Modern Day Slavery
I’ve been trying to write this blog for weeks. It is an overwhelmingly urgent issue that
demands our attention. It’s a topic that
once your eyes are open to you will not be able to go back to your pleasant
ignorance. It’s a knowledge that plagues
because it is an issue that needs to change. It’s the new form of slavery; our modern day slavery.
Each year around 600,000- 800,000 men, women and children
are trafficked across international borders. A large majority of those who are trafficked are children who were
either kidnapped or sold by parents and orphanages. Even more shocking to most US citizens is
that an estimated 14,500-17,500 of these men, women, and children are being
trafficked right into the United
States. About 80% of those trafficked into the US are women, and 70% of them are
used in the sex industry. Yes, that’s right… slavery is still in the United States of America! Are you shocked yet?
So, what is this new form of slavery? It’s the children who are indentured slaves
in sweatshops in Pakistan
sowing soccer balls together. It’s the
young girls in Ghana
whose fathers are forced to give them up in order to break a curse placed on
the family by the temple priests. These
young girls between the ages of 3-17 are used to satisfy the needs of the
priests and to provide a little extra income. It’s the children in Uganda
who are kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers because men are too
scared to fight their own battles. It’s the young girls in India who can be
bought by a Westerner for $45 (bought for life, not the night)… a country girl
is only worth $10. It’s the girls in Chinatown NYC, who have been trafficked
into our own borders through false job advertisements. They are promised work,
but then their passports mysteriously disappear. These girls are forced to dance at strip
clubs, prostitute themselves, work endless hours cleaning and more. The list goes on and on and on. There is no end in sight to this new form of
modern day slavery!
The point is that it’s everywhere, but has it touched your
heart yet? Empathy is not enough anymore. I guess the turning point for me was
the orphans. How many of the children that
I have been working with will be trafficked? How many of those precious baby girls are going to be brutally raped
again and again and then sold nightly. Why
was baby Jaron abandoned and forced to live his few short months at an
orphanage, why does beautiful little Srey Na, Dareth, and Phalla have
AIDS? Why is one of the little boys at
an orphanage in Thailand
shockingly western looking? Or even
worse, why is he crying out for help by attempting to sexually abuse the other
children? They are probably all the
product of our need to express our sexuality and fulfill our needs. They have already been abused, but are they at
risk of even more?
So, who’s to blame? How do we stop this? Well, where ever
the good old UN sets its feet, and of course our troops, prostitution
and human
trafficking explodes. Sex tourism is also endless around the world. I’m
completely disgusted by how many westerners simply come to South East Asia and Europe for the young girls. The majority of tourists
going into Thailand and Cambodia are
overwhelmingly unaccompanied men looking to fulfill their sexual needs. The problem is that this new form of slavery
is almost untouchable because the blood money is worth millions and the
majority of it is supported and funded by those in power… overseas powers and
our own elected officials. Just last month I was discussing this issue
with a British doctor in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia. He warned me not to get in too deep. He said the last young girl was driven out of
the country by death threats. The police are no help either because many of
them are involved.
I’m writing with passion because it’s breaking my
heart. Our world isn’t hopeless! It just needs a few good men and women to
rise up and do something about it! The only way to make a dent in stopping
something like this is through education and action. Take a look at some of
these websites and ways that you can get involved. It may seem like an overwhelming issue, but
the thing that keeps me going each month is that thought that each life
counts! It’s all about the one! The one you can help, the one you can save,
the one you can adopt, the one whose life you can change! Go find your one! You can make a difference! I know that sounds corny, but it’s true. Let your life be changed and blessed forever
by fighting for someone without a voice! It’s the best therapy you can get. Nothing is more rewarding and
fulfilling! I can promise you that!
www.ijm.org
www.notforsalesampaign.org
www.polarisproject.org
www.freetheslaves.net
www.catwinternational.org
www.prostitutionresearch.com
There’s also a great documentary online, put out by Shared Hope International,
called “Demand”. Basically (as far as the sex-trade goes), there
would be no “supply” of victims if there was no demand for the sex
trade. It’s important to address the demand in addressing this problem.
www.sharedhope.org/what/enddemand3.asp
Here are some ideas of how to get involved in the NYC area! This won’t
really pertain to those outside of NYC, but I hope it can give everyone some
ideas:
1. Buy tickets for “Call + Response” and encourage others to
see the film in NYC in December
2. Attend the Slavery Mapping/Prayer walking training on Dec. 10th at 7PM in
NYC
3. Help to sell Restore’s tote bags for the Christmas season
4. Attend and spread the word about Restore’s New Year’s benefit
5. Contact large banks and ask to speak with their non-profit or charitable
division. Ask them if they would consider donating a house or building that has
recently been foreclosed or if they know of any programs that have recently
closed and left behind a good building for Restore.
6. Use personal connections to find a house for Restore/a sponsor for Restore’s
residential program.
7. Search for art and dance therapists, skilled in working with clients who
have been through trauma, who would like to volunteer for Restore.
8. For attendees of churches like Redeemer, network among professionals to see
if they would like to use their professional skills to volunteer for Restore in
the future (i.e. therapists, doctors, translators, arts professionals,
yoga/exercise instructors, ESL tutors, computer trainers)
9. Identify compassionate employers who may be willing to hire Restore’s
clients in the future and really work with them in an understanding way (maybe
even providing job coaching)
