Resources to Help You Help Stop Human Trafficking

Today is a day of new hope, of change, of the vision of a better world for all. Our new president, and all of us, have a long to-do list of personal and systemic changes to make in order to help create a humane world. One of those changes should be an end to human trafficking worldwide.

Last week (January 11) was Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the U.S. A day dedicated to bringing attention to the plight of the millions of men, women and children around the world who have been abducted, coerced or tricked into modern day slavery and labor. Most often the exploited are women and children, and many times they’re forced into sexual slavery. Amanda from End Human Trafficking did a nice post about 10 films about human trafficking to watch. I’ve posted most of them here, along with a few additions, and some useful websites. The first step in systemic change is learning more about the issue. Use these resources to help you.

Born Into Brothels (2004)
Academy Award-winning documentary about the children of prostitutes in India.

Call + Response (2008 )
”Call + Response goes deep undercover where slavery is thriving from the child brothels of Cambodia to the slave brick kilns of rural India to reveal that in 2007, Slave Traders made more money than Google, Nike and Starbucks combined.”

The Day My God Died (2003)
“Entering the brothels of Bombay with hidden cameras, The Day My God Died documents the tragedy of the child sex trade, exposing human rights violations and profiling the courageous abolitionists who are working towards change.”

Demand
Features “investigative footage of the dark and hidden world of sex traffickers, pimps and buyers. Demand exposes the men who buy commercial sex, the vulnerable women and children sold as commodities, and the facilitators of the sale within the marketplace of exploitation.” From Shared Hope International.

Fields of Mudan (2004)
“When Mudan, a frightened, young Asian girl, is forced into modern day slavery by the brutal child brothel owner, Madam Zhao, the only solace she finds is through the memory of her Mother and the promise that she would one day find Mudan and take her away to America: the place where dreams come true.”

Holly (2006)
A docu-drama about an American stolen artifacts dealer in Vietnam who tries to save a young girl from child traffickers.

Lilja-4 Ever (2002)
A Swedish film about a teenager who is abandoned by her mother in the former Soviet Union, turns to prostitution to survive, and ends up as a sex slave in Sweden.

Not for Sale: The Documentary (2007)
A documentary that “covers what modern-day abolitionists are doing to fight the rampant terrors of human trafficking in the US and abroad.” From the book of the same name.

The Price of Sugar (2007)
In the Dominican Republic, thousands of Haitians are under armed guard on plantations harvesting sugarcane, most of which ends up in the U.S.

Sex Slaves (2005)
“An undercover journey deep into the world of sex trafficking, following one man determined to rescue his wife — kidnapped and sold into the global sex trade.”

Slumdog Millionaire (2008 )
A new feature film focused on the story of a boy with a chance to win big.

Trade (2007)
A feature film about a 13-year-old girl kidnapped by sex traffickers, and the brother and cop who struggle to find and free her.

Very Young Girls (2007)
A documentary “that chronicles the journey of young women through the underground world of sexual exploitation in New York City.”

(Note: Many of these films contain intense and graphic scenes, so be sure to preview them and ensure that they’re age-appropriate for your audience.)

Human trafficking is happening around the world, including here in the U.S., and if we pay attention and take positive action, we have the power to stop it. In addition to watching and sharing films like those above, you can find out more from sites like these:

Anti-Slavery International
Provides information and action opportunities on modern slavery and forced labor issues.

Childtrafficking.com Digital Library
An online library of information, photos and film sources regarding issues of child labor, slavery, sex trade, child marriage and more.

Free the Slaves
A treasure trove of information and resources on modern slavery.

Human Trafficking.org
Get reports, news and information about human trafficking from all over the world.

(And, for those of you in the Portland, Oregon area, the City Club of Portland Agora Committee is hosting a series of talks about Human Trafficking. The first one is Thursday, January 22 at 6:00 pm at Kell’s Irish Pub, 112 SW 2nd Ave. Find out more.)

As Gandhi said, “No one is free while others are oppressed.” On this day of hope, let’s work together to create a world where all are free from oppression, exploitation, suffering and violence. YES WE CAN create a compassionate, sustainable, just world!

~ Marsha

MOGO Movie Vault: Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes

“We’re like in this box. In order to be in that box you have to be strong. You have to be tough. You have to have a lot of girls. You gotta have money. You gotta be a player or a pimp. You know, you gotta be in control. You have to dominate other men, other people.”
~ Byron Hurt, filmmaker

Look at hip-hop videos, listen to the lyrics, and you notice a lot of similarities: guns, violence, women, sex, and money. Filmmaker Byron Hurt is a huge hip-hop fan, but he began to question the representations of manhood and masculinity, the portrayal of women and the prevalence of violence in hip-hop music and videos. Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes is a record of his journey.

