31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Thirteen} Prevention - The Victim

Welcome Back!  We're at the end of discussing why slavery exists and how knowing this can help us prevent it.  I'm only going over three basic reasons as a starting point - there are many, many more reasons that could be discussed.

Day 10: We said slavery exists because It Is Profitable. Prevention is focused on making the sale of another human being risky or painful for the trafficker through public awareness and education, enforced laws, and prosecution with stiff penalties.

Day 11 and Day 12: We discussed that slavery exists because There Is a Demand.  Prevention includes enforcing laws agains solicitation, education and outreach tailored for the "Demanders", and public awareness defining who is demanding and why.

The final reason we'll discuss this round.....

Kay Chernush for the U.S. State Department

It Exists Because There are Vulnerable People

I'm not focusing on one particular form of slavery or one particular location in this post. Slavery exists in every country, including the US. We are talking about all people working involuntarily; whether in domestic servitude, migrant farming, landscaping, hotels, restaurants, clothing factories, or the commercial sex industry (prostitution, pornography, strip clubs, etc.)

The picture above is an illustration used in the State Department's Annual Report on "Trafficking in Persons."  The quote below is the caption for this picture.

Poverty, ignorance, superstition, social customs, greed, government corruption, and human cruelty combine to put families -- particularly women and children -- at risk. Too often traffickers are known to their victims as family members or neighbors.

In addition to the factors listed above, areas where there may be a Lack of Choices for Employment, Barriers to Free Movement of Labor (caused by poverty or law), Population Growth, Lack of Institutions to Enforce Slavery Laws,  and Crime may also put people at risk.

Communities of people living with some or all of the factors above exist everywhere; from Nairobi, Kenya to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Chicago, Illinois.  According to the Polaris Project:

It is essential to remember that vulnerability to human trafficking is far-reaching, spanning multiple different areas such as age, socio-economic status, nationality, education-level, or gender. Traffickers often prey on people who are hoping for a better life, lack employment opportunities, have an unstable home life, or have a history of sexual abuse - conditions that are present in all spheres of society.

The Department of Health and Human services explains some of the ways these victims are trafficked:

Force involves the use of rape, beatings and confinement to control victims. Forceful violence is used especially during the early stages of victimization, known as the ‘seasoning process’, which is used to break victim’s resistance to make them easier to control.

Fraud often involves false offers that induce people into trafficking situations. For example, women and children will reply to advertisements promising jobs as waitresses, maids and dancers in other countries and are then trafficked for purposes of prostitution once they arrive at their destinations.

Coercion involves threats of serious harm to, or physical restraint of, any person; any scheme, plan or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.

What does all this mean for prevention?

Vulnerability in Communities can be Reduced through Education and Empowerment

Awareness campaigns in vulnerable areas can help educate potential victims about the tactics that traffickers use, the risks of trafficking, actions people can take to protect themselves, and their rights if trafficked.

Some campaigns to check out:

Born To Fly International has produced a wordless children's book to teach all nationalities the dangers of trafficking and the choices they can make to protect themselves.  You can also learn more about it here, on the author, Diana Scimone's blog.

"Be Smart, Be Safe" is a brochure created by the US Department of State Bureau to inform vulnerable people in the US.

Beauty From Ashes is a faith based organization with an awesome prevention plan that includes "an innovative and aggressive marketing campaign" as well as presentations to Churches, Public Schools, Private Schools, Colleges,  and Community Groups.

Empowering vulnerable communities can mean many things.  It can mean:  

* teaching skills and providing education for employment.

* teaching children / youth about sexual abuse and providing a safe place to heal

* creating laws that promote gender quality and reduce violence toward women.  

* reducing poverty by teaching sustainable development in third world countries.  

* ensuring safe living environments by enforcement of laws.
* advocating for migration policies
* being a mentor to at risk children in your city
* encouraging governments to ensure the legitimacy of businesses

What are some other ways we can prevent people from becoming victims?  What are some campaigns you are aware of?  Let me know what you think in the comments!  Thanks!

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Twelve} First National Day of Johns Arrests

Welcome!  Wow!  Speaking of demand and prevention.....

On October 9th, there was a nationwide prostitution sting in 8 law enforcement jurisdictions in Illinois, Arizona, California, Ohio, Nevada, and Virginia.  They've dubbed this "The National Day of Johns Arrests."  This was a pilot program - I'm hoping this was the first of many.

