by Jeff | Jan 11, 2015
Note: This show may be sensitive for younger listeners.
January is National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Tonight, Jeff & DW welcome Terra Kay back and she’s bringing friends! Sarah Boes from More Precious Than Rubies joins the Hope Panel on the show to talk about the realities of human trafficking and modern-day slavery this week. Today marks National Human Trafficking Prevention Day and campaigns across the country took to the streets and social media to bring the conversation to the forefront.
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The Facts
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This crime occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will.
Red Flags for Trafficking (moreprecious.org)
I want more info on how I can get involved.
[contact-form subject=’Re: End Slavery’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]
Links & Resources
Damascus Road is dedicated to fighting the evil of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. We are committed to bring awareness through education, restoring and empowering the abused and advocating for the prevention and abolition of human trafficking.
An organization that reaches, serves, & equips women in the sex industry in the Green Bay Area.
100% Anonymous! 1-888-373-7888 | Text HELP to BeFree (233733) | Email
More resources on our NSHTP page
by Jeff | Oct 16, 2013
October is Bullying Awareness Month. Middle school years are often harder for young people than high school. If you have a pre-teen at home or have worked with junior high kids, you know they can be downright cruel. Here’s a tragic story out of Florida that is developing over the past few weeks that will be interesting to follow.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — After 12-year-old Rebecca Sedwick committed suicide last month, one of her tormenters continued to make comments about her online, even bragging about the bullying, a sheriff said Tuesday.
The especially callous remark hastened the arrest of a 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl who were primarily responsible for bullying Rebecca, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. They were charged with stalking and released to their parents.
Read more here and here. [Update: Charges have been dropped against the 2 girls accused of bullying.]
Sadly, this isn’t the first time and probably won’t be the last time something like this happens. Bullying happens every single day and takes a few different forms today. It’s not limited to a certain age group, sex, nationality, religion, or sexual preference. Technology has given new platforms for bullying to spread and the scars often go deeper than physical abuse. Why? Because words are powerful. And these words are often ones you’d never say face to face. While the story includes verbal face-to-face abuse between these 2 girls and Rebecca, she also had received messages on her mobile device that probably compounded things.
Bullying is actually a symptom of deeper issues within a person. Usually bullies suffer from low self-esteem or self-worth, and have been victims of bullying at home or by someone they know. Hurting people hurt people. And as we’ve seen in this story, taking part in evil acts is contagious. We will all stand accountable before God for the words and behaviors we say and do. Each one of us needs to take a step back and look at the words we use and how we treat the people around us.
Check out these 11 staggering facts about bullying in America.
by Jeff | Jul 3, 2013
Think it doesn’t happen in your neighborhood? Think again. Wisconsin is seeing a rise in young people under 18 being exposed to the kinds of evils we would expect never to hear of in our community, namely, sex trafficking. TMJ4 just released a story this week about what’s happening in Milwaukee:
MILWAUKEE — Children, forced to become sex slaves. You wouldn’t think it’s a problem in Milwaukee, but it is. The FBI says it’s one of the biggest issues facing the Milwaukee area.
It isn’t just a prostitution problem, but an exploitation problem. Teenagers are being turned into sex slaves under false financial promises. It happened to Juana’s 15-year-old daughter.
“They were making her work. They were making her have customers with no control. She was locked in a room,” said Juana to TODAY’S TMJ4’s Charles Benson. “She was beaten. For sex.” Maria knows her two daughters were living separate lives. She says she knows they were being sold for sex. “She was a part of the human trafficking world,” Maria told Charles. Maria just learned her 18-year-old daughter is back on the streets, but she doesn’t know where she is.
Those parents will tell you human trafficking is very real in Milwaukee.
“It can be very violent,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Teresa Carlson. Carlson tells Charles human trafficking is a big priority for the FBI – and it’s not just a concern in the city.
“They’re looking or people who are vulnerable, the most vulnerable people in our society. That vulnerability can come from a broken family, they’re financially vulnerable, they’re emotionally vulnerable, they’re isolated, they are looking for a safe place.” Carlson says her team has a special squad dedicated to human trafficking.
“The new squad is really designed to deal with child exploitation issues so they deal with child pornography. Civil rights and human trafficking are a big part of the squad.” In 2012, the FBI launched Operations Cross Country, a sweeping nationwide effort to bust up the child sex trafficking business. In Milwaukee, 58 people were arrested, and seven children were recovered. That’s more than any city in America.”
Read the article and see the video story here.
Sex Trafficking Resources
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) – Where to go if you suspect someone may be involved in human sex trafficking.
Wikipedia – list of organizations committed to ending human trafficking.
Honorable Mention
International Justice Mission
International Rescue Committee
Polaris Project
