No Volunteers For This Job

I came across a Facebook post a couple months which included a guy inquiring about teen prostitution. "... How someone could allow themselves to be pimped anyway", he says. So I took him by the hand and guided him to the right information and kept him informed on the whats, whys and hows of sexual exploitation, because there just isn't one answer.

After today you can say you know a little more yourself. The first thing you've got to know is no one volunteers to be exploited. Regardless of popular opinion, opportunists prey on young, weak and naive victims.

In the process, women and girls that are pimped or trafficked can go down many roads that all lead to degradation and humiliation for another person's gain. There are sometimes visible indicators of this typeof behavior in and around business establishments. These indicators include:

HOW TO: Parents Combating Internet Predators

Most of us have seen the show 'To Catch a Predator' with Chris Hansen. I'm a big fan, but what this post is going to talk about is how parents can help their kids fight Internet predators.

First lets start with the thought process behind approaching kids about this sort of topic. Lets say all your attempts to guide the child away from certain situations has failed, keep in mind that it will never be the kid's fault. So, no restrictions here, just guidelines to follow and take with them after they leave the nest.

You want to talk to your kids about sexual predators and the potential online dangers that are out there. Curiosity will work against you in most cases if this is something you try to avoid.

Online privileges aren't a bad thing but know that children and chat rooms should never go together. There is too much at risk. If this is something you still want to do, then when the maturity level is right and the trust factor is there, let them know its okay to use the well-monitored chat rooms for kids. Even teens should be encouraged to use monitored chat rooms.

When kids are young, limit them to only the family email address instead of having their own accounts. As they get older, you can ask your ISP to set up a separate email address, but the kid's mail should still reside in your account.

Keep the computer with Internet access in a common area of the house, never in a private area in the house or the child's bedroom. It's a lot harder for predators to establish a relationship with your child when the computer screen is easily visible to parents and the rest of the household.

Instruct your children to never leave the public area of a chat room. Many chat rooms offer private areas where users can have one-on-one conversations.

If your children participate in chat rooms, make it your business to know what chat rooms they visit and who they talk to. Monitor the chat areas yourself to see what kind of conversations are going on.

Teach your kids to never repsond to instant messaging, emails, tweets, blog posts or Facebook entries from strangers without you knowing about.

When it comes to places outside your area of supervision, like the public library, school, or friend's house, find out what computer safeguards they use.

Remember, kids aren't the blame in any case. The offender always bears complete responsibility for their actions.

Keep in mind that this is only 'how you can minimize the risk of a child being a victim', but theres more to come. Next I'm going to talk about 'how kids themselves can stay alert and steer clear from predators'.

In the meantime, enjoy a clip from Chris Hansen's 'To Catch a Predator'.

SOURCE:

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/special_initiatives/wa_resources/wa_shared/backgrounders/online_predators.cfm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25110858#25110858

Dont be oblivious

STOP THE TRAFFIK is a growing global movement of individuals, communities and organisations fighting to PREVENT the sale of people, PROTECT the trafficked and PROSECUTE the traffickers.

Prostitution Facts

Does research prove that pornography is behind this (sex trafficking) because so many people think that pornography is harmless?

The Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children both recognize that pornography is an element that adds to the serious problem of sex trafficking. Many traffickers are found with filming equipment and cameras to create and sell pornography. Increasingly, pornographers are seeking younger and younger girls and boys for their films and pictures; thus, they have to go where the children are unprotected and vulnerable to capture.

If porn fuels demand, what, if anything, is being done to curb Internet porn?

The Department of Justice has expressed its intent to prosecute major pornographic Internet companies that violate decency laws; their reports indicate a significant increase in prosecutions. One company, Extreme Associates, is currently being prosecuted and other investigations are underway. For more on this topic, including CWA’s concerns over enforcement and ways for citizens to encourage enforcement, see DOJ Busts Internet Web Site for Obscenity and Porn Industry Moans for Good Reason.



This question was answered during a Concerned Women of America convention with Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D

SOURCES:

http://www.nsvrc.org/saam

http://prostitutionresearch.com/

http://www.beverlylahayeinstitute.org/articledisplay.asp?id=7014&department=BLI&categoryid=reports

Rural America's Own Sex Tourism

"This stuff is just truly bizarre," said Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo. "These were mice that had their tails cut off, they were smothered in Vaseline and they had string tied around them."

Just when you think you got enough figured out to write a blog and draw supporters ... you here something like this. It's a video about a guy named Douglas Spink who was arrested earlier this month in Washington. The video says it all but I'll give you some hints: beastiality, sex tourism and one man's philosophy on animal care.