In an effort to stem demand, cops conducted sting activities in hotels, on the streets, in brothels, and over the internet to arrest individuals seeking to purchase sex (police commonly call these people "Johns").  According to the Chicago Tribune, a total of 233 people were arrested - 216 were seeking to patronize a prostitute.  Total fines levied: $238,000.

In conjunction with this, the Cook County's Sheriff's office replicated more than 4,000 John's School DVDs and distributed these nationwide for use in law enforcement agencies. This was made possible through a grant from Demand Abolition (Under the Hunt's Fund Umbrella).  

The John School is a treatment program used in a group setting to educate men charged with soliciting prostitutes.  They learn about the negative affects of prostitution - the trauma to the woman, health risks, community impact, legal consequences and sexual addiction. Read more about John Schools in this CNN article.

On a sad note, I've been reading the comments people leave for these articles - it is truly heart-breaking to see how strong the deception is in America surrounding Prostitution and Domestic trafficking.  These stings are GOOD NEWS for the women and children forced into the commercial sex industry every year.  Remember, most prostitutes were forced into this industry between the ages of 12 and 14 - that is slavery.  If they are now 27 and have remained "in the life" - they've lived a lifetime enslaved only to now be accused of "choosing this."  By the way, most won't live to be that old - the FBI estimates life expectancy for a person that is being prostituted to be 7 years. 

To learn more about prostitution, please take the time to read this article written by a survivor of prostitution, Nekome.  As she says in her opening statement, 

They say prostitution is a choice? How did I choose prostitution? I didn’t choose prostitution, it chose me. Just as child sexual assault and neglect had chose me. I was not a willing participant, but lured into a life I saw as my only option.

For those of us that are uncomfortable speaking about prostitution within the framework of Human Trafficking and slavery - please know that research clearly indicates that anywhere there are adults selling sex, there are also children being forced to sell sex.  Domestic Trafficking in America occurs via  the Commercial Sex Industry in America.

I have to give a shout out to one of my best friends and fellow abolitionist, Jenna, for sending me the link to the article in the Chicago Tribune (and many other articles and videos you'll see on this blog).  We met because we are both passionate about rescuing enslaved, exploited people, Human Trafficking awareness, and our mutual best friend - Jesus.  Her heart was broken for slavery from the time she was a child and she's been growing right along side most of the organizations out there.  I'm sure Jenna will be a trailblazer in bringing Jesus' healing to people hurt by slavery.  She's going to Cambodia in January - maybe she'll do a guest post?  Thanks again, Jenna!  

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Eleven} Prevention - Demand Side

Hello!  This Day 11 of a 31 Day series inspired by a group of wonderful women with really fun and terrific blogs.  Their blogs (and other bloggers joining in the commitment to post about a subject for 31 days) can all be found HERE.


Prevention starts with understanding what you are preventing.  There are many, many reasons slavery still exists.  The three we're talking about are probably the most fundamental - but this is really just my opinion.  This may be oversimplifying, but again, it's a starting point.


We started with one possible reason yesterday:  It Is Profitable.  We have to work as a community with lawmakers, media, and businesses to make the risk higher than the reward.
Another reason slavery exists......

It exists because there is a demand.

What exactly is demand?  The dictionary defines it as 1) a willingness to and ability to purchase a commodity or 2) an urgent need.

In some cases, the purchaser may not realize they are purchasing slave labor.  However, in most cases they are looking for the cheapest way to meet their need.

Who is creating the demand (these are just a few examples)?

In our own world, services are purchased to meet a need.  It's no different in the world of a person exploiting an enslaved person.  These are real people purchasing others; mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, neighbors and best friends.  Their thinking becomes broken in a way that makes them believe their need or demand is more valuable than another person's life.  I can imagine for many, this was a "slow fade"; they make one bad choice and suddenly they are miles away from where they want to be.

Some of the underlying needs being met in Demanders:
- Power

- Control
- Intimacy
- Status
- Convenience
- Security (more profit for themselves or their family).  

There are legitimate ways to achieve intimacy.  There are people that have fulfilling, valuable careers as nannies, housekeepers, farmhands, and construction workers.  All of the Demanders needs can be met in healthy and legal ways that don't exploit other human beings.

Education, Awareness, and Outreach Can Eliminate the "DEMAND".

