A dear friend, “Esther,” experienced workplace slavery many years ago. Fortunately, her job did not enslave her. However, it employed many foreigners who did not understand their legal rights. The workers clocked in at nine but began their day at eight. They punched out at five, returned to their desks and continued working. During their lunch hour, they ran company errands, returned to their desks and ate while working.
These rules did not apply to my American friend because she knew her rights.
In the process of working, Esther became friends with her co-workers. They asked her how she got away with her easier schedule. She explained to them their legal rights, but it didn’t change their conditions.
They met away from the worksite. My friend instructed them about how to document their abuse. They agreed to follow her directions. They could not do it themselves because the “GROUP” would either kill them or their husbands.
Her labor action created results.
The company fired her.
She managed to stay in touch with her co-workers. But the women feared for their lives. If they acted, the “GROUP” would kill them or their husbands or both.
Being fired didn’t deter Esther. She went to a friend in the Justice Department who pursued fraud cases. She needed the name of another investigator and would relay all she knew about the illegalities she encountered. The investigator could follow her “yellow brick road,” read the public records and save the women.
Her lawyer friend admonished her not to do this. He told her, beyond a shadow of a doubt, she would be killed, even if she had a promise of protection. The “GROUP” never forgot. If it didn’t happen that year, eventually she would have an accident. Not only would they kill my friend, but they would possibly kill her family as well.
Her quest ended there.
This happened years ago. However, last year a couple on Long Island was arrested. They enslaved a domestic for years. The slave went to the store, worked around the house, but fear shackled her as tightly as any chains. Newspapers tell many similar tales. TV shows fictionalize true stories of enslaved women and children. Men are not immune.
As Thomas Paine encouraged us to fight for our liberty, he stated, “What we obtain too cheap we esteem too lightly.” Slaves come cheap. Their lives are not valued. Don’t be envious of the rich—of the successful. Obviously not all, but many achieve their success on the backs of the unfortunate.
Be informed.
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Monday, March 22, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Sex Trafficking
Human trafficking creates huge profits and thus has become one of the fastest growing crimes. According to Karen Siegal a psychologist and first president of Zonta International’s Queens’ chapter, it will soon surpass drugs as the world’s most lucrative crime.
Of trafficked humans, 80% are female. Gender bias makes women expendable in many of the world’s sectors. Some traffickers woo the women, impregnate them, and then hold their children as collateral. Sometimes—either sold by family or lure by the hope of a legitimate job, the trafficker steals the woman’s passport, charges her usurious interest rates for “loans” for their transport. Terror, superior strength and sheer brutality keep these women entangled.
Sadly, in prostitution, most countries prosecute only the woman. The pimp usually gets away because he isn’t present during the raid. The john, often employing the services of a minor, is rarely prosecuted.
It is true some women make the wrong choices, generally drug related, and fall into this life. However, when girls as young as twelve are arrested and charged with prostitution while their customers go free, we know something’s wrong.
What can we do about this? Several things short of joining SVU.
1. Jennifer Dreher, senior director of the anti-trafficking program at Safe Horizon, a victim assistance agency, states that “busybodies are our best friends.” If you see something wrong, contact an agency. In Queens, I know the local vice agency number: 17184769355
2. Write your congressperson or senator and ask for legislation reform. The johns should be prosecuted. After all, if a person buys drugs and is caught in the raid, authorities arrest both the dealer and the customer.
3. Get involved with or at least informed about anti-slavery organizations. Check out: www.notforsalecampaign.org or www.freetheslaves.net
4. Support businesses that shun labor practices you yourself would not accept. The Hagar Project, www.hagarproject.org and www.nightlighbangkok.com are two organizations that provide products made by liberated prostitutes.
5. Aside from the sex trade, businesses such as Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Ben and Jerry’s employ ethical work habits across the board.
Of trafficked humans, 80% are female. Gender bias makes women expendable in many of the world’s sectors. Some traffickers woo the women, impregnate them, and then hold their children as collateral. Sometimes—either sold by family or lure by the hope of a legitimate job, the trafficker steals the woman’s passport, charges her usurious interest rates for “loans” for their transport. Terror, superior strength and sheer brutality keep these women entangled.
Sadly, in prostitution, most countries prosecute only the woman. The pimp usually gets away because he isn’t present during the raid. The john, often employing the services of a minor, is rarely prosecuted.
It is true some women make the wrong choices, generally drug related, and fall into this life. However, when girls as young as twelve are arrested and charged with prostitution while their customers go free, we know something’s wrong.