SOURCES:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i96FAxxN0kduc0-ekqA2iJTdYwWgD9F4EBMO0
http://gawker.com/5519468/bestiality-farm-with-mice-in-vaseline-was-americas-own-sex-tourism

Bye, Bye bigbabykenny.com

"It is one thing to talk about the benefits and liabilities of sex tourism,” Foubert added. “It is quite another to promote it and help facilitate it. Professor Ng is helping to promote and facilitate it. That crosses the line."-John Foubert of Oklahoma State University

bigbabykenny.com has officially been removed.

Last week in a post about books and websites I talked about this very site and how it was being used to educate men on sex tourism in Thailand. I admit it was a good site and the professor who started it had some vaild points about why he was doing what he was doing, but that still doesn't give it any merit.

I hope people get involved more often when it comes to stopping sex crimes against people who can't fight for themselves. If you don't know what I'm talking about check out the article and join a group in you city to make some things different. I know I am.

SOURCE:

http://sundial.csun.edu/2010/04/csun-professor-removes-thailand-sex-tourism-content-from-website-after-community-indignation/

Do it better than Lady Gaga

Gaga says, "and I can’t believe I’m saying this – don’t have sex. I’m single right now and I’ve chosen to be single because I don’t have the time to get to know anybody. So it’s OK not to have sex, it’s OK to get to know people. I’m celibate, celibacy’s fine."

While two of the most unique girls, Lady Gaga and Cindi Lauper, are promoting safe sex and no sex with Mac's Viva Glam campaign, its safe to say that choosing to be different may save your life. The campaign supports global HIV and aids projects.

Its obvious Lady Gaga is okay with being different than her peers, but in an interview in Britain earlier this month she makes a good point about having the confidence to be different, and most importantly, 'sticking to your guns'. Some cool advice for a pop star like Gaga, but lets pick up where she left off. Click below to read more.

 

"We were asked
  really sort of snidely if we think that promoting make-up to young people – like ten years old – is a bit much. It’s exactly
 that kind of mentality that I want to challenge."

Book vs. Websites, what works best?

I read an article this morning about a guy who created a website that gives men information on how to hook up with a woman from Thailand for sex. The man's name is Kenneth Ng and he happens to be a professor at California State University at Northridge.

Kenneth used to be a blogger attached to a site that was run by a bar in Bangkok. Well Kenneth posted a comment giving advice on how to pick up girls praying to the Muariti Shrine, and that it was a good idea because Buddha works in mysterious ways.

Now regardless of how true or funny the comment was, the bar took his blog down. Then came the website, bigbabykenny.com/.

An obvious issue with the site, professor at a univeristy or not, is "should this guy be allowed to advise men about sex tourism on his site".

Kenneth's final quote of the article is, “The job of the university is to expose students to the world – not just a politically correct view of the world and not just the good parts of the world,” he said. “If a student reads that [site], I personally think it’s good for them. They learn about something out there; maybe they disapprove of it and they don’t think it’s good.”

His website and other websites like this seem to want to make others aware and not hide whats true. Whats really out there. Interesting approach, but what are the real pros and cons to it. And is there some sort of hidden agenda that could do anyone any good?

I have also come in contact with a book that I think goes well with the story. I've mentioned it before, it was written in 1912 by a Chicago doctor named Carle C. Quale. The name of the book is Thrilling stories of white slavery.

The book is just what is says, stories about white slavery or forced prostitution or sex trafficking or what ever you can call it these days. The stories come across as being real and even emotional. The author trys to hit home with a crime that most don't believe still existed back then. I just chuckled because that was 100 yrs ago.

One thing that Carle tries to do is compel you to act against this crime, but to also educate others that you love. One Quale quote is, "Will your conscience as Chrisian men and women permit you to stand idle and let the unfortunate victims cry in vain for help?"

Another is, "Virtue does not mean ignorance; for ignorance is the very thing that creates the White Slavery."

Now, we've seen some material that we may or may not have known was out there. You can probably call it educational material to a degree, but I'm guessing most people will pay attention to content when they go through this stuff. I don't think the problem is content so much as its how we use each one of these resources to our benefit.

Assuming everyone knows right from left, can you take each piece of material and use it to benefit your child's upbringing? Lets make it any child for that matter. And by your child's upbringing, I mean can you point out those vital pros and cons that exist in each and allow them to make a quality decision based on the information(not content) provided? If not, then I suggest you stay away whichever my become a distraction to you to try to pull this off. Maybe book sets you off, but the websites just aren't your thing, then don't force it, but don't lose an opportunity to see things for what they really are either.

