Posts Tagged SCTNow
10 Ways You Can Help Stop Human Trafficking
Throughout history there have been horrible atrocities done to human beings. 8/23/11
Holocaust Suffering
Consider for example the persecution of Christians in the 1st – 4thcenturies, the Holocaust, slavery in the U.S. and the mistreatment of Native Americans, just to name a few. Such suffering always issues a call for reformers, abolitionists and visionaries. I believe we face the same dilemma with human trafficking today, don’t we? But I am convinced each of us can do something to contribute to the solution. There is power in ONE voice even if you think what you can do is small or insignificant. There are 30 million known sexual slaves in the world today; we must do what we can. Below is a list of starting points for you to get involved and be a voice for those who have none.
1. GET INFORMED
Scour the Internet for information to equip yourself with the facts; freetheslaves.net, A21campaign.org, www.MoreThanRice.com.
2. SPREAD THE WORD, EDUCATE, AND INFORM OTHERS
Memorize statistics about human trafficking to inform your friends and areas of influence. Use social media to spread the word.
3. USE YOUR TALENT
Use what you do best to make a difference!
Write a blog; paint a picture, display it publicly; use sports events to raise awareness and funds; write a song; create a short film and post it on www.youtube.com
4. LOBBY POLITICIANS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY
Two good resources for information and a winning strategy is www.ijm.org and www.polarisproject.org.
5. ORGANIZE AN EVENT
Connect with any of the web sites mentioned in this article and find out specifically what they need. Your event could be a walk-a-thon, a 5K run, a musical concert, etc. and conclude the event with a powerful, informative presentation about human trafficking.
6. SPONSOR THOSE AT RISK
Because poverty is a major contributor that can lead to human trafficking, sponsoring a child or woman in poverty-stricken areas that are also ranked as high origin countries for trafficking can help make a difference.
7. VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME BY JOINING A TEAM OR FORM A TEAM OF YOUR OWN
www.notforsalecampaign.org is a campaign of students, artists, entrepreneurs, people of faith, athletes, law enforcement officers, politicians, social workers, skilled professionals, and all justice seekers united to fight the global slave trade and end human trafficking.
8. MOTIVATE THE MEDIA
Encourage your local newspaper or television station to cover stories about human trafficking, as well as what your community can do to help stop it. Take the initiative; don’t assume they know the facts. Offer your research to help generate a story that is newsworthy. Ask your bookstores and libraries to carry books like More Than Rice, on human trafficking.
9. HELP VICTIMS ESCAPE
Leave local rescue hotline numbers in public places around your city. For ideas and free downloads visit http://nhtrc.polarisproject.org/.
10. PRAY
Last – but certainly not least – is the greatest weapon known to mankind – prayer. Pray with passion as if one of these victims was your own family.