I could use your help with signing a personal petition

AbolitionistJB needs your help with this petition. It's not regarding human trafficking, but it greatly effects the home-business my wife and I own and rely on to support our family. We own an internet toy company www.playfullyeverafter.com.

Essentially, some members of congress are proposing a new law that will force web-enabled retailers to collect sales tax for states where they do not live, have a presence or receive government services. It's being reintroduced as the “Marketplace Fairness Act." This will cost my wife and I, owners of Playfully Ever After,  thousands of dollars in extra taxes and time spent collecting and filing sales tax in every state.

Last year I paid about $4,000 in sales taxes to the State of Texas where we reside, and it took me about 40 min to collect sales tax data and file each month in Texas. Roughly multiply that by 50 states and you see my concern.

Here is the petition. I could use your help on this. Our business is our livelihood and what provides me the time and money to give towards anti-trafficking in persons work.

http://werherecoalition.org/petition

Thanks,
John

Inspiring Abolitionist Quotes

Not all of these quotes are specifically directed towards the abolition of slavery, but they have inspired me in the abolitionist cause. If you have any other great quotes, please share them in the comments section below.

Thank You,
AbolitionistJB


United States Declaration of Independence
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. "

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
(1929 - 1968) Doctor, Reverend, Civil Rights Leader 

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."

Frederick Douglas
(1818 - 1895) Former Slave, Abolitionist Leader 

"They would not call it slavery, but some other name. Slavery has been fruitful in giving herself names ... and it will call itself by yet another name; and you and I and all of us had better wait and see what new form this old monster will assume, in what new skin this old snake will come forth." 


"No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck."

"Money is the measure of morality, and the success or failure of slavery as a money-making system, determines with many whether...it should be maintained or abolished." 


Abraham Lincoln
(1809 - 1865) 16th President of the United States 

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."

"And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons. "

Margaret Mead
(1971 -1978) Author, Anthropologist

" Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

William Wilberforce
(1759 - 1833) British Politician, Abolitionist

“If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.”

“So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the Trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for Abolition. Let the consequences be what they would, I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition.”

Booker T. Washington
(1856 - 1915) Emancipated Slave, Education Reformer

"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else."

"I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him."

"There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. "

Jimi Hendrix
(1942 - 1970) Musician, Poet 

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."


Mary Angelou
(1928 - ) Poet, Author, Civil Rights Activist

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."





Jonathan Blanchard
(1811 - 1892) Pastor, Educator, Abolitionist

The slave-holder's rule contradicts this fundamental truth of God's word, that "God has made of one blood all the nations of emn," and if of one blood, they are of equal blood."



Ralph Waldo Emerson
(1803 -1882) Author, Poet, Philosopher

"When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers."



John Wesley
(1703-1791) Pastor, Abolitionist

"Let me do all the good I can, to all the people I can, as often as I can, for I shall not pass this way again."

Edmund Burke
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Fabien Cousteau
“During challenging times and when impassioned to act, human beings can be capable of miracles.” 

Rob Morris
“Ending human trafficking is not idealistic or naive. It is audacious. And it is people of audacity who change the world.” 

Cornel West
“To get up in the morning & do the monumental tasks that face us, our labor is best fueled by love.”

Hannah Song
“The Underground Railroad wasn’t started by secret ninjas but everyday activists.” 


Scriptures
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." - Proverbs 31:8-9

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." -Isaiah 61:1

“[Christ] inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto  him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” - 2 Nephi 26:33

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" - 1 John 3:17

Help Pass Safe Harbor Legislation in Texas

You’ve stood up for victims of trafficking around the world. Now, you have the opportunity to help stand up for victims in Texas. Human trafficking has been reported in every U.S. state, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that at least 100,000 children are victims of sex trafficking and prostitution each year in the United States. While the U.S. has strong federal laws against child trafficking, many states lack state-level legislation to support these laws – leaving significant gaps in protecting children and ensuring they receive the services they need to restore their lives. In many cases, children rescued from trafficking are treated as criminals. Will you join IJM, Polaris Project and local leaders in calling on Texas lawmakers to pass “Safe Harbor” legislation to protect child trafficking victims from being treated as criminals and to ensure survivors receive the specialized services they need? Click here to learn more about SB92/HB91 and how you can help. Join us now. Take action. Seth Wispelwey Field Organizer P.S. Sign up now to join us for an Advocacy Training and Lobby Day in Austin on February 23 & 25! SOURCE: http://www.ijm.org/

Fact Sheets and Learning Resources for Abolitionists

The following fact sheets, case studies and research studies are provided by the International Justice Mission. They are very informative and well done. These are great resources available to the public and you can find more information at http://www.ijm.org/resources.

