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 MoreHuman trafficking is a multi billion dollar industry, and it is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. As an advocate, the statistics can be overwhelming. Although we want to help, it’s easy to feel powerless to stop these grave abuses against women, children, and men. Human trafficking thrives in secrecy, yet it still touches many facets of our lives. Every day, we have a choice to interrupt human trafficking schemes and fight for rights of all people. This is because many common products — from your cup of coffee to the necklace you’re wearing — could be made by people who are not earning a living wage.
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 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 MoreFood 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 MoreIt can be difficult to believe truths that we aren’t familiar with - to accept a reality that seems so far out of touch from our own. When my hands were half of the size they are now, I used them to play basketball with my friends. My small hands guided me in my homework assignments, they supported me while I did handstands and cartwheels and swung on the monkey bars. My small hands did what small hands were supposed to do and for that, I am grateful. Around 170 million pairs of little hands around the world don’t have the same function as mine once did. Almost 11% of the world’s children are involved in child labor.
Read MoreRiverside County, the fourth largest out of all fifty-eight counties in the state of California, is home to approximately 2.4 million people. Recently, it became an increasingly popular place of residence for its convenience to places like: Big Bear Mountains, Palm Springs desert area, the Southern California beach cities, and Los Angeles. Known for its centralized location, Riverside County seems like the place to be.
KnowTheChain is a project undertaken by Humanity United in partnership with the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Sustainalytics, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and Verité that acts as a valuable resource “for companies and investors to understand and address forced labor risks within their global supply chains.”
Read MoreWhat do you think makes a person vulnerable to human trafficking? My initial thoughts are situations like monetary stress, previous abuse, homelessness, and personal crises. But there is one large contributor to human trafficking that is often overlooked: Climate change.
Read MoreThe terms human trafficking and prostitution are often used interchangeably with one another. When we do this, we make inappropriate distinctions between two similar, but very different, realities. While this seems insignificant on the surface, the consequences of using the wrong terminology can be detrimental.
Read MoreSoon after earning his college degree in anthropology, Timmerman journeyed to meet the people who made his underwear in Bangladesh, his jeans in Cambodia, his t-shirt in Honduras, and his flip-flops in China.
Read MoreWith an estimated 224.3 million smartphone users in the U.S. and an estimated 2.1 billion smartphone users worldwide, it’s likely that you own a smartphone. But as you’ve spent thousands of minutes scrolling through social media or browsing the internet, did you ever wonder where your smartphone came from? Did you ever think that the device which demands so much of your attention could have been made someone in a trafficking situation?
Read MoreFast fashion describes the rapid movement of inexpensive garments from the runway to the store in order to keep up with trends. It stocks stores with beautiful, on-trend items that are hard to say “no” to because of their low prices. But would we consider thinking twice before buying if we knew how that garment was made? If we were to meet the man or woman who made that article of clothing, talked to them about their salary or working conditions, and put ourselves in their shoes - would the $10 skirt be worth it?
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