AMERICA the Movie and Human Trafficking

America, the movie, produced by Gerald Molen, the Academy-award winning producer of Schindler's List,and Dinesh D'Souza, the creator of 2016: Obama's America and writer/director of America, along with writer/director John Sullivan. In the movie America: Where Would We Be Without Her; they take you on journey through America's history. They shed light on our now rewritten history after detailing what modern day critics have to say about us, the people of America.

                                                                              

Why talk about this controversial film?

Slavery is one of America's scars. We are branded with it. We are stained as the evil country that stole lives for financial gain. Are we guilty? Have we done anything to change or improve the status of ALL people? 
As a modern day abolitionist I seek justice. I seek freedom for all. I believe in the Constitution where our Founding Fathers wrote: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (emphasis mine)

Our Founding Fathers also believed, "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." (emphasis mine) [these ends] are the unalienable Rights listed in the previous paragraph and [laying its foundation] is crucial to the promise made within the Constitution to work toward true freedom for all.

In other words when a government is not allowing any man, woman, or child, Life, Liberty, or the pursuit of Happiness. When they are not treating people as created equal. Something must be done to end the tyranny. So, they set up a foundation of hope to abolish injustices, in time, effecting Safety and Happiness.

Were there slaves? Yes, of course, we all know it. Did you know that the most feared plantation owner was, in fact, a freed slave? However, there were African American's such as Madam C. J. Walker who was not only the first free born in her family but was the first self-made woman millionaire and philanthropist in America. Also, during this time, there were English and Irish people who were brought over here by force and sold as indentured servants? As such, they had to work for their freedom for seven years, often this period was extended or they died before they were freed. At one point there were more of these trafficked people than there were African American slaves. The Civil War was fought to change this. The Civil Rights 
movement continued our fight to give all true liberty and justice.

A slow and painful fight to end slavery begins.

The fight continues....

Forced Labor or Sexual Exploitation, it is all wrong!

                                                                                                                                                         
We are not done. The fight must continue. Let us open our eyes to a new breed of slave owners. Traffickers and pimps are organized and deadly. While we go about the business of life. Working. Paying taxes, bills, and more taxes. Living. Getting by. Pimps are prowling around looking for our children. Around the world you can find more than 27 milllion men, women, and children enslaved for financial gain. Here in America the drug cartels figured out that, unlike guns and drugs, a woman, girl, or boy can used over and over. People are a better investment for them with larger profit margin. We have allowed our senses to become dull to the shock and horror of human trafficking. Here in America 100,000 (and growing) children are disappearing into a life of hell on earth. 

On the brighter side there are groups rising to fight this is travesty. Shared Hope International, MISSSEY, Polaris Project, International Justice Mission, Better Way Imports, and many more are taking a stand and fighting. Each of us is the key to making a change here in America and across the world. Open your eyes to the truth. Find something you can do to be a part of positive change. Become a Freedom Fighter! As General George Washington called out in the movie, America, "Hold the line!" And then let's push forward and change the world. Let us work today to END SLAVERY FOREVER!

           

Please contact me by leaving any of your questions or comments.

Better Way Imports: Freedom Fighters

Buy, Book, or Become a Freedom Fighter!

What if I could give an opportunity to buy high quality, handmade bags, jewelry, and paper goods? What if by buying a bag from Better Way Imports you could be part of ending sex trafficking of women while, at the same time, opening others to the truth of human trafficking across the world.

It is everywhere and in many kinds of  businesses.

Women have a plethora of options for Network Marketing companies and endless options for stores to spend their hard earned money. You can buy products made by slaves and rather you know it or not you already are. Or you can buy products made by women who were once bought and sold who are now free and learning to make a living in a safe environment.

Better Way Imports markets handmade products for companies like Freeset, Abba House, Radiant Hope, Rahab's Rope, STOP Start, Basha, Artisan Lane, Nightlight, Imani, Sari Bari, Daughters of Cambodia, Starfish Jewelry Project and several others. Every item you BUY is made by a woman who has been rescued from sex trafficking. She is given training, medical attention, and a hope for her future.

Skills they that will sustain them.

Literacy Training

                                                         

 

Through network marketing we are given the opportunity to go into homes and teach people about human trafficking and we are able to give you a way to help. 