Factsheets

• Sexual Violence Factsheet [PDF]

• Sex Trafficking Factsheet [PDF]

• Illegal Property Seizure Factsheet [PDF]

• Illegal Detention Factsheet [PDF]

• Hill Tribe Citizenship Factsheet [PDF]

• Gender Based Violence Factsheet [PDF]

• Forced Labor Slavery Factsheet [PDF]

Casework Stories

• Kumar's Story [PDF]

• Margaret and Masuzyo's Story [PDF]

• Venkatesh's Story [PDF]

• Claire's Story [PDF]

• Kunthy's Story [PDF]

Studies and In-Depth Articles
In-depth studies, white papers and articles on IJM casework issues and impacts

• From Inside Prison Walls: Interviews with Incarcerated Brothel Owners and Human Traffickers in Cambodia [PDF]  - IJM-authored study

• Impact Assessment of IJM Cebu’s Project Lantern [PDF] - Externally-authored assessment of IJM Project

• Sex Trafficking, Law Enforcement and Perpetrator Accountability [PDF] -By Holly Burkhalter. Originally published in The Anti-Trafficking Review 

New Song from Musician and Fellow Abolitionist Jess Clayton

LISTEN TO THE SINGLE VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS

On Thursday 18th October, UK Anti-Slavery Day, up and coming musician Jess Clayton released her single ‘Voice for the Voiceless’ to raise awareness of modern day slavery and raise funds for The Treehouse Project.

The single was launched at a concert at Freedom Art Studios in front of a packed audience. The evening included performances from Beka Vyce, Red Letter and Jess Clayton. Proceeds from the concert and single downloads have already raised over £1,000 to help survivors of Human Trafficking.

Anti-Slavery Day was created by Act of Parliament in 2010 to raise awareness of modern slavery and to inspire people to eliminate it.

There are currently estimated to be 27 millions slaves in the world, more than at any other time in history. Modern day slaves are exploited for profit in many ways, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, trafficking and domestic servitude.

Human trafficking and exploitation is a growing problem with the UK recognised as a significant transit and destination country for trafficked women and young people. Many of those trafficked are under 18 years of age.

Jess Clayton is a singer-songwriter who is passionate about writing songs to make an impact.

She studied Commercial Music at Bath Spa University but stopped a year short of the full degree as she wanted to just get out in the world and start trying to make a difference.

In 2011 Jess was offered an internship working at the Trauma Recovery Centre (TRC) in Bath; a charity that offers free play therapy and counselling for children who are facing trauma and crisis. There she met Susie (whose real name shall remain unknown). Susie was 20 years old and had three children. She had been sold by her father into slavery at 13 after which time she suffered extreme abuse and exploitation. Susie finally managed to escape aged 19 years old after being assaulted for a final time and nearly losing her children and her life.

Jess says “I had the privilege of working with Susie and being her friend. Working at the TRC with the Treehouse Project tugged on so many of my heart strings, including the musical ones, I couldn’t help but start writing songs about it. These experiences have left me with a particularly strong determination to bring hope and change into the world through my music.

I recorded my single ‘Voice for the Voiceless’ to raise awareness of Human Trafficking. The song is inspired by my involvement with the TRC and working with survivors of human trafficking like Susie. 100% of all sales from the single will be donated to the TRC’s Treehouse Project which provides an aftercare service in the UK for survivors of Human Trafficking”

The TRC launched The Treehouse Project in February 2012. The project focuses on the rehabilitation of children and young people who have been the victims of human trafficking by providing therapeutic aftercare through counselling, befriending, education and accommodation.

‘Voice for the Voiceless’ can still be downloaded from http://jessclayton.bandcamp.com for a donation of just £1, with all proceeds going to The Treehouse Project.

Finally Jess said “Even if you could just turn 27,000,000 slaves into 26,999,999, isn’t it worth it for that one?”

SOURCE: http://jessclayton.bandcamp.com/

New Book by Roberta Gately, The Bracelet, Explores Human Trafficking

The Bracelet is a new novel that explores the horrors of human trafficking with the aim of bringing awareness to the subject. Here is are links to buy the book.

Buy the Hardcopy

Buy Kindle Version

I also suggest that if you have the time, and the drive, that you request this book at your local library. Most libraries have a place on their website to request books and authors. A great way to help raise awareness and education about human trafficking is to request more books on the topic for your local libraries. Here is a list of some books I have found helpful. http://abolitionistjb.blogspot.com/2011/05/ending-slavery-with-books.html

The Bracelet
By Roberta Gately
Published by Gallery Books
November 6, 2012; $15.00 US/ $17.00 CAN; 9781451669121

Description
Newly heartbroken and searching for purpose in her life, Abby Monroe is determined to make her mark as a UN worker in one of the world's most unstable cities: Peshawar, Pakistan. But after witnessing the brutal murder of a woman thrown from a building, she is haunted by the memory of an intricate and sparkling bracelet that adorned the victim's wrist.

At a local women's shelter, Abby meets former sex slaves who have miraculously escaped their captors. As she gains the girls' trust and documents their horrifying accounts of unspeakable pain and betrayal, she joins forces with a dashing New York Times reporter who believes he can incriminate the shadowy leader of the vicious human trafficking ring. Inspired by the women's remarkable bravery -- and the mysterious reappearance of the bracelet -- the duo traces evidence that spreads from remote villages of South Asia to the most powerful corners of the West, risking their lives to offer a voice to the countless innocents in bondage.