Unfortunately, to a trafficker, a perceived desire can be enough of a demand.  The trafficker is smart and greedy.  They believe there is a never-ending supply of vulnerable people.  They market these people to those that may have a need.  If a society's attitude toward slavery is apathetic or ignorant, they will find people to sell the vulnerable person to. 

One way to eliminate the demand is by shining a light on it through education and awareness.  

* Educate the demander.  Raise awareness in the common markets listed above - make sure consumers know they may be purchasing labor or services from a trafficked, enslaved person.  Define what this means for the person being sold.  Some organizations are doing this through John Schools.

* Educate the public.  The general public is still largely unaware that trafficking exists to the scale that it does.  If our society is made aware, I believe they will agree that this as completely unacceptable.  With education comes a sense of urgency and responsibility; as resources are allocated to the problem our law enforcement and government officials will begin to take more notice and prosecutions will be more likely.  Screen movies, talk to others, have garage sales, become a trainer, suggest books.

Another way is outreach.

* Provide counseling for the demander.  As I said earlier, these are all real people that are creating the demand.  We need to be open to loving them and walking through their overwhelming needs with them. I am a Christian and I believe they are ultimately trying to fulfill the same need we all have - relationship with our Father.  However, I completely understand if you don't believe the same way.  This issue needs everyone on board.

While this was long post (kind of got away from me) - I feel like it may have oversimplified the issue....  I'll try to find some good links to add with more information.

Thanks!

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Ten} Prevention -

When I first learned that slavery was still occurring and that people were being trafficked, I wanted to learn everything about it so that I could help end it.  I always believe if I can understand the root of a problem, or break it down into it's most basic pieces, a solution can't be far away.  This works in accounting.

Unfortunately, slavery has so many driving forces and underlying pieces, you can get lost trying to figure out the "whys" and "how comes".  I guess we have to start somewhere.

So......

Why does it exist and how does knowing this help us stop it? 

picture from blog.polarisproject.org

It exists because it is profitable.  

On a global level, the trafficking industry makes $31.6 Billion US dollars annually.  This was reported by the UN in  "Human Trafficking: The Facts."  These report cites the statistic from a paper written in 2005 - we learned earlier this crime is second only to drug trafficking and is growing fast; I'm sure the amount is probably higher in 2011.

On a domestic level, one pimp in the US can make over $600,000 a year tax free.  The following is from a paper developed by the Polaris Project, "Domestic Sex Trafficking: The Criminal Operations of the American Pimp":

␣ Polaris Project, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit working with victims of human trafficking recently conducted an informal analysis of a pimp’s wages, based on direct client accounts. One teenage girl was forced to meet quotas of $500/night, 7 days a week and gave the money to her trafficker each night. This particular pimp also controlled three other women. Based on these numbers, Polaris Project estimates that the pimp made $632,000 in one year from four young women and girls.

Society, Laws, and People need to make the risk 

higher than the reward.

The opposite of reward or profit is risk or punishment.  Human Trafficking and Slavery are illegal in every country; yet the punishment and prosecution of traffickers and people who purchase slave labor is relatively small.  I think the Fight Slavery Now website summarized it best (I emphasized some points):

We must demand that human trafficking task forces be established and fully funded to investigate, infiltrate, and prosecute criminal enterprises. Penalties should be severe and include the seizure of assets. Novel legal strategies such as civil litigation can and should be employed. Patronizing prostituted women illegally should have legal consequences. Promoting and profiting from these enterprises should no longer be tolerated. Government should act to require that fair labor practices be an enforceable part of all trade agreements. Consumers must ask and be aware of where products come from and how they were produced. Social justice organizations of all stripes, child welfare, women’s rights, labor rights, immigrant rights, environmentalists, must strive to combine forces, both to raise public awareness of this issue and to help eradicate the conditions that allow it to thrive.

One example of a working strategy can be found in the Sex Trafficking Industry in Sweden.  In 1999 the Swedish government made it illegal to purchase sex and legally recognized the woman, or seller, as a victim.  They also started outreach programs to encourage women selling sex to find other occupations.  

The maximum sentence for a john, or someone purchasing sex, is six months in jail.  Between the passage of the law and 2004, 750 men had been charged and 2/3 of those sentenced.  The result has been a radical drop in street prostitution and the influx of trafficked women.

Tomorrow - the demand creating the existence and what we can do about it.  Thanks for reading!!

