creative response

I've been thinking on merging art and social justice and today I came across this site!
Prescha. This is one of the submitted artworks...It says,

At least there is hope for a tree... Even though it is old and decayed and
its roots go down to the end of the earth, at the scent of water it can rise up again and sprout like a new seedling.

Creator: Tori Alonzo

I love this and I will be checking back for more on this site!

Root out child trafficking with prevention | ajc.com

A recent article addresses the issue of human trafficking and prevention.
As the author points out, we need to be more involved in research, prevention, and raising conscienceness among our communities so that less children are effected by this injustice.


Root out child trafficking with prevention ajc.com


How can we bring about prevention in our communities in a practical and effective way?

Please, share your thoughts!

story from the field

this photo is in Mumbai, a major hub for sexual exploitation through human trafficking.

Ever since reading "The Good News about Injustice" by Gary Haugen, I have kept up with International Justice Mission and the incredible work they do. Here is an example from a recent field update:

"Uttam, a career pimp, sold young girls in and around Mumbai. He suggested to Jayashri’s uncle that the 15-year-old girl could be prostituted in Mumbai’s sex trade. Uttam would arrange everything. IJM’s investigators work throughout Mumbai to uncover traffickers and bring the protection of the law to their victims. When Uttam was approached by two customers looking to secure young girls for an associate of theirs, Uttam confidently told the men he could provide at least six young girls, including Jayashri. The men negotiated a price and agreed that the transaction would take place at a beachside hotel.But what Uttam didn’t know was that his new "customers" were undercover investigators working for International Justice Mission – and they had been watching Uttam for months.Immediately, IJM’s investigations team alerted Mumbai police, and together, they developed a plan to rescue Jayashri and the other girls Uttam was selling."

Click HERE to read the rest.

I love that IJM is not only working to bring down brothels and restore hope and life to victims through aftercare...but they are working to prevent more slavery. I wonder, how can we do this in a practical way in the United States?

IJM is a great resource for anyone intersted in fighting modern day slavery. Their work is continually done with faith, perserverence and integrety.

human rights and law

The United States government is addressing the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking.
Watch the video from the Feb. 24th hearing by the subcommittee of human rights and the law. http://www.senate.gov/fplayers/CommPlayer/commFlashPlayer.cfm?fn=judiciary022410&st=xxx

We can not stand by a allow this to happen in our country (or anywhere else!) Please take a stand against slavery today!

justice for all

This morning, like all mornings at the school, we stood for the pledge of allegiance. Normally, I say the words out of habit but today I heard something. "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all". The pledge was written in 1892 with only a few minor revisions since then. One thing has stayed constant, "liberty and justice for all". One-hundred and eighteen years later, we still say it, knowing that we live in a world where liberty and justice are rights that not everyone is experiencing. The number today is said to be 27 million. 27 million modern-day slaves in our world today.

The number seems daunting, and it is! But with awareness, passion, determination and love for our neighbors in our community and throughout our world, each one of us can make a difference.

Tonight in Denver, CO there is an anti-slavery benefit concert put on by a local organization called Yobel. Reed Foehl will be performing at 'From the Ground up Coffee'. For those in or near the Denver area- it's a great place to start putting your compassion into action.