When you BOOK an awareness event or party you not only help to get the word out, you are actively engaging in the fight. You are genuinely saving, with each purchase, a woman who without your help could not sustain a living.
By asking a Freedom Fighter into your home you open the door to educating and spreading the word that there is problem and there is solution. I like to think of it as spreading hope through action.

Which leads to BECOMING. When you decide to become a Freedom Fighter you are mentored and trained to take action for these women/girls across the world and right here in America.      

       So....Buy, Book, or Become....        

Let's get the word out!

Freedom Fighters study and grow while getting the word out to as many people as they can. We learn about human trafficking across the world, in United States, in our own state, and our local communities.

By now you can see how Better Way Imports offers you an opportunity to help end human trafficking while earning a fair-trade wage. If you email me: momma4hope@gmail.com Then let me know that you would like to buy, book, or become.

Shared Hope International's Documentary: CHOSEN

Thanks to Shared Hope International we have a dynamic tool to educate teens and adults about the very real industry known as sex-trafficking. CHOSEN, the documentary, is a true story about trafficked teens here in America. View Trailer here, along with the following information about the 22 minute DVD taken from the Shared Hope website:

As traffickers narrow their target to lure younger and younger victims, America’s youth find themselves engaged in a battle they never prepared for. Hear the shocking true stories of two “All-American” teenage girls tricked into trafficking. Eighteen-year-old Brianna was an honor-roll student, cheerleader and worked at a local café. Thirteen-year-old Lacy was an active member of her youth group, and a volunteer in her community. Both were manipulated. Both were exploited. Both were chosen.

This comprehensive video resource reveals the warning signs and sometimes fatal consequences of sex trafficking to equip teens to protect themselves and others from being trapped in the horrific and violent sex industry.

The CHOSEN DVD & Training Package has everything you need: Discussion questions specifically for men, women, and youth, a PowerPoint presentation, trafficking terminology guide, suggested resource guide, leaders guide, and action ideas to help viewers turn their knowledge into action.

Imagine being chosen. In the sex-trafficking industry here in America that is exactly how it's done. First, they stalk the child (average age 13) attracting them with flattery and gifts, then becoming their older boyfriend  
 and enticing them with promises of adventure and travel. The next step is vital; isolation. Once they pull a girl out and away from family and friends they are only a few steps away from selling her. What follows is violence, threats, manipulation, and once they get the chosen girl to strip or have sex with someone for them they have control.

                            

When we educate ourselves about these methods and teach the others (adults and youth) alike what to look for to protect family members, themselves or friends we will save lives.  

Modern day slavery is alive and increasing. There are more slaves in the world today than in any time in history. Taking actions to end human trafficking is easier than you think. Freedom Fighters are modern day abolitionists. We save lives. Please leave any questions or comments.

About Shared Hope International

Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. It's archaic meaning is a feeling of trust. Human trafficking victims lose hope. They are manipulated into believing false promises. They are physically, mentally, and emotionally abused. Society, in general, does not acknowledge their plight. We, the public, have been taught that these women and children want this. Ex-Giant Lawrence Taylor (declared sex-offender served no jail time) defends his actions in several ways including saying that it is the oldest profession in the world. Rape of 2 under age girls is okay? Really?!! We promote, yes, even encourage sexual promiscuity through media and then wonder why we have a demand for sex-trafficking.

No child can ever be a prostitute!

Here some examples of what Shared Hope provides:   

Increasing awareness, learning how to identify victims and possible victims of trafficking and by providing genuine and holistic response within our services and justice system is accomplished with training programs and resources. Shared Hope works to "equip professionals and community members to advance the network of protection offered to survivors of trafficking." (quote from SHI website)                                                    

Shared Hope International states that they were "established to provide hope to the hopeless women Washington State Congresswoman Linda Smith found enslaved in the brothels of Mumbai in 1998. Our early efforts targeted the international sex trafficking industry.  As we became established leaders in the international movement to end slavery, our eyes were opened to the scourge of sex trafficking in the U.S. We could not ignore this injustice and expanded our impact to bring hope to American women and children victimized in the commercial sex industry. Today, we lead prevention strategies, restoration programs and justice initiatives to combat trafficking in the U.S. and abroad." (italics mine; quote from SHI website)

Here are the Basics of Shared Hope

Youth Sex Trafficking Prevention Kit

Prevention Strategies:                                                 

