Red Light Special: Slavery 101 DVD for Awareness
Because abolition + coolfunstuff = awesomeness, each week I will bring you a Red Light Special, one cool gift, bobble or goodie you can feel good about buying, because the money you spend somehow benefits trafficking victims, people at-risk of trafficking or anti-trafficking programs. It’s guilt-FREE shopping for freedom!
This Week’s Red Light Special…..Slavery 101 DVD
This 12-minuted DVD from Free the Slaves features stories from slaves around the world, and is a great introduction to the issue for anyone. Share this video at your next community, school or church event, or invite a few friends over for a viewing. Even better, the money you spend will go to fight human trafficking and rescue slaves around the world.
You can buy this item from the link above, or at http://freetheslaves.madebysurvivors.com/Slavery-101-DVD-p/fts10.htm
If you know of an organization or business which you’d like to see financially rewarded for helping trafficking victims, let me know!
Read MoreQuick list of human trafficking news articles
Here’s a quick link list to some excellent news articles on human trafficking: US Trafficking in Persons Report 2008 “Russia’s Sex Slave Industry Thrives” (CNN) “NY May Treat Child Prostitutes As Victims” (CNN) “FBI Arrests Hundreds in Child Sex Crackdown” (CNN) “Prostitution Sweep Snags 6 Men, 2 Teen Girls” (AZCentral) “Pimp Gets 20 Years for Child Prostitution” (AZCentral) “Kids Rescued, …
Read MoreSocial Entrepreneurship in the Economist
The Economist this week is running a special report on entrepreneurship. One of the stories in the special report, focused on entrepreneurs “doing good,” argues that entrepreneurship is reshaping the voluntary world as much as the commercial world. Among leading “social entrepreneurs,” the Economist lists Riders for Health, run by 2006 Skoll social entrepreneurs Andrea [...]
Read MoreInterview: William Wilberforce on Human Trafficking
Each week, I will be bringing you a new interview with a formerly-active activist or abolitionist, that is, someone now deceased. I’ll be talking to the men and women who paved the way for the abolitionists of today and getting their thoughts on the problems and solutions of modern-day slavery. How do I contact not just the dead, but the famous and dead? Every good blogger must have her secrets!
This week…William Wilberforce
How’s the afterlife treating you?
I love it. They even saved me a seat!
For those non-biography readers out there, how about you tell me a little about yourself.
I was a British Member of Parliament who led the movement to abolish the slave trade in the British empire. I famously converted to Christianity, and along with abolition, was a great proponent of preventing cruelty to animals. Three days after England abolished the salve trade with the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, I died a happy man.
What do you think is the biggest problem in the modern-day abolitionist movement?
Governments around the world need a higher level of political will to abolish modern-day slave industries and prevent human trafficking into commercial sex, sweatshops, farm work, and domestic servitude. Where there is a will, there is a way (no pun intended!).
If you were alive, what would you do to fight slavery?
I would mobilize the law-making entities of governments around the world to address abolition of slavery in the industries where it is most often found. I believe in the power of a democratically-elected body to build a more just world for all global citizens.
Any last thoughts for our readers?
I once was lost, but now I’m found. Twas blind, but now I see.
Read MoreDo You Recognize the Warning Signs of Human Trafficking?
Each year, many human trafficking victims are able to escape because neighbors, community members, and regular old people like you saw the warning signs and recognize them. If you suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline or the police to report it. The call you make could save a life.
Do you know someone like this? Some common warning signs of human trafficking are:
Behavior Warning Signs
- Someone who seems fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous
- Someone who avoids eye contact
- Someone who shows signs of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Someone who has an inconsistent story or appears to be lying
Employment Warning Signs
- Someone who doesn’t leave his/her place of employment or only leaves at odd hours
- Someone who’s boss “holds” or “invests” his/her money for him/her
- Someone with a boss or manager in prostitution, stripping, or an escort service
- Someone who hasn’t been paid, has been paid very little, or is paid only in tips
- Someone who has an very large debt
- Someone who did not understand the terms or conditions of his/her employment when he/she was recruited
Lack of Control
- Someone who doesn’t have control of his/her own identification
- Someone who has few or no possessions
- Someone who is not allowed or able to speak for himself/herself or is made to speak through a translator
- Someone who is unsure of where he/she is or lives or has no sense of time
While the presence of one or more of these warning signs does not necessarily mean someone is being enslaved, they are red flags that deserve notice. Remember: intervening in a human trafficking situation may be very dangerous; call law enforcement.
Read MoreJoin NYC Action for Darfur on Tuesday
Below is an action alert sent out by the New York City Coalition for Darfur. If you’re in the Big Apple on Tuesday, join their vigil group in front of the US Mission to the UN and show your support for the people of Darfur.
Subject: Action Alert: New York City Action for Darfur Tuesday March 17 12-2.
URGENT ACTION ALERT!
