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Join us to hear tales from 25 years fighting slavery, and why Matt Friedman of the Mekong Club is still hopeful.
“Today there are more slaves than at any other time in history.”
Matt Friedman‘s story does not always make for easy listening, but he tells it in such a way that, despite learning that there are 46m slaves worldwide, you feel hopeful that those numbers must decrease with Matt on the case.
Matt has spent his career trying to combat human trafficking, first for NGOs and now for the Mekong Club, a private industry collaboration that he founded. Learning that 60% of slaves are working in our global supply chains told Matt that getting multinationals on board would be the only way to make a significant impact in terms of numbers saved.
Matt has some great advice for other NGOs and activists on how to collaborate with industry in a positive, productive manner. And for consumers on how to get our favorite brands to engage on this issue.
Matt brings industry working groups together behind closed doors. The is no naming and shaming, just supportive sharing of approaches to address the problem.
In addition to his industry-centric approach, Matt shares insights on the importance of data collection and technology use in the fight to free slaves and catch traffickers. The Mekong Club collaborated with Google to overcome language barriers between slaves and local authorities.
Matt acknowledges that despite improvements in the number of people rescued from slavery, there is a long way to go. He is calling for a new abolitionist movement, and his amazingly supportive wife joined him on a 27 city tour through North America to inspire one.
“The world needs help.”
Matt is incredibly humble, saying that everyone is in a position to lead impactful lives; the hard part is taking that first step. That’s his challenge now – getting more people to make that first step. Matt has some wise and inspiring words on how to light that spark in people and get them to work on the issues that matter.
Matt’s passion is infectious, and his call to action worked for us here at #impact. We are keen to find out if it might be the nudge some of our listeners need too.
Matt encourages us to face our fears and go after those hopes and dreams we had when we were younger.
TAKE ACTION
- Watch Matt’s TEDx video.
- Get Matt’s book “Where were you? A Profile of Modern Slavery” here.
- Find more information about The Mekong Club on their website and follow them on Facebook.
If the fight against slavery moves you, learn more about it, share it with someone else, become a responsible consumer. Congratulate companies that have policies on human trafficking. Volunteer. Fundraise for Mekong Club by creating your Just Giving events.
Or, look for your own moments to help, and seize them. Matt assures us that research shows it will make you happier. Matt’s call to action: “Find a cause that makes your heart sing and join the fight. We all have something to offer. We just need to overcome our fears and release that super hero that resides in all of us.”
Do you want to hear more stories from inspiring changemakers?
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