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Late Day 9} My Disclaimer

I didn’t actually post on Day 9 and that really disappointed me.  I’m not sure if I was just too tired (my oldest daughter’s been sick – we just found out it's pneumonia) or too confused about what I was trying to accomplish and where this was going. 

So, now I’m using the Day 9 spot for a disclaimer and explanation.

When I began this blog I had a path in mind.  A path that would mirror the path I had taken; that would allow us to learn together and slowly unfold the truth with a lot of statistics and documented information.   It was orderly and started with the basic facts, building a foundation and then moving into more difficult subjects.

However, when I actually sit down to write – something entirely different comes out.  I’m not sure if that’s because

a.  I’m really disorganized in my thoughts,

b.  I’m too impatient to get to the underlying issues that eventually won first place in my heart, or

c.  It’s what I am actually supposed to be writing about.

I’m going to have to go with C. It’s what I am actually supposed to be writing about, simply because I cannot seem to force myself to stay on the path.   And if I believe it’s A. or B., my life-long disease (read: perfectionism) will kick in, force me to go crazy and never write another word.  That would make me sad.

So, thank you for your grace, if you’re reading this.  I hope it doesn’t become too confusing and I hope that you take away something, anything useful from the hodge-podge of information I’m putting out there. 

Things will be in a random order and maybe we can sort it all out later.  If there is something in particular you are interested in learning more about, please, please, please let me know in the comments or send me an e-mail – I’d be super-happy to do the research and tell you everything I know and everything I find.

Thanks for reading!

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Eight} Who Is the Victim

Photograph was by Graham Kietzman via Planet KB Studio.

Who can be trafficked?  Anyone.

The buyers and sellers of human lives do not discriminate.  No race is safe; the victim can be male or female; and all ages are vulnerable.  The Department of Human Services has compiled the following lists of individuals that may be most vulnerable, locations the victims may be recruited from and methods of recruitment.

Recruiting is the technique used by the trafficker to coerce, deceive, or force people into slavery.

People that may be more vulnerable to being trafficked:

• Children involved in the foster care system and child protective services
• Children involved in juvenile justice system
• Individuals from developing countries where opportunity and jobs are rare
• Individuals with limited education or general lack of awareness of the issue
• Individuals with past history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect
• Individuals coming from impoverished backgrounds
• All children are vulnerable; simply being a child makes one vulnerable

Where do Traffickers Recruit Child Victims?

• Outside of schools, After-school programs
• Outside of Juvenile Detention Centers
• Bus Stops, Train Stations
• Malls and Shopping Areas
• Outside of Youth Centers, Community Centers, or where youth are known to hang out
• Parties, Clubs, Bars, friend's houses, relative's houses
• Internet and Social Networking Sites (e.g. Myspace)

Other Forms of Recruitment

• Advertisements for work (e.g. cleaning, farm labor, construction)
• Posing Modeling Recruitment Agencies; Posing Study Abroad Programs
• Word of Mouth: By Friends, Family Members

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Seven} Reporting Trafficking

Welcome!  Before you read this post will you please do one thing?  Grab your cell phone and add the National Trafficking Hotline as a contact.

As I said in yesterday's post, each of us will have a different role to play as an abolitionist. Every role is necessary. Education and awareness are only useful if the end result is people being rescued from slavery, demand diminishing, and trafficking being unprofitable.  

Termites can destroy your house if they are left undetected.  They cause billions of dollars in damage every year.  Getting rid of termites is very complicated and requires special skills - in almost every case you need a professional.  

However, before you even know to call a professional, you have to know you have termites.  According to the University of Kentucky College of Ag, "Termites are cryptic creatures and infestations can go undetected for years, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, insulation, and other obstructions."

What does this mean?  Homeowners should be educated:

• To be aware of what a termite colony will do
• To understand what a termite looks like
• To recognize the signs of an infestation
• To know who to call immediately 

Slavery is also very cryptic.  The victims exist in this world with those of us that are free.  I can imagine that every enslaved human being has been in some sort of contact with an every-day citizen at least once during their enslavement.  Someone sees them, but they don't understand what they are seeing.  Someone recognizes that something seems off but they're not sure what it is or what to do about it.  Although not all of us will see human trafficking in our presence, some abolitionist's roles will be to see the enslaved person, recognize them as enslaved / trafficked, and report what they've seen to the police or to the National Trafficking Hotline number.

