Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day…

It’s also the 146th anniversary of the day our 13th Amendment was introduced to Congress — which set out to abolish slavery in the United States.

Yet today — slavery still exists — in so many forms.

Sex trade, immigrant farmers working in Florida, children mining for coltan, chocolate and coffee farmers around the world — and so much more.

I encourage you to do a 5 things today…

1. Change your Twitter/Facebook/MySpace avatar to support One Voice to End Slavery:

2. Join One Voice to End Slavery

3. Visit the Human Trafficking section on Change.org and read at least 5 articles

4. Share the link to at least one story from Change.org on Facebook or Twitter

5. Watch David Bastone talk about human trafficking at Google:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Then let us know what you learn.

What impacted you the most? What did you learn when doing one (or all) of the steps above?

What other steps have you taken to end modern day slavery?

Click here to view the embedded video.

300,000 women and children exploited for sex in our country each year.

The stats are astounding.

“You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say you did not know.” – William Willberforce

This demands attention!

Libby Spears, has devoted almost 10 years uncovering the sex traffic industry in lesser developed countries like the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. What she found out while filming there is that the United States is actually “influencing the global demand and growth of the sex trafficking industry.” That not only is human trafficking for sex apparent in less developed countries, but it is also “every bit as real in North America.”

After Spears’ discovery, she started filming “Playground,” which follows the story of victims in America and examines the United States’ influence by interviewing activists and experts in this field.

“The only way not to find this problem in any community is to simply not look for it.”

A special screening of this film will be presented by Dallas Women in Film and the Dallas Women’s Foundation on November 5th, 2009.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The event will be held at Studio Movie Grill – Royal Location, and begins at 6:30pm, 7pm screening followed by Q&A with director Libby Spears.

Studio Movie Grill
studiomoviegrill.com

11170 N. Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75243
214 361 2966
Get Directions

The first 80 people to RSVP will be admitted for free. RSVP to Sherri Galbraith at sgalbraith@dallaswomensfoundation.org or 214-525-5301.

Thereafter, tickets are $5 for members and SMU students and $8 for nonmembers.

Nonprofits are invited to purchase blocks of tickets at the discounted member price. For more information, please email chickflicks@wifdallas.org or publicity@wifdallas.org.

The screening is also brought to you in part by the SMU Department of Cinema.

HT to I Live in Dallas for the heads up! Read more about the film.

Becoming a slave is easier than you think
Becoming a slave is easier than you think
Becoming a slave is easier than you think
Becoming a slave

There’s always a price to pay
It’s gotta hit somebody’s back
Trust me, new worlds don’t just build themselves

Progress has more than one face
Even though it’s always itself
There’s nothing you can change that doesn’t change everything else

So it’s simple
It’s so simple
If they’re not like us

(Derek Webb – becoming a slave)

Already seeing Christmas decorations and sales at your local stores? Wanting to make a difference this year and ensure your purchases are slave free?

Be sure and check out NightLight’s and NotForSale’s online stores for products made by (and supporting) former slaves.

Both groups have some great jewelry and products for men, women and children.

Some info on NightLight:

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

NightLight is an international organization committed to addressing the complex issues surrounding trafficking and prostitution by catalyzing individual and community transformation. NightLight’s vision is to offer intervention to sexually exploited women and children, to enable them to discover their dignity, and to provide a program of holistic transformation, empowering them to live and work in their community.

NightLight’s mission is to build relationships and provide hope, intervention, rescue and assistance to women and children exploited in the sex industry by offering alternative employment, vocational opportunities, life-skills training and physical, emotional and spiritual development to women seeking freedom. NightLight builds support networks internationally to intervene and assist women, men and children whose lives are negatively impacted by the sex industry.

In Bangkok, Nightlight operates as a business (NightLight Design, Co. Ltd) and a non-profit (NightLight Foundation). In the United States, NightLight operates as a 501c3 with branches in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Visit the NightLight store.

Visit the Not For Sale Campaign store.

From onevoicetoendslavery.com

Through differing relationships we (together) have been presented with the opportunity to help 42 labor trafficking survivors make ongoing and necessary phone calls with their families in
Indonesia, Dominican Republic, and the Philippians.

How?
Purchase ‘International Calling Cards” and send them to the address below…

Where to Find these Cards?
You can purchase International Calling Cards at your local Walgreens, Costco, local grocery stores, and even online.

How many minutes should the cards have on them?
We suggest at least 30 minutes +
Even send multiple cards.

Address to send cards?
Jacobs Well
attn: Shana Puckett
1617 West 42nd St
KC, MO 64111

Please let drop a note of encouragement to the unknown individual that might receive this gift.

Thanks for participating, spread the word through twitter (@endingslavery), facebook etc…

To read more about the bust click here.

Want to learn more about modern day slavery?

One Voice to End Slavery
Not for Sale campaign
Read Not for Sale