry that can’t seem to survive without unpaid externalities

I call BS on that.

Look at what the guy is saying:

the boss, Edmilson da Silva Montes, has turned up. He is angry he has been caught.

"[...] The costs of producing this wax are more than what I receive."

Gislene hands him a fine of $30,000 (£23,700) [...]

Edmilson is adamant he is doing his best, despite this being the third time he has been caught.

If the industry truly couldn't survive without slave labor, then the owner wouldn't keep doing it... after getting fined 2 times already!

What's more likely, is the industry being highly profitable, to the point that a $30K fine is just the cost of doing business. Just another greedy b* wanting to make as much as he can squeeze out.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I’m not pitying the industry, that’s how you read it. Any industry or business that can’t survive without unpaid externalities should die.

Clearly the fine is smaller than working within the boundaries of the law. If they’d all switch to working legally, it’s likely the clients of carnaúba wax would switch to a different product.

Likewise, mankind would move away from oil if all externalities were accounted and paid for.

[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I didn't read it that way. What I'm saying is this article doesn't show whether the industry can or can not survive without unpaid externalities, it only shows that the fines are way too low to be a deterrent. It also seems like there is room to spend at least some extra $30K on reasonable salaries and habitation, and still make a profit.

Likewise, mankind would move away from oil if all externalities were accounted and paid for.

That's what they used to say in the early 2000s about "carbon offsets": make the externality accounted for, and... well, we can see how that one is working out, can't we?

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

True, it doesn’t show that. A leap of logic on my part.

Carbon offsets assumes players would play fair, but the whole system was rigged from the get go.

[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 1 points 7 months ago

Rigged is one part, people playing the system is another... but even IF we took it all at face value, no rigging, everyone playing fair...

What's the goal corporations think people want them to aim for? Being "carbon neutral"?... WTF even is that; we need to become "carbon negative", to reverse the damage that's already been done, not just go on polluting and pay someone else to hopefully clean up some of it, maybe, some day.

The public shouldn't accept anything less than "we buy twice the carbon offsets of our emissions" from corporations... but no, they show up with "planning to become carbon neutral in just 25 more years", and the public is like "oh cool, that extra pair of sneakers I don't need, is so eco-green"... 🤦