From what I can see, both websites have 'perspective' about travel to asia and about it's prostitutes, but they also show how these individuals view sex and relationships and even life. Some good, but most I believe can't be duplicated without problems.

And the book? If it was good enough for back then can it still give insight to the same topic with today's audience? I think so. With that I also think that to much of anything can take away from it. But I think the real problem will be denial. If people deny that this could exist in America or in their town, its gonna be too easy to say, "it won't happen to me". These people probably won't read the 89 page book, so forget about suggesting it to someone they love. But can this help with making a quality based decision when it comes to strangers, sex and relationships? You bet!

My questions to you are, "are you willing to use these websites to educate your children about whats out there when it comes to sex? Could you suggest the book as a must read for children before they leave craddle? And if you couldn't do one of these or either, then why?

SOURCES:

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/04/22/sex

http://books.google.com/books?id=7mwEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://bigbabykenny.com/

http://chinakaifang.blogspot.com/

New Low for Mafia or New High for Media

"The mob, as we see it today, has lost all respect, lost all the historical culture that it was intended to have since 1931, and that's because they're becoming their own best customers within the drug culture."-Joe Coffey, former commanding officer of the New York Police Department's organized crime unit.

This is old news and a statement to make about a small time two bit, street gang on the corner that is very unorganized. Not the Mafia. The cops and politicians are more tied to these guys than we will ever know, and thats not to exclude the FBI. Who cares if you finally caught a female in their crew?

The problem isn't the envolvment of a gangsterette. The problem is this has been going on for some time now and you treat it like its new; but its not.

I came across a book a few months ago about this very topic. Organized crime using young women to provide unique services to the elite in our community. The book, Thrilling Stories of White Slavery, by Carle C. Quale. As you can see its not a new topic and its not even original.

Tactics used to lure young women, using other women is as old as prostitution itself. But trafficking of women in this country, well thats atleast a century old by what the book tells us.

Drugs, guns and prostitution are all said to go hand in hand. What about prostitution and black mail? Just one example, but it sounds like a great way to get a politician or judge wrapped around your finger.

I got an idea! Lets stop treating the public, who by the way pays for all this adult investigative adventure stuff, and keep them in the loop. I bet if this was talked about generations ago, we would be more on the look out and less surprised and off topic.

Inform your kids about how characters in stories like this could impact their lives. The more we talk and the more we act against the kind of people this story talks about, the more prepared our families will be.

SOURCES:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/21/gambino.female.defendant/index.html?section=cnn_latest

The "Who's Who" of Sex Trafficking

I was asked a question on Facebook a few weeks ago about an article from the Chicago Tribune's Mary Schmich. I posted on sex trafficking being a problem here in America and not just over seas. I contacted Mary on a number of occasions and she was not available to respond.

To bring you up to speed, we discussed an idea about tackling the demand side of sex trafficking. You shut down the demand for services provided by women and girls who are force into prostitution, and this would be the key to turning the whole industry around. Well today I want to start with who the traffickers are. The people who are responsible for connecting the prostitute with the john; the child actor or actress and the pedophile.

Traffickers consist of a lot of different roles, not just the pimps we hear about. The list includes:

Investors - who fund trafficking.

Recruiters – who find people to traffic; they are often members of the same community as the victims.

Transporters – who facilitate the departure and transnational movement of trafficked persons.

Corrupt public officials – who assist in obtaining unlawful travel document, or accept bribes to enable migrants to enter/exit illegally.

Informers – who investigate immigration and transit procedures, asylum systems, and border crossings.

Supporting Investors - who fund trafficking.

Personnel and Specialists – who provide other services such as accommodation.

Debt-collectors – who collects fees. Money movers – who launders the proceeds of trafficking

Surprised? Well this is just the tip of the ice berg. Who the johns are and who the victims are may surprise you too. And on a positive note, I'm also going to cover who is standing up and making a difference in the sex trade.

To be continued ...

Its My Life, LIVE WITH IT Presents: Ljiljana Raicevic, Women's Safe House, Montenegro

Ljiljana Raicevic, Women's Safe House, Montenegro
Originally uploaded by Janvier Morris

Ljiljana Raicevic, told Amnesty International in 2006 that human trafficking was a global problem. If you find yourself in Montenegro anytime soon be sure to check in with Ljiljana at the Women's Safe House.

