Food Chains calls us to be a part of the stories of the many hands that go into our fresh produce by not being passive, silent, or ignoring the suffering that they experience. We already are a part of this system that exploits, but we also are a part of a community that can see change happen for the most vulnerable populations of our society.
So, how can we do this?
Read MoreIn June 2018, The Guardian released The Trap, a documentary about human trafficking and the American prison system. The documentary takes places in Worcester, Massachusetts; Orlando, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; and Texas. It follows three survivors of sex trafficking, one of whom is named Nikki Bell.
Read MoreAdvocacy is more than fundraising and dress-wearing for one month. Luckily, there are other ways to stay involved in the fight and be an advocate 365 days of the year.
Read MoreAcross the United States, there are an estimated 7,000 to 9,000 IMB establishments. A report from the International Labor Organization estimates that 4.8 million people worldwide are exploited in the illegal commercial sex industry (children accounting for more than a fifth of this number). Find out what an IMB is and how to spot it in today’s blog post.
Read MoreLet’s talk about the disproportionate amount of indigenous peoples facing a high risk of human trafficking.
Read MoreOnce I understood that my advocacy was a mixture of many different things, the more eager and motivated I became to participate with Dressember. I began to feel more comfortable with myself and took time to focus on the process it was leading me through. Now I know it is okay to struggle as an advocate sometimes. It gets difficult believing in the change for such a major issue. But with dedication and unbreakable passion, advocacy can become a major constituent to freedom.
Read MoreHuman trafficking and human smuggling are commonly misconceived as synonyms when in reality, their differences are great. To effectively prepare and implement useful policies addressing both trafficking and smuggling, the differences and similarities must be understood and discussed.
Read MoreUp until a few years ago, human trafficking was synonymous with sex trafficking for me. It was the first, and really only thing, that came to mind. The false equivalency between human trafficking and sex trafficking is certainly not uncommon, and it is perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding this issue.
Read MoreExperiencing trauma is a part of life. Every human being has an event that suddenly enters their life without invitation or cause that disrupts the everyday to the point of destabilization. Trauma is like a tsunami that comes into our lives, upending everything you thought you knew about the world and leaving destruction in its wake.
Read MoreWhen we think about human trafficking, the United States may not be the first place to come to mind. Of course, why would it? With Hollywood’s celebrity-hyped, action-packed movies, and idealistic book thrillers that try to imagine the truth of the trafficking world, it’s easy to assume that trafficking only exists outside the U.S.
Read MoreHowever, from overlooked suspicious activity to the very food and clothing we purchase, human trafficking happens around us and affects us in a variety of ways. The good news is that we can take steps to stop modern-day slavery in those same areas and fight for freedom for all.
Read MoreWorking as a manicurist may sound like a simple job: no big conference meetings, no important papers. But sometimes, the jobs aren’t as pretty as they may appear – especially when workers are living under poor labor conditions.
Read MoreIf I were to base my understanding of human trafficking on these photos, I would likely conclude: 1. human trafficking is synonymous with sex trafficking; 2. only women and young girls are trafficked; 3. only men are the perpetrators; and 4. that victims are forcibly bound by ropes and chains.
Read MoreSo, what does The Good Place have to do with human trafficking?
Read MoreYouth are automatically one of the most defenseless groups in society simply due to their age, but those with a history of abuse, or who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, and lack good role models can easily fall victim to the manipulative life of human trafficking.
Read MoreProstitution is often assumed to be ‘victimless’. This is a prevalent theory which suggests that all individuals present are consenting. This opinion ultimately conceptualizes prostitutes as people who have chosen this life, who make profit from it and live glamorously. While it may be true that some individuals in the industry choose this line of work and are fulfilled by it, we must recognize that this is not the experience of all sex workers.
Read MoreHuman trafficking within Australia is a little different than it is in other countries around the world. While human sex trafficking is a huge issue for many countries, forced labor is a major issue for countries like Thailand, Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia and Australia.
Read MoreThe film Ridge Runners follows the investigation of a missing twelve-year-old girl, led by Detective Rachel Willow. At first, Willow and her community are doubtful that anything beyond a runaway-child case is possible in their peaceful town, but as the investigation continues, Willow finds the case is much more complicated than it appears on the surface.
Read MoreSometimes when an injustice is too great, it can be easy to use whatever motivation calls on your heart to dive headfirst into the fight against it. If a house is on fire, it doesn’t matter if you are a trained fireman or just a regular passerby with a bucket of water - everyone who can help, should. However, if we are looking to fight the long-term battle without burning out or losing hope, we have to check our motivations first. Rather than coming from a place of anger, hatred or even despair, our desire to fight for justice should come from a place of love.
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