Awareness and Education are important to teach people:

• The definition of Human Trafficking
• The signs that someone is being trafficked / enslaved
• The ways that people can be trafficked / enslaved
• Who to call if they suspect or recognize trafficking / slavery

Just as with the termites -  Every bullet point is important; if you know what they look like, and you can recognize the damage being done, it won't make a difference if you don't call a professional and let them stop the crime.   In the next few posts, we'll look at some more specifics about signs and types of slavery.  

Please add the Polaris Project's National Human Trafficking Hotline number to your cell phone 

1 - 888 - 373 - 7888

Consider asking one other person you know to do this as well.  

The Polaris Project website has a tremendous amount of information. Please click over and check them out.

Let us know in the comments if you've ever called the hotline number or know someone who has.  I have a post coming up with more details about the number, examples of calls, and The Polaris Project in general. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

31 days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Six} Sharing The Truth

The more I learn about people forced into slavery, the more outraged I become and the more I want to share what I know and tell people everything about this problem.  The thing is - not everyone is ready to hear about it.

photo by Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot

I made an informal commitment to myself at the beginning of this journey to learn about every aspect of slavery and to hear every person's story.  Some of the statistics and some of the stories have made me physically ill, some have made me sob hysterically, some have made me feel hopeless and depressed.  All of them have made me cry out to God for justice.  As hard as they are to hear, I recognize that I'm only hearing them; I'm not living them.  Knowing this much information is my personal choice.  I feel called to stand in the gap in this way - to hear their stories - to cry for them - to pray for them - to demand justice - to grieve for their loss - to some day be part of their healing process.  This is part of my story as an abolitionist.

Not everyone will be called to hear the same stories at the same time. Other abolitionists will have very different roles. Some will fund organizations that exist to prevent, rescue and restore victims.  Some will donate sheets and socks to healing homes for survivors. Some will casually bring it up with friends and co-workers, lighting a fire of awareness. Some will host events to raise awareness.  Some will train first responders. Some will buy jewelry made by survivors. Some will minister love to the victims.  Some will minister healing to the people that purchase other's lives. Some will minister truth to the people that sell and destroy other's lives.  Truly.

We have to be able to share the truth in a way that people can hear. We must find ways to educate America without overwhelming them. This is an overwhelming issue.  It's hard and it's scary and it's not easily fixable.  If we aren't intentionally sensitive in sharing information, people will become paralyzed and shut down. They won't be able to donate socks if they can't bear to think about the problem anymore.

My wonderful, supportive husband was straight-up with his limits: "Do not tell me anything about trafficking. Period. Please."  We have two teenage girls and it was more than difficult for him to even hear minor details.  It also hurt him that it hurt me so much; my sorrow made him feel helpless to do anything.  He would say this just wasn't his thing and I completely respected that.  I have to add that he never tried to stop me from learning, volunteering, or donating money.  He just didn't want to talk about it.

He needed to learn about trafficking in a way that was meaningful and empowering for him. 

I was intrigued when I found out about a 30 minute film created by Whitestone Motion Pictures in partnership with Street GRACE; called "Candy Shop - A Fairytale about the Sexual Exploitation of Children."  I watched the trailer....

My husband was standing nearby and asked what I was watching (I'm convinced he thought I was on one of those video sites where people fall off their skateboards and everyone laughs).  After I played the trailer again for him, we decided to watch the full 30 minute film.  He learned more about trafficking and society's part in it by watching this movie then he ever would have or could have from hearing me speak for hours.  We actually had a conversation about trafficking and points made in the movie.  It gave us a common ground and a common language to discuss the problem and our place in it - it was especially awesome for me because he made a lot of really smart observations that I hadn't considered.  This opened a small door of awareness that allows him to discuss  trafficking and slavery more than he did before, and with more than just me.  Talking about it is the first step to stopping it.

This movie handles a tough subject in a thought-provoking way.  It's an analogy, so you can get away from the hard-to-hear details and just see the truth.   There are still difficult parts, but they tell the story very well.  The full version is below for you to watch and to share.  If you want to learn more about the movement behind the movie, please visit www.stopthecandyshop.com.

I'd love to hear how you share the truth with others and what your experience has been.  Thanks!

