child slavery

Slavery in America: Fair Trade

Carrie Nye — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:24:34 -0700

When asked what Americans can do to help lessen the demand for slavery abroad, IJM staffer Lauren Johnson talked about Americans considering what they are purchasing. In case you missed it, you can read more of what she had to say here.

Trade As One is an organization that works alongside churches in hopes that entire congregations of people will understand the global impact of their purchases.

The market today truly is a global one. We buy produce, coffee, chocolate, clothing, jewelry, etc. and most of it comes from another part of the world. But how often do we consider the hands that have sewn our clothing, made our jewelry or farm the food and drink we are consuming today? We buy chocolate but aren’t told that the majority of the world’s chocolate is from Sierra Leone. There are over 800,000 children enslaved to the coca farms in Sierra Leone. I’m a sucker for chocolate but I don’t need it so bad that it would ever justify a child enslaved and deprived of his/her childhood so that I can eat a chocolate bar.

Check out this video that Trade As One released. Fair trade is not a perfect system but it is headed in the right direction. What are your thoughts on buying fair trade versus non-fair trade products? What are some other ways you know of that American consumers might help lessen the demand for slaves abroad based on what they purchase?

For more info on how fair trade can help stop slavery check out:

http://www.stopthetraffik.org/takeaction/chocolate/

http://live2free.org/fairtrade.html

http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/

Write to congress and help abolish slavery today

Carrie Nye — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:32:57 -0700

Hi everyone,
This is just a quick blog to let you know about an opportunity International Justice Mission is providing right now. They have made it possible for anyone who would like to, to write to your member of Congress and urge them to pass the Child Protection Compact Act (click the ACT NOW link on the top right of the page). Taken directly from their website,

"The Child Protection Compact Act (HR 2737) builds on that successful model by authorizing the State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Office (G/TIP) to provide significant financial resources to develop functioning justice systems in selected countries, ensuring that the local police, courts and authorities can rescue children and bring traffickers to justice."

There have been a lot of great blogs on Conversant lately regarding this global issue of modern day slavery. I posted some statistics and things I've learned about slavery in previous posts, Brian Wurzell provided us with a great video of mini introductions to 3 organizations dedicated to ending slavery and Lisa Borden reminded us of how powerful prayer is in fighting slavery. There have been others as well. If you haven't done so already, I'd encourage you to read these posts and send a letter to your member of Congress today by clicking the link above.

-Carrie

LIVING BRICKS and GOLD MEDALS

Craig Detweiler — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:45:06 -0700

Two years. Two Student Academy Awards. For aspiring filmmakers wondering how to get noticed, how about noticing the suffering of others? Friends of mine have won the gold medal at the Student Academy Awards by focusing their camera upon the plight of those on the margins of society. Their compelling films are not a calculated stunt to win prizes but a heartfelt conviction that we must care for the poor, the hungry, and the hurting.

American University student Laura Waters Hinson won best documentary in 2008 for AS WE FORGIVE, a moving portrait of reconciliation in Rwanda. It highlights both the harrowing genocide and the profound healing that has come to a fractured country. To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Rwandan horrors, As We Forgive will be screening on PBS stations around the country, including PBS WORLD on July 15th. Check the PBS schedule for stations and times near you. In the meantime, you can join the Living Bricks campaign, designed to rebuild houses for the victims’ families. Murderers and survivors live alongside each other in a stirring example of forgiveness in action.

Bricks also serve as the central metaphor in Gregg Helvey’s USC thesis film, KAVI. Last weekend, Kavi won the Academy’s gold medal for best narrative. Kavi focuses upon bonded labor, a modern form of slavery still haunting children in India. A young boy longs to escape the brick kiln that binds him to the land (and those who exploit him). Helvey’s award winning drama is rooted in stories of poverty that have appeared in places like the New York Times.

These are stories any young filmmaker could have told. But do we have eyes to see and ears to hear such harsh realities? Gregg Helvey did. He made the movie to inform audiences about a heartbreaking, real world situation. Get involved in the movement to abolish modern slavery via the Not for Sale Campaign and International Justice Mission.

Congratulations to these young filmmakers who combine artistry with social justice. May their success inspire the next wave of faith-fueled filmmakers.