Ljiljana is a rare breed. Before recieving the Ginetta Sagan Award by Amnesty International USA in 2006, she was one of the first human rights defenders in her country.

Since going nose to nose with a corrupt government to raise tough human trafficking issues and fight women's human rights wasn't enough, in 1999, she founded the first shelter for women in Montenegro. It serves as THE focal point of service delivery and advocacy work for women who are victims of family violence and human trafficking. The Women's Safe House has housed dozens of women who were tricked into prostitution since then.

She saw a need for better protection programs for female victims early on and along with the Women's Safe House, Ljiljana successfully lobbied for the adoption of the Witness Protection Law by the Montenegrin Parliament. Take her serious.

In a place where victims have no hope of escape from their traffickers but the shelter, she stands out in a crowd of 'Bottom-line' organization heads that always have a way out if things get too stressful. Ljiljana is truely a much needed hero to the women in her country.

When asked, "what can I do to help?". Ljiljana replied:

"Be active and join to some organization active in this field, maybe a (women) NGO which assist victims. Corragio!"

So, don't live through Ljiljana, like with her as she tackles sex trafficking on the front lines.

Find more stories involving Ljiljana Raicevic.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/askamnesty/live/display.php?topic=61
http://www.prisonplanet.com/high_profile_sex_trafficking_case_collapses.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/government_officials_in_sex_trafficking_ring_arrested.html

Memphis Cop Goes Free After Mistrial

A mistrial is all a federal court judge can say after a Memphis cop is charged with beating a transgender woman and violating their civil rights.

In February of 2008, Duanna Johnson, a man living a lifestyle as a woman, was arrested for prostitution. A simple charge but all hell broke loose when Johnson was accused of not complying with a Memphis police officer.

Johnson stood 6 foot 5 inches and well over 200lbs the day of the arrest. Officer Bridges Mcrae, no small guy either, had 5 witness say he had no reason to hit the plaintiff, but those 5 witness say he did anyway. And because of a surveillance camera in the police station, its plain for anyone can see that he repeatedly hit Johnson in the face while the Johnson was seated. I don't see much of a threat but to make it all worse, Mcrae was also wearing handcuffs around his knuckles during the incident.

With peper spray, tazers and the fact that you're surrounded by other police officers in a police station being in your favor of making a detainee become compliant, why would you hit them like that. This sounds like this guy was very passionate about the situation. Not praying to his lord like he said he was after the trial.

With twelve jurors total, all could say that Mcrae was guilty of violating Johnson's civil rights but one. Right after federal judge Thomas Anderson declared a mistrial, the prosecution said it would retry the case.

Duanna Johnson was shot and killed 9 months after the arrest in early 2008. Mcrae is no longer a Memphis police officer but is able to go home while he waits for the next trial.

My question is, whats the Johnson family gonna do now? What are local civil rights organizations, in Memphis or wherever, going to DO about this? Enough talking. Who killed Johnson and what was their motive? Is this an example of how Memphis treats someone that goes agaist a white police officer? You be the judge.

A lot of unanswered questions with a sad ending. Hard to believe civil rights is still such an issue in 2010.

SOURCES:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gUMAI4X7kRIn2qsipft8hUtF-aIAD9F6D0KO0

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/mostpopular/story/Transgender-Beating-Case-Judge-Declares-Mistrial/U9en1LZArUS43fVS0GYPcw.cspx

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/041910-mistrial-declared-in-mcrae-trial

Obama: "We have to get this done"

"Don't ask, don't tell" is a policy that prohibits gay or bi-sexual people from disclosing their sexuallity while in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Obama: "I will end don't ask, don't tell."

The Defence of Marriage Act defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman at the federal level.

Obama: "...and I've called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defence of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefit and Obligations Act."


The next day ...

150,000 people marched on Washington. Like the rest of the world, people in the march say he has the right words, but Obama says, "I'm with you". Participants say it's time for him to put his money where his mouth is, and Obama says, "but we've made progress".

I don't get it yet. On the one hand you have these upset conservatives that know body is talking about, sitting around waiting on the next Obamaism to disrupt their safety bubble, and on the there hand you have these gay rights activist complaining about how much isn't getting done. Why, why, why?

I got an idea. Lets meet in the middle. Someone be happy because the bill they hate hasn't been passed yet and someone be okay with the thought of having a president who is atleast working on making their dreams come true.

If I have to be that somebody I will. Atleast for now, or until Congress says its okay to let gay men use the same restroom as little girls. Will it happen? Hey, why not?