1-11-11

Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

 I haven't talked too much about trafficking lately, but I wanted to do a post about it today. I'm not going to say much, as I think that many of "my readers" are actually very aware of trafficking. 

27 million slaves. 

Men, women and children around the world forced into sex slavery and bonded labour. They make our clothes, harvest our food, lay bricks, are forced to be child soldiers and to prostitute themselves. 

All ages. All ethnicities. All countries.

Here are a few videos, if you have the time. Scroll past them for some options of what you can do.

Human Trafficking. If you haven't heard of it, or you want a refresher, this little video will do the trick. You will likely cry, get angry, and be inspired all at the same time.

Not For Sale now has an iPhone app called "Free2Work".  With it, you can look up products you want to buy and are able to see how well these company's do at ensuring slavery is not involved in the making of their products. If you have an iPhone, download and use it!

Free2Work

Emmanuel Jaal is a former Child Soldier. This is an 18 minute video, so it's really long. It's worth watching if you have the time. If you don't have the time to watch all of it, start at 12:20 and watch the song he wrote in memory of the British Aid Worker who saved his life.

I love this video. I can never watch it too many times. It's Bono receiving an awared from the NAACP for his "ONE campaign" work to "make poverty history." Poverty is the root of all types of injustice, including human trafficking. While trafficking is not directly discussed in this, causes of trafficking are. It's amazing. Seriously. Please watch it.

I'm sure you didn't have time to watch them all, and that's ok. 

The first step in doing something to change this is that people are aware. 

If you want to do something today, post one of these (or some other video) on your blog or facebook. Write a blog about it (or just copy mine).  Write something in your facebook status. Have people over to watch a movie about trafficking and then brainstorm ideas that can be done in your community. 

Volunteer with a prostitute recovery ministry, a homeless ministry, or a local trafficking ministry.

 Raise money for the International Justice Mission, Not For Sale, Women & Children's Advocacy Centre, or anywhere else that you are aware of and have a heart for.


Did you see something? 
Report it by calling: 888-3737-888 (Save it in your phone!)

Every little something counts. 

For more ideas, links and videos go to the Love Out Loud website.