The American Red Cross

21 June 2010

HOW 2 Fight Demand step 3


real MEN don't buy GIRLS!!
Raise Awareness

The third step in combating the DEMAND of sex trafficking requires only one name: Ashton Kutcher. Earlier this month at the release of his new film, Killers, Ashton decided to make a small poster highlighting the words, "REAL MEN DON'T BUY GIRLS!!". It surprised me to see someone from Hollywood leading the fight against sex trafficking, but leave it to Ashton to be the first person to stand up and stand out! Not only is it real awareness, but its simple, easy and all of us can do it.

3.This third step allows you to be a little creative. Work with a local graphic design program at a university or college to create posters aimed at deterring individuals from purchasing sex, like the above. And even if you won't be appearing on any red carpets anytime soon, volunteer to help raise funds to print and exhibit the posters in your community. Or use some of the resources at caase.org/ to download poster designs there.

Ashton's statement is bold and entertaining (in a good way). But its also precise and direct. A perfect example to follow in raising awareness for trafficked victims everywhere.

19 June 2010

Traffick 110

The important thing to realize is this doesn't just happen. Traffickers are organized beasts.
Provided by the UNODC

Traffik Alert


STOP THE TRAFFIK


The message is clear - PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER BE BROUGHT OR SOLD

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.


Ignorance is Blind is Un-Protection


"It is those who doubt and are blind that keep the world in blind ignorance and prevent civilization from protecting its motherhood." - Dr. Carle C. Quale

I'll tell you something crazy ... I believe we can stop the immoral sex trade. It won't be easy or even simple, but I believe we can do it. Because if you think about it, a lot of these problems start when someone is just a child. The trafficker joins a gang and the stronger the gang becomes, well trafficking young women to clientèle is just the next step. And then there's the victim. Very few choose their plight, but the majority want out, but don't know where to go for help, or they can't seem to stay clean, so the resources available do little.

So how do we do it? We use resources to help those that are hurting, yes. But we also use resources for the children. Make new resources, or more of the old ones, doesn't matter when you live in a country with unlimited supply. We make each other aware of problems, then do something significant towards a solution. The fact is, we can't wait another hundred years for someone to do it for us. Our girls can't wait ... our boys can't wait. Learn how to take action today ... and do something.

18 June 2010

Human trafficking is not someone else's problem

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered remarks on the release of the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.

The 10th annual Trafficking in Persons Report outlines the continuing challenges across the globe in the fight against modern day slavery. And for the first time the Report includes the United States. Clinton says the US is ranked based on the same standards as every other country. Clinton also says the Report is specific, and hopes that it will galvanize more action.

17 June 2010

New York Prostitution Bill

New York State Legislature has passed a bill that would let victims of human trafficking clear prostitution charges off their record.

Young women are often times lured or convinced to come to the New York area with promises of summer jobs or permanent work, but they find themselves coerced into prostitution. Many of these young women get arrested, charged with a crime even though they were forced to do the work against their will and released back to the hands of the traffickers.

16 June 2010

Freedom from Porn


Steve Jobs is clear on where Apple stands when it comes to porn. Apple will not sell porn. Apple will not be responsible for the distribution of porn to kids.

On one Friday night in May, a tech blogger decided to comment on one of Apples newest commercials used to describe the iPad - thin, beautiful packing, 200,000 aps and already a "revolution". The revolution also includes saying no to porn apps. This has of course upset a lot of free speech / adult industry / liberal advocates who, not to mention, are also customers of Apple products.

In April at a question-and-answer session at Apple’s iPhone OS 4 event, a journalist asked the CEO whether Apple would consider allowing customers to load apps through means other than the App Store, and Steve noted Android as an option for porn fans.
"You know, there's a porn store for Android." ... "You can download nothing but porn. You can download porn, your kids can download porn. That's a place we don't want to go, so we're not going to go there."

15 June 2010

XXX Chruch Knows No Bounderies

"Its that little guy on your shoulder that says you don't want to go there." - User



X3watch is brought to you by XXX Church.

14 June 2010

HOW 2 Fight Demand step 2

Everyday Actions

In the fight against human trafficking, the first question that you might ask is, "How does one "go after" the customer? ...", myself included.

Today is the second step in the HOW 2 Fight Demand series. This series includes ten steps; an arm full of actions that individuals or groups can do to fight the demand of sex trafficking. Visit the CAASE website to find the entire list and other related resources.

2.After you've got a good understanding of the role that the demand for commercial sex plays in prostitution, write "Letters to the Editor" and "Op-Eds" to newspapers that participate in victim blaming and hold them accountable for how they cover the issue. When you write, encourage them to highlight the role the demand pays in the harms experienced by individuals in the sex trade.

Do it better than Lady Gaga VII (the finale)

Today I wrap up my series on how to become celibate. This all started back in April when  Lady Gaga said that it was better to be celibate than to risk getting the Aids virus. While on Mac's Viva Glam campaign, Lady Gaga came clean with the world about how she feels about sex and how her fans should follow in her foot steps.
"... 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 ..."
The only thing is, she didn't teach us how to do; and thats where I come in. Over the past month or so I've filled readers in on how to become celibate. I say "become" because theres more to it than what you do; making the decision to practice celibacy sets your standard at a higher level automatically. Regardless of your past, you can instantly become a new person.

12 June 2010

Its My Life, LIVE WITH IT Presents: Michael Cory Davis, Artists United for Social Justice

ACTOR / WRITER / FILM MAKER -After a phone conversation with Michael Cory Davis, one word I want to use to describe him is "passionate". Michael's first inspiration to join the crusade for traffick victims was because of a girl named Svetlana. Now with a new movie coming out this fall, find out what else has him excited. The end of this post includes bits of our conversation.

Michael is a native New Yorker, born in Brooklyn to two Jamaican parents. As the middle of three children, Michael was raised in a very creative household with high academic standards. His journey into the world of the arts started from the young age of 9 where, at any given time, he was performing in school plays or writing and animating books. Michael received his first true thespian training in junior high school at Satellite West in Brooklyn, which led to his acceptance to the prestigious Fiorello H. Laguardia H.S For The Performing Arts.

11 June 2010

Movie Review

Title: Trafficked - 2010

Genre: Crime | Drama

Status: Released 21 May 2010

Director: Ciarán O' Connor

Starring: Ruth Negga, Karl Shiels, Martin Dunne, Jasmine Russell and Niall O'Brien

This is the REAL sex and the city ...
"We highly recommend this film, not just in terms of acting and drama but because it also gives a very good representation of the issue of sex trafficking" Ruhama - an Irish NGO which works with women affected by prostitution.
"This unflinching, bleak drama has been achieved with a strong cast (in which Russell is oustanding), visual imagination and narrative flair on a very small budget." The Irish Times


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Plot: The story is based around the central relationship between a newly arrived African migrant in Taiwo (Ruth Negga) and a Dublin-bred man-about-town in Keely (Karl Shiels). Theirs is a knotty association that is born of callous economic symbiosis, but which eventually grows to include a degree of mutual affection. However, Taiwo is a wanted woman, having escaped from the gangsters that brought her into the country, and it does not take the latter terribly long to track down their missing asset, with – you guessed it – predictably gritty results!

No Volunteers For This Job II: Shaddy Business Establishments

Eldorado's Adult Book Store
In response to a comment I saw online about teen prostitution, today I'm taking some time to describe where this type of behavior actually takes place.

Victims of sex trafficking are often found in the streets or working in establishments that offer commercial sex acts including, but not limited to brothels, strip clubs and pornography production houses. Such establishments may operate under the disguise of: