Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

modern-day slavery

When life gets busy, there's still work to be done

It’s been a while, too long, since I posted anything about the modern-day slave trade aka human trafficking. Life was busy in a lot of ways this summer so my blog posts became infrequent.

But all that time, slavery was still happening.

Consider this:

slave-traders

Shocking.

And it’s happening on our watch. Or while we’re not looking.

I learned this week that people are buying sex in my neighborhood, along a touristy stretch near where we live and work. It’s not just over there somewhere. It’s right. here.

But what can we do? What can we really do about it?

First, we need to get our heads out of the sand and realize it’s happening. I’m amazed at how much coverage about human trafficking I’m reading about in the news these days. If you want some credible sources for information, check out The Exodus Road, Love146 and International Justice Mission, for starters. They’re working and advocating and rescuing.

Second, start talking about it.

Alex-quote-2

Words are still powerful. The more we bring trafficking into the light, the more the darkness flees. <click to tweet> Share quotes, stats and pictures on Facebook and Twitter. Get the word out.

Third, refuse to look away. The more you know, the more likely you’ll be to take action. Click here for a good resource to help you learn the signs of trafficking and what to do if you suspect someone is being enslaved.

And if you’re able, give. The Exodus Road is currently raising monthly support to fund investigative teams. Click here for more information. This is real-life hero stuff.

These are small steps that may seem insignificant but they add up to so much more when put together.

5 on Friday: Ways to fight slavery

Thanks to my friends over at The Exodus Road, here are five ways you–yes, YOU–can fight slavery.

  1. Educate Yourself. Take some time to research the issue of modern day slavery. Check out the slavery map on FreetheSlaves.net. It’s a great resource. You may also want to visit CNN’s Freedom Project for resources and current news stories.
  2. Write your elected officials. International Justice Mission does a fantastic job lobbying governments to make changes that support freedom. Stop by their site and sign their latest petition. You can visit them by clicking HERE.
  3. Buy Fair Trade. Since the majority of slavery involves labor, make an effort (and spend the money) to purchase fair trade items as much as possible. This is a practical way you advocate for the oppressed as a consumer. Consider checking out places like TenThousandVillages.com or Yobel Market to shop for gifts, and take a few minutes to see what your Slavery Footprint is. (Lisa adds a shout-out to Imagine Goods, a Lancaster, Pa. based company who’ll be launching a Web site soon with fair-trade items for sale, benefitting at-risk women in Cambodia.)
  4. Socially Share. Commit that every time you see something about slavery or justice, you’ll take the time to share it with your online circle of influence. When you consistently share, you become an advocate for positive social change. “Like” anti-trafficking organizations on Facebook and follow them on Twitter–this will help abolition efforts to remain at the forefront of your attention, too. This is a simple, practical, and free way you can actively become an abolitionist. ER-camera-mirror
  5. Donate to Freedom Efforts. Find a specific organization that fights trafficking and do research on their efforts, their financials, their methods. When you feel good about their work, start by choosing a specific project that connects with you, like financially supporting prevention efforts in the United States with Love146 or helping a national undercover investigator with The Exodus Road buy a covert camera.