In a society full of hypermasculine violence and posturing in music, movies, video games, and sports and military culture, this film serves as an excellent tool for exploring issues surrounding what it means to be a man (especially a man of color) in America, through the lens of hip-hop.

In his exploration of hip-hop music and culture, Hurt raises questions about several issues, from perceptions of masculinity, to the prevalence of sexism, misogyny and the objectification of women, to the existence of homophobia and homoeroticism in lyrics and images. He also explores the roots of hip-hop and the exploitation and domination of hip-hop by the major music industry, which is primarily controlled by white men.

I learned a lot from this film that I hadn’t thought about before. For example, Hurt points out that guns in the videos are an outlet for the rage that many young men of color feel, that there is a lineage of black men wanting to deny their own frailty, and that guns, violence and posturing are a way for young men to assert themselves and to assert the power that rich white guys manifest in other ways.

One of the interviewees in the film said that “…the only way in which men are allowed to make a connection in the popular culture with women is through sexuality….”  Hurt also pointed out that between 60-70% of hip-hop listeners are young white men, and that a lot of the emphasis on violence and sexism comes from those at the top of the music industry, most of whom are white men.

Hip-Hop was originally shown on PBS, and the companion website includes clips from the documentary, suggested resources, background information about the film and the issues explored, and educational materials, such as a discussion guide.

This is a great video to share with friends, older students, people working with older teens (especially young men), and others interested in issues surrounding masculinity, sexism, violence and media.  (Be aware that the film and website include explicit language and images.)

~ Marsha

What Message Are You Modeling?

Hello, Everyone, and Happy New Year!

Recently my boss told me about the video below, which was created by Child Friendly Australia. The video does a terrific job of reflecting back to us just how powerfully we model messages to our kids.

(Note: If the above doesn’t play, go here to see the video.)

The same is true for everyone. As Gandhi said, “My life is my message,” and we send all manner of messages in the every day choices and actions we take. Are we kind and patient with the check out clerk, even though he’s taking forever to ring up our purchases? How do we react to the woman who cuts in front of us in line? How do we behave when our friend falsely accuses us? What message are we sending when we choose to stop at a fast food restaurant? How do we respond to the person, planet or animal in need? What do our choices say about our message, our values?

This year, one of my intentions is to work to make my life more closely reflect a message of compassion, peace, kindness, justice and other MOGO qualities.

What messages are you modeling?

~ Marsha

Video to Inspire: “If Everyone Cared”

We posted on our blog recently about inspiring short videos you can share with others. Add this one to the list:

“If Everyone Cared,” a music video by Nickelback, intercuts video of the band playing, with images and video featuring past social justice leaders: Bob Geldorf, who started up LiveAid; Betty Williams, who led a march in protest of the deaths of three Irish children and later won a Nobel Peace Prize; Peter Benenson, who’s actions lead to the formation of Amnesty International; and, Nelson Mandela, who lead South Africa to its first democratic election.

The video ends with Margaret Mead’s famous quote: “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Once I heard the song and saw the video, I had to play it repeatedly throughout the day, and then it took me a week before another song could replace this one in my head.

Use videos like these to spark others to positive action, and to renew your own commitment to helping create a humane world.

~ Marsha

Greensumption: A Reminder That We Can’t Buy Our Way to a Humane World

With green being the new black and ethical consumption one of the hottest trends, people are putting their dollars to work supporting green businesses, products and services. While buying ethically is an excellent and important step on the way to a humane world, consumption is still consumption. In order for that compassionate, sustainable, just world, with resources enough for everyone (including the animals) to flourish, we’re going to have to significantly reduce our consumption — especially we Westerners, who gobble up the planet’s resources at an alarming and unsustainable rate.

Recently I came across a little video from the International Forum on Globalization. The video (just under 5 minutes) uses satire to remind viewers that we can’t buy our way to a sustainable world. Greensumption celebrates shopping against climate change, lauding such actions as buying a Prius for every member of the family or greening your 10,000 square foot second home.

Share this with your friends and family who’ve been limiting their MOGO (Most Good) choices to jumping on the ethical consumerism bandwagon.