What can we do about this? Several things short of joining SVU.
1. Jennifer Dreher, senior director of the anti-trafficking program at Safe Horizon, a victim assistance agency, states that “busybodies are our best friends.” If you see something wrong, contact an agency. In Queens, I know the local vice agency number: 17184769355
2. Write your congressperson or senator and ask for legislation reform. The johns should be prosecuted. After all, if a person buys drugs and is caught in the raid, authorities arrest both the dealer and the customer.
3. Get involved with or at least informed about anti-slavery organizations. Check out: www.notforsalecampaign.org or www.freetheslaves.net
4. Support businesses that shun labor practices you yourself would not accept. The Hagar Project, www.hagarproject.org and www.nightlighbangkok.com are two organizations that provide products made by liberated prostitutes.
5. Aside from the sex trade, businesses such as Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Ben and Jerry’s employ ethical work habits across the board.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Heb 13:3
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body. ASV
Do you think we abolished slavery in the 1800s? Because I’m asking you this question, you will answer no. And you are correct.
Slavery’s actually gotten worse. Back when Americans enslaved Africans, we knew we had an investment. We had to keep our servants alive. We had to feed them. We had to give them medical help. Not that the slave owner treated his slaves well. Many animal owners abuse their pets. Slavery then was a long term investment.
Today, it’s a disposable commodity. The profits from it surpass the trade in illegal arms, it rivals drug trafficking. It’s frequently hard to identify. Is the girl working the massage parlor a drug addict or a slave? Was our aluminum made with 100% slave free charcoal, or did the processor unwittingly buy from slave produced sources.
Do we blame the slave rather than the owner? Are women and children prostitutes? Illegal aliens? Illiterate people who brought this on themselves? The answer should be no. The women and children are prostituted. The illegal aliens have been transported against their wills. The greed of the world has created vast pockets of poverty where children become disposable so that the others can survive. They need to work, so school is out of the question.
If we are unaware of the problem we cannot stop it. Over the next several weeks I’d like to present the facts about contemporary slavery and how we can stop it.
Some easy steps we can do without becoming abolitionists placing our lives in danger:
1. Know where your goods are produced.
2. Encourage lawmakers to prosecute the procurers of slave services. For example: women and children are jailed for prostitution. Why not the johns?
3. Don’t justify it as “cultural relativism.” Just because they live in China, doesn’t mean they should work in sweat shops.
4. Support organizations who work to alleviate poverty and illiteracy—two elements that propel people into victimization. World Vision, Compassion International are two that come to mind.
5. Demand Fair Trade certified goods. The Fair Trade stamp ensures that the people who produced it received a living wage. We may pay more, but those who produce our chocolate, for example, cannot afford to eat it themselves.
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body. ASV
Do you think we abolished slavery in the 1800s? Because I’m asking you this question, you will answer no. And you are correct.
Slavery’s actually gotten worse. Back when Americans enslaved Africans, we knew we had an investment. We had to keep our servants alive. We had to feed them. We had to give them medical help. Not that the slave owner treated his slaves well. Many animal owners abuse their pets. Slavery then was a long term investment.
Today, it’s a disposable commodity. The profits from it surpass the trade in illegal arms, it rivals drug trafficking. It’s frequently hard to identify. Is the girl working the massage parlor a drug addict or a slave? Was our aluminum made with 100% slave free charcoal, or did the processor unwittingly buy from slave produced sources.
Do we blame the slave rather than the owner? Are women and children prostitutes? Illegal aliens? Illiterate people who brought this on themselves? The answer should be no. The women and children are prostituted. The illegal aliens have been transported against their wills. The greed of the world has created vast pockets of poverty where children become disposable so that the others can survive. They need to work, so school is out of the question.
If we are unaware of the problem we cannot stop it. Over the next several weeks I’d like to present the facts about contemporary slavery and how we can stop it.
Some easy steps we can do without becoming abolitionists placing our lives in danger:
1. Know where your goods are produced.
2. Encourage lawmakers to prosecute the procurers of slave services. For example: women and children are jailed for prostitution. Why not the johns?
3. Don’t justify it as “cultural relativism.” Just because they live in China, doesn’t mean they should work in sweat shops.
4. Support organizations who work to alleviate poverty and illiteracy—two elements that propel people into victimization. World Vision, Compassion International are two that come to mind.
5. Demand Fair Trade certified goods. The Fair Trade stamp ensures that the people who produced it received a living wage. We may pay more, but those who produce our chocolate, for example, cannot afford to eat it themselves.
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