 National Training, Collaborative Community Sex Trafficking Identification and Response Training, Customized Training, Intervene, Specialized Sex Trafficking Training for Juvenile Justice Plus....Training Resources like CHOSEN or the new Gang TRAP (Trafficking Response and Prevention) Training Guide and Video Series this 4-part training DVD for law enforcement for a donation of $20. 
Restoration Programs:

When a woman or child is rescued from sex trafficking they are not free yet! Their bodies are damaged, their mental and emotional health is shattered. Without someone (actually groups of people) coming along side them to walk them through the many steps to complete recovery they will never recover. Shelter and service providers are mandatory. Restoring their physical, mental, and emotional health, although an absolute must, is not enough. The Shared Hope site says, "providing survivors with the skills and means of creating their own economic sustainability helps reduce the risk of re-victimization." They must be taught how to re-enter society and then live in it safely. Many have joined other freedom fighters in the trenches working to pull others out of the living hell of sex-trafficking.
                                                                                    
Justice Initiatives:

Coordinating with the growing network of protection is crucial. Working together will increase our success providing victims with complete support. Shared Hope International "believes we can create a world where every survivor is surrounded by trained professionals, an alert community, just law and policy, knowledgeable service providers and appropriate shelter options."

In a March 18th, 2014 article entitled South Dakota man sentenced to life for sex trafficking in the Sioux City Journal South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said the 2014 state Legislature passed two laws to help combat sex trafficking.

One law establishes a procedure to forfeit personal property in child pornography, human trafficking, child solicitation or exploitation cases, and to direct money toward preventive efforts and victims. Another will allow human trafficking victims to file lawsuits against a perpetrator.

"South Dakota is off limits for human trafficking and crimes against children," Jackley said.

Good for Jackley! This attitude is the very thing that will begin the process of cleaning up the state of South Dakota which presently has a "F" rating according to their Shared Hope Report Card. You can go the the report card link and click on your state and find out how it's doing. Shared Hope has Bill Tracking so you can also check out your states effort to put in place laws to protect women and children.

Find your states rate. Report Card link above.

We need to increase awareness. We must take action. We must not only seek justice we must demand justice!

If you have questions or comments please leave a comment.

About Anti-Slavery International

The following information is taken from the Anti-Slavery International site...WHY? Because sometimes a little information will inspire a desire to learn more. As a Freedom Fighter I desire to create in YOU a passion in your heart...so you may become a Voice for the Voiceless.

ANTI-SLAVERY INTERNATIONAL 

As the oldest organization fighting to end human trafficking Anti-Slavery International was founded by Thomas Clarkson in 1839, making it the oldest international human right organization in the world. It has endured for 175 years. Growing up I believed that slavery had ended with the Civil War. Not so. 

                                                                                                               

In the United Kingdom, Anti-Slavery International is the only charity in the United Kingdom to work exclusively against slavery. We work at local, national and international levels to eliminate all forms of slavery around the world by:

• Supporting research to assess the scale of slavery in order to identify measures to end it;

• Working with local organizations to raise public awareness of slavery;

• Educating the public about the realities of slavery and campaigning for its end.

• Lobbying governments and intergovernmental agencies to make slavery a priority issue and to develop and implement plans to eliminate slavery;

Anti-Slavery International's work is divided among three teams: the Programmes and Advocacy Team, the External Relations Team and the Administration and Finance Team. 

WHAT THEY DO

Anti-Slavery International works at local, national and international levels to eliminate all forms of slavery around the world.

                                                              

           

                                                                                                                         

WHAT CAN YOU DO

Anti-Slavery International relies on the support of people like you. There are many ways to help, from donating online to running a marathon or setting up a local campaigning group. You can become a member, donate, fundraiser or you can campaign against slavery and challenge yourself.  

CAMPAIGNS

Your action puts pressure on governments to take action to stop slavery in their countries. It also offers support to local organisations in their struggle to protect basic human rights. Some of the campaigns Anti-Slavery International is working on: Victim Protection, Home Alone, Cotton Crimes, and the Chocolate Campaign. Success stories are available too.

RESOURCES   

Anti-Slavery International publishes its research and produces it's own resources for public education on contemporary and historical slavery. You will find: 

Reports & publications, Library, Exhibitions, Shop, Education, Photograph, Transatlantic Enslavment, Reports Magazine, Anti-Slavery videos, and Free campaigns resources.

I hope you take the time to check out the Anti-Slavery International website. Please leave a comment if this blog helps you grow in knowledge about what is out there to aid you on your journey toward becoming a Freedom Fighter.