~ Marsha

Image courtesy of ralphbijker.

World Got You Down? Get Reinspired With These Videos

If we focus on the realities of the world — the poverty, injustice, destruction, suffering, cruelty — it’s easy to want to dive into bed, throw the covers over our heads and hide, or to give a big sigh, give up on trying to make a difference and shrink our circle of concern to our most immediate needs and relationships. Because mainstream media often doesn’t cover the positive changes occurring, it’s easy to forget that there ARE positive changes occurring — a lot of them. It’s also easy to forget how much power we as individuals have in the choices that we make every day.

But people have begun to notice something: a shift is happening. More people and organizations are doing more…all over the world. In my work I’ve come across many resources, including these short videos, which have inspired me to hold onto my hope and continue my walk down a more compassionate, sustainable path.

The next time you’re ready to hide or give up, take a few minutes to let videos like these reinspire you:

The Shift — “We are in the middle of the biggest social transformation in human history.”
(About 6 minutes long)

A favorite quote from the short film:

“Making the world a better place is not only your responsibility, it is your joy, it is your blessing, it’s your gift. It is your opportunity to make your life mean something. So take it.”

Blessed Unrest — “How the largest movement in the world came into being and why no one saw it coming.” (About 6 minutes long)

A clip from Paul Hawken’s speech at the 2006 Bioneers, based on his book, Blessed Unrest.

The Power of One — “The power of one is the power to do something. Anything.”
(About 1 minute long)

A brief, powerful clip from the Earth Communications Office. I use this clip for some of my humane education presentations. It always makes me tear up — and feel very inspired.

What reinspires you?

~ Marsha

MOGO Movie Vault: Call + Response

“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” ~ Dr. Cornel West, scholar/philosopher

27 million. That’s the estimate for how many slaves there are in the world today. That’s more than at any other time in history. Many of those slaves are children. Many of those slaves are used for sex, or for war. People have been working to abolish slavery almost since slavery began, but it still persists, and is growing. Organizations such as Free the Slaves and Not For Sale have been working hard to bring awareness to this issue and to abolish slavery around the world. Call + Response is a new tactic in the campaign to rid the world of human slavery, a “rockumentary” in which activists, educators, celebrities and musicians each take a part in sharing the story of slavery in the 21st century. One thing that’s unique about this documentary is that 100% of the profits will be used to fund projects to help end slavery.

The website offers a variety of ways to get involved, from contacting companies to let them know you want slavefree products, to submitting ideas for ending slavery, to connecting with other abolitionists in your area.

The film opened October 10 and is playing in selected theaters around the country. Here in Portland, the film is playing at the Living Room Theater, 341 SW 10th Avenue, through October 16.

~ Marsha

Mark Your Calendar: Sharkwater Screening in Portland October 15

Wednesday, October 15 at 6:00 pm at the Bagdad Theater and Pub, 3702 SE Hawthorne, FREE

People have been fascinated and horrified by sharks for thousands of years. What words come to mind when many people think of sharks? Thanks to decades of media portrayal, from Steven Spielburg’s Jaws to annual Shark Week extravaganza on the Discovery Channel, many people think of “monsters,” “killers,” “man-eating machines,” “blood-thirsty” and so on.

Sharkwater is a film out to change the public perception of sharks, and to bring awareness to the sad and horrific exploitation and cruelty surrounding the killing of sharks. In this documentary, filmmaker Robert Stewart “debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas” and works to save sharks worldwide.

Part of the focus of the film is on shark finning. I didn’t know much about shark finning (other than that it’s cruel and wasteful) before Sharkwater. Here are a few facts about finning that they include on the website:

• Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most often still alive when it is tossed back into the water. Unable to swim, the shark slowly sinks toward the bottom where it is eaten alive by other fish.
• Shark finning takes place at sea so the fishers have only the fins to transport. Shark meat is considered low value and therefore not worth the cost of transporting the bulky shark bodies to market.
• Any shark is taken-regardless of age, size, or species.
• Longlines, used in shark finning operations, are the most significant cause of losses in shark populations worldwide.
• Shark finning is widespread, and largely unmanaged and unmonitored.
• Shark finning has increased over the past decade due to the increasing demand for shark fins (for shark fin soup and traditional cures), improved fishing technology, and improved market economics.
• Shark specialists estimate that 100 million sharks are killed for their fins, annually.
• One pound of dried shark fin can retail for $300 or more. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry.

Whether or not you like sharks, no one should experience such treatment.