On Wednesday, March 4, 2009, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued a landmark arrest warrant for President Omar al Bashir of Sudan. Just hours later, President Bashir expelled 16 humanitarian organizations from Sudan, placing millions of Darfuri civilians at immediate risk. Bashir is holding innocent lives hostage in order to retain his own grip on power.
4.7 million innocent people are currently affected by the conflict – more than the populations of the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco put together. Without the assistance provided by the humanitarian organizations expelled, well over a million internally displaced Darfuris are at immediate risk. With the rainy season quickly approaching, organizations are expecting widespread death from disease and starvation as millions lose access to food, water, medicine and adequate shelter.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Join the Vigil Group, New York City Coalition for Darfur, Long Island Action Group, Brooklyn for Peace and other activist groups and citizens throughout New York City as we demand immediate and decisive action by the US, the UN and the EU! Activists, do all you can. Please make a particular effort to join us Tuesday, March 17 for a big push!
Where: US Mission to the UN
45 Street between 3rd and Lexington
New York, NY (look for the police booth)
When: Tuesday, March 17: 12:00-2:00
NOTE to the Darfuri community: Please exercise caution in joining our activities, although our action is focused on bringing help to the displaced, we do not know if the Sudanese government will retaliate against Sudanese nationals who participate (we do know that they made efforts to record participation at the rally for the ICC). Please consider whether you would endanger any family members before you participate in any action.
What to Bring: Signs (if you wish, we will have some)
Possible slogans include:
DARFUR – MILLIONS AT RISK!
DARFUR EMERGENCY!
DARFUR – MILLIONS NOW FACE
NO FOOD
NO WATER
DISEASE
STARVATION
DEATH
DARFUR – MILLIONS COULD DIE – WE CAN STOP IT!
DARFUR – ACT NOW!
SAVE DARFUR!
Battling the Recession as a Multi-ethnic Church
Nearly every community in America is being hit hard by the recession and there seems to be no end in sight. It is great to see many churches and ministries reaching out to help. But, imagine what the impact would be if Christians of different ethnicities in your community were all working together to help during this difficult time?
Freedom for the Weekend: Children of the Night
Well, it’s Friday afternoon, and that means the weekend is almost here! W00t! Perhaps you’re reading this blog because you’re bored at work or school and you’re thinking about what you want to do this weekend. How about spending part of your weekend fighting slavery? Each week I’ll profile a different anti-trafficking nonprofit who you can connect with to help free slaves and prevent slavery around the world. So, spend a couple hours this weekend getting to know this nonprofit through their website, and then get involved!
This Week’s Profile: Children of the Night
The Bottom Line: Children of the Night is dedicated to assisting children between the ages of 11 and 17 who are forced to prostitute on the streets for food to eat and a place to sleep, many of whom are under the control of vicious pimps.
What They Do: They provide shelter for kids ages 13-18, as well as a comprehensive, on-site educational program for the kids who live there. They also do street outreach in areas where prostituion and child trafficking are high. The kids even get to take weekend trips to enrich educational and life experiences.
What Can I Do?: If you live in the Los Angeles area, you can volunteer at the shelter or their offices. You can also donate, either in-kind donations from their wish list or through their website.
Why They Rock: Despite the fact that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children now estimates between 100,000 and 300,000 American children are at risk for trafficking into prostitution, Children of the Night is one of the only dedicated shelters in the country for these kids. Their comprehensive programs are unique.
So now that you’ve got some basic information on Children of the Night, visit their websitethis weekend and get involved. And on Monday morning when everyone else is talking about sleeping in and watching tv over the weekend, you can say, “What did I do this weekend? Oh, just the usual- abolition of slavery.”
Do you have a favorite nonprofit you’d like to see featured here? If so, let me know!
Read More2.5 Million Humans Trafficked
The UN Human Rights Council released a report yesterday which estimated there are 2.5 million human trafficking victims in the world “at any given time”. UN estimates from 2003 were around 2 million human trafficking victims, which sadly shows despite huge international efforts over the past 5 years, the problem is growing.
2.5 million is a lot of people- roughly the size of the city of Houston. Of the 2.5 million slaves in the world, UNICEF estimates 1.2 million are children. And while the majority of trafficking victims are still women, trafficking of men into forced labor is growing. It will be interesting to see whether or not data that show an increase in trafficking of men will lead to more funding for that group of traditionally underserved victims.
The UN does not (as far as I can find) explain their methodology for this estimation, which I would be really interested to read. They do, apparently, include organ trafficking as a form of human trafficking and count those victims among the number. In the U.S., organ trafficking is usually considered as a separate crime unrelated to human trafficking and labor exploitation. And while I think that it’s a horrible human rights violation and an international phenomenon which needs to be investigated and ended, it’s a different type of crime than human trafficking.
If anyone has any information about how the UN made these estimates, I would love to see it!