Day Seven: Reporting Trafficking

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Five} mtvU Against Our Will Campaign

Today, I had planned to blog about international trafficking.  When I first started learning more about trafficking and discussing slavery with people in my sphere or daily world, I found the most information was about foreign victims. Not only that, but most people were more open to discussing trafficking as an international problem, not a domestic problem. I recognize that international trafficking makes it seem a like a more distant (maybe safer) problem, even if many of the exploited are shipped into the US.  As a nation, we've also been educated more about international trafficking through the media, TV shows, and film.  So, because my path led here, I had intended to blog about this part of my journey before I started a discussion about domestic slavery.

My plan was interrupted by a the newsletter I received today via e-mail from the fabulous  founder and executive director of GEMS in New York, Rachel Loyd.

http://www.againstourwill.org/ 

As much as I want to, I can't even start talking about what an incredible woman Rachel Loyd is or I'll be here all night and you'll never get to see what she announced in her newsletter.  There will be a whole post or two or three devoted to her work as a leading child sex trafficking advocate, counselor and friend to victims, brilliant author, and accomplished speaker.  You can click on her name above to read more about her on the GEMS web page.

Back to the newsletter.  GEMS, which stands for Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, has teamed up with Free the Slaves, The Polaris Project, and mtvU to start a smart, relevant campaign, "Against Our Will".  

Please, please, please visit this page, "Against Our Will".  If you have teenagers or friends that act like teenagers or a radio that plays FM, or cable, you know that terms like "Pimpin" and "Hos" have become common in pop culture.  I believe a large part of this popularity is due to media (how many Pimp my ____ shows do we need?).  This is why it completely thrills me and gives me so much hope that MTV is taking on the challenge of educating its audience about Modern Day Slavery and the danger in even the language we use.  

And, I love the website.  I haven't been able to look at every little thing on it yet, there's so much.  The "take action" segment alone is so valuable.  It allows you to see that even if you only have one minute, one day, or one hour, you can do something.  One minute is "Learn How To Talk About It".  If you click through it provides situations that a college kid might find themselves in (hmmm, I've found myself in some of the same situations as a thirtysomething....).  One example is:  You're at the club and a song about pimpin' comes on. Different levels of action are provided, from Keep it Simple to The Real Deal. 

Rachel also worked with them to develop a PSA directed towards buyers of commercial sex.  The goal is to help us all reframe the way we think about prostitutes / the commercial sex industry.  Research has shown that most prostitutes in the US were forced into the sex industry between the ages of 12 and 14.  The obvious conclusion -  most prostitutes either are or were victims of slavery.  That's another post...  For now, please check out this video as well as the other videos and all the resources at mtvU's "Against Our Will" and spread the word about this campaign.  Thanks!  Let me know what you think of mtvU's site and the campaign.

Day Six: Sharing the Truth
Day Seven: Reporting Trafficking

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Four} Understanding More

Welcome to day four!  One of the wonderful side affects about committing to this 31 day series is that it has really made me think about what it means to be an abolitionist and the journey I am taking.  I think about it off and on all day in preparation for what I'm going to write about.  It's also made me reflect on how blessed I am to have been given the life that I have.

I was going to wait for a future post to list all the non-fiction books I've read that have something to learn about human trafficking and slavery.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find a single title as I looked through my journals.  So, I thought I would go ahead and post about the only two books I could remember and why they had an impact on me.  These are both written by Christian authors.

The first is Blood Ransom by Lisa Davis.

This book is set in the African Republic of Dhambizao.  The main characters are two Americans working in the health field in Africa and Joseph Komboli, a 15 year old that witnesses his village being raided and his family being taken to work as slaves.  I loved this book because I was completely ignorant of the mineral industry in Africa and the slaves that are abducted and forced to work in the mines.  The author discusses this industry in detail - it was really eye-opening for me.  This book gave me an understanding of the hopelessness felt by people that are largely invisible to the rest of the world, and the urgency and necessity of the world to see them.  I needed to remember that even if we can't see them, that doesn't mean they don't exist.  Although there was a little romance (sorry - I'm anti-romance novel) there was a lot of suspense and intrigue and it all came together to be an action packed read with a great opportunity to gain perspective and insight into a world I know very little about.  

The second novel is The Lights of Tenth Street by Shaunti Feldhahn

Let me say upfront, that no one is actually trafficked in this book.

