The Hands Behind the Work

I want you to think about the clothes that you have in your closet. 

 

Do you own things from Gap, Nike, Victoria's Secret or Forever 21?

 

Have you ever took a second to think about who made those items?

CHILDREN

 

Children are working long, strenuous hours in sweatshops making little to no pay for some of the clothes that we own.

 

What is child labor you ask?  Child labor is when a child is forced to work even though they are not of legal age.  They are usually working to support their parents and siblings.

 

There are many different types of jobs that the children take on like;

agriculture (working in fields)

industry (making food, clothes, shoes, etc.)

services (cleaning, cooking and household work)

 

 

This is another branch of human trafficking that is happening right in front of our eyes.  We are wearing items and eating food that children have made.  People need to be educated on this subject and child labor must be put to an end. 

 

Children are supposed to live a fun childhood.. not a childhood with a shovel in their hand or in front of a sewing machine.

 

 References to photos:

http://acelebrationofwomen.org/2012/12/avaaz-stop-child-labor-now-a-slave-at-five/

http://childlabor802.weebly.com/child-labor-today.html

http://www.thefrisky.com/2012-01-07/oh-great-child-labor-is-on-the-rise/

http://voiceofdetroit.net/2011/07/14/michigan-to-throw-12600-families-off-welfare-who-will-be-next/



I Am Not for Sale

 

"Women and children are bought every 30 seconds around the world."

 

 

A major part of human trafficking is sex trafficking.  Sex trafficking is the recruitment, transportation or obtaining of a person for the purpose of commercial sex.  The average age of entry for girls is between 12 and 14.  They are stuck until they contract aides, escape or die.

 

 

 

The victims are usually girls that are lost and don't have the love they deserve from home.  A pimp will tell the girl that he will treat her to a better life, but all of this is a lie.

The girl is taken, addicted to drugs, sold to men and used for sex.  The pimp will make thousands off of the girl, and she will never see a cent of this money.

 

Over 20 million women and girls are currently in the sex trade.  They were tricked into this life and now they have no way out.  This is another part of the human trafficking industry that is hidden from the public eye.  More people need to be informed of this industry so we can help these victims.

 

The realness of this industry doesn't truly sink in until you read or listen to the victims.  Below is a video of the victims of the sex trade.

 

 References to photos and video:

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2012/12/13/cje-thursday-news-briefs-2/

http://themaroontiger.com/auc-students-begin-new-campaign-against-sex-trafficking/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TwATdsE1ic

Modern Day Slavery

Slavery was abolished years ago, but a new slavery has formed. 

Human trafficking is considered the "modern day slavery."
Human trafficking is the trade or sale of human beings.

 

 

Reports have shown that there are more slaves today than there ever have been in the world.

It is happening right under your nose, but "if you're not seeing it, you're not looking for it." says a lady in the YouTube video attached at the bottom of my blog.  It is such a hushed and pushed aside industry that not many people even know that it exists. 

I know I never even took interest in the subject until I saw the movie "Taken."  As soon as the movie ended I was on the internet researching and finding astonishing information on human trafficking.

 

 Below is a chart with a few numbers that are horrifying.  These are HUMANS being thrown around like objects!

 

 

This chart states that human trafficking is a 32-billion dollar industry, do you realize that is more than Starbucks, Google and Nike combined?!

 

Children are used for labor and war.  Girls and women are used for sex.  Humans are used and sold as if they are objects.  It is a sick industry that is run by sick individuals.  We need to speak up and have a voice for these victims who have had their voice taken from them.

 

 

Please watch the attached YouTube video.  It includes real footage of the sex industry and child labor industry.  It is a video that will forever be engraved in your mind.

 

Also, this is a fantastic blog on Human Trafficking if you are interested in reading more information!

http://blog.worldvision.org/tag/human-trafficking/ 

 

References to photos and video:

http://www.eliberare.com/en/

http://www.greenheartshop.org/blog/?p=1112

http://www.c4sa.org/our-work/human-trafficking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZTN0TbsRYA