About the Author
Roberta Gately, author of The Bracelet, has served as a nurse and humanitarian aid worker in war zones ranging from Afghanistan to Africa, about which she wrote a series of articles for the BBC World News Online. She is also the author of the novel Lipstick in Afghanistan.

For more information please visit http://robertagately.com, and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter

Reviews
"Roberta Gately uses her experiences working with refugees and traveling in the Middle East to take readers on a thrilling, highly visual trip into the world of human trafficking in Pakistan. The Bracelet is a pleasure from page one, and hard to put down until the very last page."
-- Jennifer Haupt, author of I'll Stand by You: One Woman's Mission to Heal the Children of the World

"Gately is very effective at covering the complexity of human trafficking in a straightforward and easy to read style that just keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next . . . In addition to the great human interest stories within the story, there are enough surprising twists and revelations to make for a captivating and suspenseful read!"
-- Audrey Lawrence, Fresh Fiction

"Gately, a nurse and humanitarian worker, has a keen understanding of conflict zones and human trafficking, and the resultant detail is vibrantly deployed throughout her newest novel (afterLipstick in Afghanistan)." 

-- Publisher's Weekly

"Gately's thought-provoking insights in The Bracelet deliver a clear message of her compassionate view of the subject matter. Gatley has hands-down passed the age-old litmus test of an accomplished writer in that, a writer writes what a writer knows -- without question, Ms. Gately knew her topic and therefore, she wrote a fantastic book. Quill Says: Current topic equals great read!
-- Feathered Quill Book Reviews

Great posts by MSN on Human Trafficking

To see all of the posts, photos and snippets, click here.  There are Q&A's with celebrities and NGO's, videos, quizzes and more.

Below are some of the visual displays that really stood out to me.

This is a preview for the documentary Rape for Profit.
Rape for Profit is a documentary in theaters now about the underage sex slavery problem in Seattle made vivid through interviews with law enforcement and non-profit organizations on the front lines.

SOURCE: http://causes.msn.com/human_trafficking/?section=gallery_3#section=gallery_3

Meet Jaiya

Jiaya never imagined that accepting a job offer would change her life. Shortly after her arrival in Texas, Jiaya was simply glad to have found a job and spent spent several days washing linens.  

However, when her employer learned she did not have any immigration documents, Jiaya was taken to a nearby apartment and stripped of her clothes, given lingerie and told that she would now be working as a prostitute. 

When Jiaya refused, she was beaten severely and deprived of food for several days. She was never allowed out of the small apartment - customers were brought to her. One month after her arrival, a police raid occurred, and Jiaya was identified as a victim of human trafficking.

Jiaya was immediately brought to Mosaic House, where she received food and clothing as well as shelter. Meeting with a case manager that spoke her language as well as Mosaic's attorneys and counselors helped Jiaya gain the confidence she needed to begin building her life anew. Jiaya has now moved out of Mosaic House and has found a job of her own choice.

*Name changed for safety

Jiaya's story of resilience would not be possible without supporters like you. 

Get involved in the fight against human trafficking to help others escape exploitation. Today, January 11, is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Make a commitment today to get involved in the fight against modern day slavery.

Volunteer your time at Mosaic by teaching a class or helping with street outreach, or donate basic necessitiesfor our shelter such as cleaning supplies or hygiene items. 

SOURCE: http://www.mosaicservices.org/

BREAKING NEWS: 149 rescued from a life of slavery in India

Here is an email I received from IJM this week.  I love hearing about success stories like these.

Dear John,

Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and we are celebrating freedom. Just this week in India, 149 children, women and men have been freed from a life of slavery.

When our partner Jana Jagriti Kendrafirst called us about the case, they believed three families were enslaved in the brick kiln. So we were all shocked to find more than ten times as manyfamilies trapped there.

The momentum is building, and we’re helping transform entire systems to bring more rescue. A few days ago, the Indian government asked IJM to train local police officers on how to combat slavery throughout a whole state – that’s more than 12,000 police officers. Fighting slavery has never before been part of the state’s official training. These local police are the critical first-responders, and now they will be equipped with the knowledge they need to stop slavery in their communities. It’s a huge step forward.

We know the problem of slavery is massive, but we are seeing rescue and change happen on a bigger scale than ever before.

Thank you for celebrating freedom with us at the start of this new year. We can’t wait to bring freedom to more families and help transform the systems that protect entire communities.

Gratefully,

Saju Mathew
Director of Operations, South Asia

P.S. Read more about this week’s rescue operation that freed dozens of slaves – including one girl who was only 3 years old.

SOURCE: http://www.ijm.org/

Lisa Kristine: Photos that bear witness to modern slavery

This 20 minute TED Talk, with photographer Lisa Kristine, is a summary of the two years she spent documenting modern slavery around the world.

 

For the past two years, photographer Lisa Kristine has traveled the world, documenting the unbearably harsh realities of modern-day slavery. She shares hauntingly beautiful images -- miners in the Congo, brick layers in Nepal -- illuminating the plight of the 27 million souls enslaved worldwide. (Filmed at TEDxMaui)

SOURCE: http://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_kristine_glimpses_of_modern_day_slavery.html