Freedom United: Take action for COP26!
| World leaders have gathered in Glasgow, Scotland for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) where a shared sense of urgency to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change has taken hold. But, amidst talk of “digging our own grave” and “running down the clock”, something is missing from the conversation. Take action While we understand that time is of the essence, we are also keenly aware that modern slavery exists in “clean” energy supply chains. Earlier this year, through the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region, we released an academic report conducted by researchers at Sheffield Hallam University that revealed the shocking fact that almost the entire global solar panel industry is implicated in the Uyghur forced labor system.[1] The report revealed that: 95% of solar panels rely on solar-grade polysilicon Almost 45% of world’s polysilicon supply comes from the Uyghur Region The 4 largest solar panel suppliers in the world all source their polysilicon from the Uyghur Region Act now Independent accounts have confirmed that there is a vast and complex forced labor system targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim peoples in China organized by the Chinese government that potentially taints the supply chains of multiple industries including fashion, technology, and agriculture.[2] Uyghurs are imprisoned without just cause and forced to work under threat of violence, torture or even death. No corporation should profit from modern slavery – not even ‘green’ ones. We’re calling for a just transition that puts people and the planet before profits. Take a stand “Abolishing slavery is shown to be one of the most effective instruments for climate change mitigation.”– Kevin Bales, anti-slavery activist and Freedom United advisor[3] At Freedom United, we believe that the world must move away from fossil fuels – but not turn a blind eye to the use of forced labor in renewable energy sources. We cannot achieve environmental sustainability at the cost of human rights. The ongoing delay in global action to mitigate environmental risks has already made countless persons vulnerable to modern slavery.[4] We cannot now expect to save the planet using further exploitation. Sign the petition Hundreds of thousands of people are part of our movement to end Uyghur forced labor. And we are being heard. More and more countries are stepping up[5] and demanding the Chinese government end their forced labor detention programs in the Uyghur Region. We must keep the pressure up. Ahead of the COP26 Day of Action, we’re calling for climate justice and Uyghur freedom! In solidarity, Krysta and the Freedom United team |
 Krysta BisnauthAdvocacy, Freedom United |