Image from current.com
Read MoreCore Concepts 1: Lives of love and justice
What is God’s plan for all of the injustice in the world? We are – We have been uniquely prepared, uniquely placed, and uniquely empowered as agents of change for such a time as this. Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission, says it well: “…when it comes to seeking justice for the hurting in our world, God doesn’t have …
Read MoreNational Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
According to The Global Coalition on Women & Aids, one half of all people living with HIV worldwide are women, and that proportion has remained stable since the late 1990s. More than three in four (77%) of adult women (15 years and older) with HIV globally live in Sub-Saharan Africa – that’s an estimated 12 million out of the 15.5 million women infected with HIV worldwide.
And here is a comprehensive note from Dr. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health about the National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day:
Read MoreThe fourth annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day reminds us of the special risks that HIV/AIDS poses for women and girls. In response to the unique issues they face, we renew our resolve to help women and girls protect themselves from the virus and the disease.
Women and girls represent more than a quarter of all new HIV infections in the United States. More than 278,000 women and adolescent girls in this country are living with HIV;1 nearly 94,000 American women and girls with AIDS have died since the epidemic began.2 Globally, half of the estimated 33 million people living with HIV are female, but in sub-Saharan Africa, women make up almost 60 percent of the HIV-infected population.3
Here in the United States, minority women and girls bear a disproportionately heavy burden of HIV/AIDS, accounting for 80 percent of U.S. females living with the virus.4 African-American women acquire HIV at nearly 15 times the rate of white women.5Consequently, although African-American women represent 13 percent of the female U.S. population, they account for 65 percent of all American women infected with HIV and 62 percent of all U.S. female AIDS cases.6 Hispanic women in this country also suffer disproportionately from HIV/AIDS, becoming infected with HIV at nearly four times the rate of white women.7
It is critical that women and adolescent girls learn the HIV status of their male sexual partners and regularly monitor their own infection status. This is essential because 80 percent of new HIV infections in American women and girls result from sex with an infected male partner,8 and one-fifth of all Americans living with HIV infection do not know they are infected.9 Early diagnosis of HIV allows for counseling and prompt treatment. Potent HIV therapies prolong life and reduce the risk of further HIV transmission by dramatically lowering the amount of virus in the blood and other bodily fluids. Knowing one’s HIV status also creates opportunities for women to make informed choices about childbearing and to adjust their behavior to avoid infecting others. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, strongly endorses testing for HIV during the routine medical care of adults, adolescents and pregnant women, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Physicians recommend.
Women and girls often acquire HIV in situations where it is difficult or impossible for them to refuse sex or negotiate condom use. For this reason, NIAID places a priority on developing HIV prevention tools that women can implement independently. One such method under study is a microbicide—a gel, cream or foam intended to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV when applied topically inside the vagina or rectum. A recently completed NIAID clinical trial of a microbicide called PRO 2000 found the experimental product to be 30 percent effective. Although this result fell just short of statistical significance, it was the first indication that a microbicide might work in people. More definitive results will come from a larger clinical trial of PRO 2000 being conducted by the Medical Research Council and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom and scheduled to conclude later this year. Meanwhile, NIAID will begin clinical tests of a different microbicide, one that contains the antiretroviral drug tenofovir. Many other NIAID studies of microbicides at earlier stages of development also are under way.
Another mode of HIV prevention, one that women and girls at high risk for HIV could implement independently, would involve taking antiretroviral drug regimens to protect themselves from infection. NIAID-sponsored studies are testing this experimental approach, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), with the first clinical results expected this year.
In addition to studies of such HIV prevention tools, NIAID supports research on HIV/AIDS treatment, complications and disease progression among women and girls. For example, several NIAID-sponsored clinical trials aim to optimize HIV/AIDS therapy for women who previously took certain antiretroviral drug regimens to prevent passing the virus on to their children during pregnancy or birth.
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day reminds us of the female face of HIV/AIDS and its challenges. NIAID is committed to developing HIV prevention tools that empower women and girls to protect themselves. I encourage women and adolescent girls to embrace routine HIV testing, to learn the HIV status of their sexual partners when possible, and to employ “safe sex” practices. The abhorrent racial disparity among new HIV/AIDS cases in the United States and the gender disparity of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa demand our attention as national and global communities. By recognizing and responding to the unique risks that HIV/AIDS poses for women, we will go far toward curbing the epidemic.
Each year, the NIH Office of AIDS Research produces a Trans-NIH Plan for HIV-Related Research that identifies strategic priorities for all areas of HIV/AIDS research. The plan is developed in collaboration with experts from the NIH institutes and centers, other government agencies, non-governmental organizations and HIV/AIDS community representatives. The Fiscal Year 2010 Trans-NIH Plan for HIV-Related Research contains a section on microbicides and a chapter specifically devoted to research addressing HIV/AIDS in special populations, including women and girls.
Four Characteristics of Externally Focused Churches
By Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson One of the key elements of Church Volunteer Central’s foundational theology is that every believer should be serving in ministry. But let’s face it- you can only use so many Sunday school teachers, children’s workers, and greeters. If every single believer is going to be in ministry, how are leaders supposed to find things …
Read MoreThe Power of Making Amends
"If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering." (Matthew 5:23, 24)
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