Radiohead released today a video broadcasting globally, which aims to raise awareness of human trafficking. The lead singer, Thom Yorke, and his bandmates produced a music video together with MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) for “All I Need,” a song from their In Rainbows album. The video was filmed in Australia by Oscar-winning cinematographer John Seale and director Steve Rogers.
The United Nations’ International Labour Organization estimates that there are around 2.5 million people in the world who have been trafficked.
“They’ve produced a video of two parallel stories running, one of a little boy in the West and one of a little boy in a sweatshop in the East, and the boy [in the West] ends up buying the shoes from the sweatshop. It’s actually quite powerful,” Yorke said. “It’s the sort of images I have in my head anyway. Sometimes when you’re walking down High Street and you’re looking at the incredibly cheap [sneakers], you sort of think, ‘Hmmm, well how did they manage to make that so cheaply?’ It sort of reminds me of one of my preoccupations, so I’m touched that the music goes with that. I think it’s great.”
& once again Thom
“I think it’s important for everyone in the West or on High Street to understand the consequences of our economic activity. You must be aware of the level of exploitation that’s going on,” Yorke said. “It’s part of our Western life, and one we should accept responsibility for. There’s no such thing as a free lunch or a free ticket to another country.”
I hope this is just beginning of raising the awareness of this issue around the world and involving more people in the campaign against human trafficking.
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=cdrCalO5BDs]
I did some cool T-shirts for Stop human Trafficking for EXIT/MTV once (2004), shame they did not release it at all. Sill have designs somewhere on computer if someone needs it!
[…] to the video-Danicar’s blog has a bunch of info about the video, as well as other sites that have information about it. To […]
Great post! This video raises some important issues, including issues of consumer behaviors. I agree that we must take responsibility. Is there information connected to this site as to how we as consumers can take more responsibility? The things I think of are typical: buying sweat free for the things you can, buying local produce or joining Community Supported Agriculture, buying pre-owned goods. What else?
Sarah