The Lights of Tenth Street creates a realistic world where strippers slowly become prostitutes, christians deal with sex addiction, and traffickers pose as respected businessmen.  I loved this book because it allows us to remember that as we work to abolish slavery in the US and in the world, we are all human and we are all one choice away from being on a very different path.  The church must step up and be a welcoming community for the sexually exploited and a place of healing for the sexual brokenness that is  feeding the demand for the exploited. We cannot abolish slavery in the commercial sex industry if we don't deal with the demand.  I really gained valuable insight into this side of the problem through the storytelling.   

This story is set in Atlanta, GA.  And although the strippers in this case are not being forced,  change.org states that approximately 500 girls are trafficked in Georgia each month servicing 7,200 men.  The average age is 14 with some as young as 9.  This story could very easily be about any one of those children.  

Trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today.  Drug dealing is currently the first, but trafficking is the fastest growing.  This book illustrates the criminal element organized to deal in these industries.  Statistics have shown traffickers are normally involved in all three industries and are extremely organized.  The organized criminals in this book could be seen as well respected business men - it helped to reframe the way I see the perpetrator and reminded me that the perpetrators are somebody's father, mother, neighbor, brother, and best friend. They don't walk around in face masks with heavy russian accents.

From a spiritual perspective, Ms. Feldhahn allows us to sit front row as the Lord's angels take direction and fight the demons; there are also numerous suspenseful moments where we are reminded  that prayer is our most valuable weapon.  She also uses the story to make the judgmental-self righteousness some christians practice very transparent.  I've not lived a sheltered religious life, and this book made me question how I would behave if I had been present in some of the church scenes.  Would I accept without condition?  If a stripper came to my church would I welcome her with respect and love?  If a person that unknowingly (or knowingly) purchased images of a forced minor came to my church looking for healing and Jesus' love, would I welcome him or her with open arms?

I believe an abolitionist must work to free all slaves with total compassion and love; this is not a one-step one-size fits all process.  These books help me  frame important questions about what it means to be an abolitionist in the real world - questions I didn't even know I should ask.  They help me understand judgements I didn't even know i had made and lies I might believe surrounding this topic - If I don't understand these things and work to correct them, I could end up adding to the pain a person forced into slavery is already experiencing.  Thank God he's walking with me through this!

Day Five: mtvU's Against Our Will Campaign

Day Six: Sharing the Truth
Day Seven: Reporting Trafficking

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Three} Understanding their Stories

I hope it's not cheating to post my "31 day series" blog at the end of each day.... I have to gather the courage all day to write, lol.   I'm hoping that part gets easier as the 31 days go by.  Don't forget to check out ALL the 31 day blogs - over 700!

photo from naturalpatriot.org

Yesterday we talked about learning the facts and statistics surrounding human trafficking and slavery.  

I think its really important to know what we are dealing with and and to know the facts so that we can  share the information with others.  I think its even more important to understand the lives behind the facts, to let our hearts be broken for the oppressed as well as the oppressors.  I feel like I  must be able to understand their stories and be ready to love them ~ their "stories" are their lives.  I can never get so involved in the "issue" that I forget the issues are all about flesh and blood people; brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, and best friends being manipulated, used, and wounded.  They need rescued, they need to be accepted, they need to be loved.  The same needs we all have. 

Although there are several non-fiction books that can help provide this understanding, it's easier for me to really grasp the problem while reading well-researched fiction novels.  Learning the different ways a person may be trafficked while hearing some of the inner discussion, seeing the trafficker through their victim's eyes, and putting myself in the story has helped me better understand what my attitude should be, how to pray, and how I can help.

The first novel I read about modern day slavery was written by Tom Davis, the President of Children's Hope Chest: Priceless.  The link will take you to his site and a short interview with Mr. Davis about the book.  This novel was a realistic introduction into the world of global sex trafficking.  It's been a while since I've read it so I'll try to be brief with the book report - 

Priceless was so well-written and descriptive, I felt like I was right there with the main characters, Stuart (the photojournalist and very reluctant hero) and Marina (the Russian orphan that is sold into the commercial sex industry).  I felt Marina's fear at being asked to leave her only home at the orphanage, her relief at meeting a woman who seemed to want to help her, and her terror at realizing she was being sold.  I was just as conflicted and nervous as Stuart as I wondered what my choices would have been in his same situation.  I found myself praying constantly as I read this incredible story.  I was also biting my nails and holding my breath - a lot of suspense and action.