There will be a panel of people available after the Portland screening to answer questions about the plight of sharks. The panel will be headed up by Kim McCoy, the International Executive Director for Sea Shepherd, who was involved with the film making and has had personal experiences with sharks.

While you’re waiting for Wednesday, check out the Sharkwater website, which includes photos and a trailer, a Special Features section with video clips (interviews, the “making of”the film, etc.), as well as a Shark Education section.

Sharkwater has already won several documentary awards.

~ Marsha

MOGO Movie Vault: Flow

What would it be like if you had to drink, wash, bathe — any tasks that needed water — with only a small amount of water each day?
What if you had to walk miles and miles to get your water each day?
Water if the water coming out of your tap was a strange color and gave off a terrible smell?
What if a private company came into your community to manage your water supply, and charged you more than you could afford?
What if you had rocket fuel in your water?

Many of us take clean, plentiful water for granted, but a large number of people around the world don’t have that luxury. More than a billion people don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water.  Many people use the same water for drinking, bathing, washing and sanitation.

There are significant water issues in the U.S., as well. The EPA just announced that rocket fuel in water isn’t of sufficient concern to do anything about it. There are water shortages everywhere. Some communities are turning their sewage into drinking water.

Many of us have read articles or books advocating water conservation: take shorter showers; turn off the tap when you brush your teeth; wash only full loads of laundry and dishes, etc. Books like Bottlemania, Blue Gold, Blue Covenant, and Water Wars have brought attention to the commodification and privatization of water, and the importance of providing clean, safe water for all.

Flow is a film that investigates what has been called the “most important political and economic issue of the 21st century – the world water crisis.” Filmmaker Irena Salinas interviews scientists and activists about the crisis, examining issues such the impact of the privatization of a shrinking water supply, the expansion of “water cartels,” the effect of a lack of water on people around the world, and how people are developing creative solutions to deal with the water crisis.

Flow will be opening in Portland this weekend (October 3) at Cinema 21.

Water is an incredibly precious resource that no one can live without. It affects every part of our daily lives. Check out Flow and learn more about who’s trying to own your water.

~ Marsha

America, the Beauty-Obsessed

Men making a movie about beauty? Uh oh! Is it another movie about “hot chicks,” unnaturally thin waifs and women who are Botoxed, waxed, liposucked, sculpted and styled to within an inch of their lives (or just airbrushed and Photoshopped to look that way)? Nope! America the Beautiful is about beauty, but it’s a movie made by men in support of women. Filmmaker Darryl Roberts has created this documentary to bring attention to our obsession with perceptions of beauty in the U.S., and the impact such an obsession has on everyone.

Thanks to images of beauty promoted through a plethora of avenues, from celebs to advertisers to media to modeling to plastic and cosmetic surgeons, to sometimes even our own parents, our perceptions of what’s beautiful, and what makes an acceptable model, celebrity, woman, mate, person, beauty regime, etc., have evolved into something strange, toxic and sometimes shocking, and it’s influencing our children at younger and younger ages.

As part of the film, Roberts interviews a variety of media, entertainment and social professionals, from Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, to feminist playwright Eve Ensler to former Seventeen editor Atoosa Rubenstein. Much of the film focuses on the experiences of Gerren Taylor, who was discovered as a model at 12, became wildly successful, and then was dumped a couple years later because she no longer fit the modeling industry’s definition of perfection.

The film reveals a variety of sad and horrific realities, such as:

• A 1990s study of the effects of television on the native people of Fiji showed that, before the arrival of TV, no girls were bulimic or anorexic; three years after TV arrived in Fiji, 11 percent of girls admitted to throwing up to control their weight.
• The cocktail waitress who was fired from her job for not wearing makeup.
• Magazine industry reps who state that putting “average” people on the cover isn’t an option because it would cost them money.
• The 6 foot tall, 130 pound model who’s told she has to lose 15 pounds.

You can see the trailer on the website.

America the Beautiful has only recently been released in theaters and is making its way around the country. (NOTE: This movie is coming to Portland to the Regal Fox Tower Stadium 10 theater the weekend of September 5.)

Although the film is rated R (some strong language and shots of cosmetic surgery), it provides a great opportunity to explore and discuss issues of beauty, marketing and advertising, body image and more, especially with teenagers and pre-teens.

Find out more:

Roberts writes about his experiences in a Huffington Post article.

A recent article about the film from the Long Beach, CA, Press-Telegram.

~ Marsha