What Are Your New Years Resolutions to End Slavery?

New Years resolutions have become a bit of a joke. And often, they're an expensive joke in the form of a treadmill that begins collecting dust in a living room after the third week of January. But a new year is also an opportunity for all of us to examine our habits and lifestyle and try and do better -- for ourselves, for others, and for the planet. But what could be the connection between something as simple as a personal habit and something as huge and complicated as millions of modern-day slaves? Actually, your personal habits can directly impact the scope and severity of modern-day slavery, especially in the items you buy.

Everyone has room to build better buying habits, and I put myself at the top of that list. So I thought I'd share some of my new years resolutions to end human trafficking, and I hope you'll share your with the community here at Change.org as well. These are specifically about buying habits, but there are many, many more things you can resolve to do. In 2010, I resolve to:

1. Buy better chocolate. I'm a self-proclaimed chocoholic, and in 2009, I too often succumbed to the siren call of cruel cocoa. Whether it was the Hershey bar in the office vending machine or the lazy use of Tollhouse chips in a recipe (instead of hunting down better ones), I need to buy better chocolate. So in 2010, I resolve to buy Fair Trade chocolate whenever possible, including for cooking and baking. When Fair Trade is not available, I will choose companies like Cadbury and Mars who have made efforts to buy better cocoa. My resolution is to stop supporting a cocoa industry that exploits and enslaves children.
2. Read clothing labels more closely. The Department of Labor gave us a great tool this year, in a report which shows which parts of the world have the worst forced and child labor in garment industries. In 2010, I resolve to jot down a list of worst offenders, and try to avoid buying clothes made in those areas. I'm also going to be sure to avoid those companies on the Sweatshop Hall of Shame list, until they reform.
3. Ask for Cafe Estima at Starbucks. Starbucks is already the world's largest buyer of Fair Trade coffee, yet they only offer one type of Fair Trade coffee, called Cafe Estima. And they don't always brew Cafe Estima in stores. Image what Starbucks could do for coffee growers if they saw consumer demand for Fair Trade coffee rising and Cafe Estima flying off shelves and being requested at stores. I already buy Fair Trade, single-source coffee from small businesses to brew at home, but Starbucks has a lot more buying power than me alone. So in 2010, I resolve to ask for a cup of Cafe Estima every time I go into a Starbucks.
4. Buy anti-trafficking donations and products as gifts. The Red Light Specials on this blog feature products and organizations which directly support anti-trafficking efforts and organizations. While eight years in this field has left me up to my ears in made-by-survivor jewelry, I resolve that in 2010, I'm going to buy gifts for my friends and family which benefit human trafficking victims.
5. Reward good companies for their anti-trafficking efforts. Being a conscious consumer isn't just about avoiding, it's about shopping at places that have done great things for anti-human trafficking work. In 2010, I resolve that whenever possible, I will choose to financially support companies who support the issues I care about. That will mean keeping up to date on what corporations are up to good, but luckily I have a blog to inspire me to stay current. And you have this and other blogs to keep you informed.

So those are a few of my New Years resolutions to end human trafficking. What are some of yours?

Photo courtesy of Optical Illusion's Flickr photostream.