To Buy Or Not To Buy-Counterfeit Goods

Buying a fake Burberry or Gucci bag from a local
street vendor may not seem like a huge deal, but what if I told you that some
of that money was being used to help fund terrorism?

Fake designer bags are part of a $500 billion global
trade in counterfeit goods and some of that profit is being used by several
terrorism groups like Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah, (a militant group in Lebanon) to
kill thousands of innocent people.

The terrorist group responsible for the fatal 2004
train bombings in Madrid, which killed 191 people, was able to plan the attacks
through the proceeds of pirated CD’s.

While U.S crackdowns has reduced the sales of
counterfeit goods to a stealthy trip through the rear door of a dark warehouse,
sales in countries like China has become more rampant. Since fake goods are
now of more superior quality, their demand has increased tenfold. Nowadays, street markets from
Beijing to Jakarta are teeming with fake designer brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton and
Prada.

Next time a sales man or woman tries to lure you
through a secret room full of imitation luxury brands, you might want to think
about the bigger picture before listening to his sales pitch. I know I will.

Shop responsibly.