This is a copy of a post on H-Slavery (part of H-Net), from May 15, 2021, part of a series of H-Slavery posts on contemporary forced labor and slavery in China:
A new report details forced labor in China’s solar panels industry, and, “how forced labour in the Uyghur region has ripple effects throughout international solar supply chains.” Also reveals how China’s so-called “labor transfer” programs are really part of massive state-sanctioned slavery.
The report:
“In Broad Daylight: Uyghur Forced Labour and Global Solar Supply Chains.” By Laura T. Murphy and Nyrola Elimä. Helena Kennedy Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, UK. (= landing page with links)
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Important commentary thread:
“The economic and political ramifications of this report are going to be discussed widely. But its introductory section also offers the most succinct and compelling demonstration yet that, when applied to Xinjiang, “labor transfer” means forced labor. … be sure to read pages 9-13 on the forced labor programs in the Uyghur region -and the exec summary.” -
Also see:
“China uses Uyghur forced labour to make solar panels, says report.” BBC, 14 may 2021.
+ “Solar panels are key to Biden’s energy plan. But the global supply chain may rely on forced labor from China.” By Clare Duffy, CNN Business. Updated 1:48 AM ET, Fri May 14, 2021.
[+ many other reports on these discoveries]
Adding a few other highly significant recent news items on the ongoing Chinese genocide in Xinjiang (Uyghur region/East Turkistan):
1. “Seven Apple Suppliers Accused of Using Forced Labor From Xinjiang.” The Information, May 10, 2021.
2.”Drop in Xinjiang birthrate largest in recent history: report.” By DAKE KANG. AP, 12 May 2021.
“Such an extreme drop in birthrates is unprecedented in the 71 years since the United Nations began collecting global fertility statistics, beating out even declines during the Syrian civil war and the genocides in Rwanda and Cambodia … ”
3. Islam Dispossessed: China’s Persecution of Uyghur Imams and Religious Figures. The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP). May 2021.
+ also see: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56986057
[New unprecedented detailed report on the systematic persecution of everyday religion]
4. Unprecedented meeting to discuss the crisis at the UN on 12 May 2021 — a meeting carried out despite desperate obstruction and threats and intimidation against UN member countries, from China:
The virtual UN event was co-sponsored by 18 countries led by Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, the Global Justice Center, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the International Service for Human Rights, and the World Uyghur Congress.
+ on this meeting see also these reports:
West and rights groups accuse China of massive Uyghur crimes
Countries condemned China over the Uyghur genocide at the UN conference
More at: Bibliography (to be updated again soon)
Sincerely,
Magnus Fiskesjö nf42@cornell.edu