Anti-slavery activists need strength and courage

                                to challenge certain attitudes. 

 

Slavery is unacceptable. It is one of the basest forms of the human condition, and yet it is everywhere. Why? Because we allow it to exist. It is time to change that. As you read this, people are being beaten, burned, cut, starved, whipped, tortured, raped – all for profit. 

 

Human Trafficking and slavery are 'issues' that some people do not want to hear about.

It makes them uncomfortable. It is 'not nice' to discuss such violence.

 

However, we say  it is unacceptable NOT to talk about slavery. Victims must no longer be silenced, hidden, invisible.The time to act is now.

 

People who take an active stand against human trafficking have to be strong. On a daily basis you will encounter other people with a different attitude and they will often try and 'sweep this crime under the carpet' or tell you that you are exaggerating. 

 

As activists, with dignity and respect, we CHALLENGE these attitudes.

It's hard and it may take time, but we ask you to do the same. Again and again and again.

 

"What do you mean Slavery? It was abolished over 150 years ago."

Slavery is illegal in every country, but today there are more slaves on the planet than the entire 400 years of trans- Atlantic slave trade. See Kevin Bales TED talk on the  homepage. Time to re-write the text books. Educators please teach accurately.

 

" But those girls/boys on the street are smiling – they are happy." 

Reality: The women/men forced into sex slavery have to 'smile'.  It's probably a forced smile to attract clients.  If a woman doesn't earn her owner (pimp) enough money that day she will be raped, beaten, kicked.

 

"Sex Trafficking? Yes, I've heard there's a lot in Asia, It doesn't happen here – not in our country."

Wrong. Sex trafficking is happening in every country. Nice apartments where the curtains are always closed, suburban houses where children are raped  - for profit. This is a global crime – and remember – Victims are also used to produce on-line pornography.

 

"Oh come on – think about it! We are all slaves, really. I'm a slave to my job. I have to work to live, don't I"

There is NOTHING poetic or metaphoric about slavery. You can leave your job if you chose to. You get paid. You have to right to ask for certain conditions. Slaves are not paid/barely paid. They are owned. They have no right to leave. They may be beaten or even killed if they try to escape.

 

"But this is such a huge crime. What can I do?" 

You are NOT ALONE! Thousands upon thousands of people are actively fighting trafficking in different ways – rescue, protection, law enforcement, lobbying, corporate collaboration, research, the arts, public awareness, education. Click onto to the Favourite Links on the home page and see how you can be involved. Don't give up! 

 

"Yes, I've heard kids work in the cocoa industry. That's terrible, but what's that got to do with me?"

Slavery is a business driven by demand. No demand = no slavery. If we continue to buy products that include slave labour, then the corporations have no incentive to change. But change is happening! Learn about pressure to provided slave free chocolate, gold, carpets, diamonds. Change requires effort and time. Buy FAIRTRADE products and ask your store to provide slave free products. 

 

For the sake of the millions in slavery and those who may be talking to human traffickers AS YOU READ THIS, please have the courage the strength and the PASSION to stay with what you know to be TRUE.

If you have watched just half of the videos on this site, made by people who have years of experience with slavery, you now KNOW the TRUTH.

Once you know about slavery, it is impossible to 'un-know.' SPEAK UP, SHOUT OUT THE TRUTH. TEACH OTHERS!