The biggest piece of truth I took away from this book was the picture of spiritual warfare being fought at the core of human trafficking and slavery and the very urgent need for all people to pray.  I've carried that truth with me everyday.  This book really is a must read!! 

I'll let you know about the other non-fiction books I've read in a future post.  Please let me know about any books you've read about this, fiction or non-fiction.  Thanks!

Day Four: Understanding More

Day Five: mtvU's Against Our Will Campaign

Day Six: Sharing the Truth
Day Seven: Reporting Trafficking

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day Two} Learning the Truth

Once I knew that slavery still existed, I couldn't stop thinking about it, praying about it, being angry about it.  I felt overwhelmed and paralyzed.  I wanted to do something to help, anything, but I had no idea what that should look like.

Nothing in me could even fathom the pain these individuals had encountered in their lives - sold and exploited, robbed of their own physical bodies and free will.  Even with no personal reference for their horrific stories, I felt betrayed by humanity, heartbroken, and terrified to learn more.  What must they be feeling and What could I possibly do?

Slowly, over the course of the next year, God showed me that it is not my job to save the world.  He's already taken care of that.  It is my job to love others and live in His will.  A large part of Love for me is awareness, it's knowing your story and your circumstances, feeling your pain and sharing your burden.  If I'm going to love the victims of modern day slavery, I first have to learn about them, shine the light on their stories and their situations.

The first things I learned:

• Definition of Slavery: forced to work without pay under threat of violence and unable to walk away
• Definition of Human Trafficking:  the act of enslaving another person, slave trade
• There are over 27 MILLION people enslaved in the world today.
• approximately 43% in the Commercial Sex Industry 
• approximately 32% in Economic Areas (fields, mines, homes, etc)
• Half the trafficking victims in the world are under the age of 18
• At least 100,000 American children are sold in the US each year in the commercial sex industry
• Slavery exists in every country; Slavery is illegal in every country

Just a few of the the first websites I learned from (I'll share more over the next month):

Traffick 911

Free the Slaves

International Justice Mission

Polaris Project

Stop the Traffick

DHS Rescue and Restore

We don't have to be overwhelmed or paralyzed in the face of great social injustice.  Just take a few minutes today to click through to one of the sites above.  Learn one new thing about Modern Day Slavery / Human Trafficking and share it with one person.  We are all called to be abolitionists and even the smallest act can make a huge difference.

Day Three: Understanding Their Stories
Day Four: Understanding More
Day Five: mtvU's Against Our Will Campaign

Day Six: Sharing the Truth
Day Seven: Reporting Trafficking

31 Days to Becoming an Abolitionist {Day One}

Welcome!  I've wanted to write, to blog, to speak and to shout about this topic for a long time.  I love the blog, The Nester.  When she announced that she was doing a link party for bloggers who would commit to write on one topic for 31 days - it was just the push I needed.

Thank you, Nester!

Day Two: Learning the Truth
Day Three: Understanding Their Stories
Day Four: Understanding More
Day Five: mtvU's Against Our Will Campaign
Day Six: Sharing the Truth
Day Seven: Reporting Trafficking

At my very core, I am a Christ Follower, a Wife, a Mom, a Friend, a Recovering Shopaholic and an Abolitionist.  Of all these roles, becoming an Abolitionist was the one that was completely unexpected, a total surprise.  I had no idea such a person would even be necessary in the 21st Century.

An abolitionist is anyone who is interested in ENDING slavery and setting slaves FREE.

Three years ago I watched the video below in a Joyce Meyer's Conference.  I was completely shocked to learn that not only is slavery still practiced; but beautiful, innocent children are forced into slavery every day.  American children, Cambodian Children, African Children, Asian Children, Russian Children, Children of all nationalities.  This was unacceptable.  This was heart-shattering.

Since then, I have read books, watched movies, attended lectures and conferences, researched hundreds of internet sights, and joined forces with people who have become my best friends in fighting Modern Day Slavery.

During this series, I will discuss my journey to understanding that the world needs abolitionists right now. I'll blog about what I have learned, easy ways to make a difference, not-so-easy ways to make a difference, inspirational books, eye-opening movies, and hard-working organizations that are rescuing people from slavery and changing the world.

Please watch this video from Joyce Meyers and join me during the month of October as I write more about becoming an Abolitionist.