Whoops...Firestone Forgets to Mention Slaves During Superbowl Ads, Halftime Promo

by Amanda Kloer · 2009-02-02 07:00:00 UTC
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Yesterday, I was one of millions of Americans who watched the Superbowl primarily for the commercials.  Some were funny, creative and memorable, and some, like those from halftime show sponsor the Bridgestone Firestone tire company, "forgot" to mention the rampant slavery which supports the company.

Their first ad featuring Mr. and Mrs. Potatohead was not only based on some nasty, gender-based stereotypes (during a road trip, Mrs.  Potatohead complains nonstop until her lips are lost, causing Mr. to smile with joy), but also glosses over some of the nastier aspects of the tire company, namely that their Liberian workers are slaves.  Former Bridgestone worker Austin Natee said in a recent visit to Washington, DC,

"The workers live in modern-day slavery, he explained that rubber tappers work 14 hours a day and must tap 750 rubber trees and accumulate 150 pounds of latex daily-all for little more than $3 a day and a monthly 100-pound bag of subsidized rice if quotas are met."

Firestone has also been documented to use trafficked children and exploit the environment.

You can take action and tell Firestone to stop their exploitation of workers, children, and the environment at the Fairtrade blog by clicking here.

Or, you can send a message to the company here.

The rampant sex trafficking which often occurs around Superbowls puts enough of a pall on the event. Don't let Bridgestone Firestone get away with paying for expensive Superbowl ads by exploiting and enslaving their workers!

Special thanks to reader Tim Newman for the inspiration and information!

Amanda Kloer is a Change.org Editor and has been a full-time abolitionist in several capacities for seven years. Follow her on Twitter @endhumantraffic
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