Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
VICTIMS ARE DEPENDING ON US
Please Share. Victims pray everyday someone will find them,
but hope dwindles quickly with each passing tortuous day. Won't you please help
spread the word, help bring an end to human trafficking? You never know who is
paying attention. You may touch the heart of someone in a position to do
something more. Thank you.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
TYPES OF CHILDREN AT RISK FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING - A MUST READ
March
4, 2014 By Kimberly Rae
“1. The needy.
Those who desperately need attention or affirmation are prime targets. You can recognize these by their frequent selfies on social media, their posts and comments always centered on themselves–even if negative–or their personal put downs that are said in the hopes that someone will counter them. To a trafficker prowling on FB or Snapchat, these are easy targets. They can start sending them messages of affirmation and adoration, and the needy teen will feed off them to the point that their feeling of self worth is totally dependent on the trafficker.
Those who desperately need attention or affirmation are prime targets. You can recognize these by their frequent selfies on social media, their posts and comments always centered on themselves–even if negative–or their personal put downs that are said in the hopes that someone will counter them. To a trafficker prowling on FB or Snapchat, these are easy targets. They can start sending them messages of affirmation and adoration, and the needy teen will feed off them to the point that their feeling of self worth is totally dependent on the trafficker.
2. The lonely.
Kids whose parents are gone most of the day, or who shuttle back and forth between multiple families end up with a lot of time on their own. That can lead to choosing wrong friends or unhealthy activities. A teen might get addicted to gaming, or they might end up in a relationship online that parents don’t even know about. A trafficker knows if they can get a teen to come to them with their emotional needs and believe the trafficker (posing as a friend, confidant, lover, etc.) is the only person who can meet those needs, they have them.
Kids whose parents are gone most of the day, or who shuttle back and forth between multiple families end up with a lot of time on their own. That can lead to choosing wrong friends or unhealthy activities. A teen might get addicted to gaming, or they might end up in a relationship online that parents don’t even know about. A trafficker knows if they can get a teen to come to them with their emotional needs and believe the trafficker (posing as a friend, confidant, lover, etc.) is the only person who can meet those needs, they have them.
3. The angry.
Kids recognize when they are given money and freedom but not parental time, effort, and yes, boundaries. A child knows when parents are more focused on their own problems, career, or anything else over family and are leaving kids to emotionally fend for themselves. For some, that results in a bitterness leading toward rebellion that a trafficker can exploit. They can start up a relationship (again, usually online) where the teen can complain about their parents and get lots of sympathy, which turns into the trafficker suggesting the teen run away with offers to help them find a place, get a job. If the teen does, the trafficker has set themselves up as the only resource to help, and again, the power is all theirs.
Kids recognize when they are given money and freedom but not parental time, effort, and yes, boundaries. A child knows when parents are more focused on their own problems, career, or anything else over family and are leaving kids to emotionally fend for themselves. For some, that results in a bitterness leading toward rebellion that a trafficker can exploit. They can start up a relationship (again, usually online) where the teen can complain about their parents and get lots of sympathy, which turns into the trafficker suggesting the teen run away with offers to help them find a place, get a job. If the teen does, the trafficker has set themselves up as the only resource to help, and again, the power is all theirs.
4. The confident and clueless.
A feeling of invincibility mixed with naivety is a dangerous combination. These are the kids at the mall who will accept a ride home from a stranger to impress their friends with their hot, older new friend. These kids will take a dare that leads them to dangerous places and relationships. They might be drawn toward the older guy everyone is warning them against, just to prove a point, or just because it feels powerful. All a trafficker has to do is show up and be attractive.
A feeling of invincibility mixed with naivety is a dangerous combination. These are the kids at the mall who will accept a ride home from a stranger to impress their friends with their hot, older new friend. These kids will take a dare that leads them to dangerous places and relationships. They might be drawn toward the older guy everyone is warning them against, just to prove a point, or just because it feels powerful. All a trafficker has to do is show up and be attractive.
A major part of the fight against trafficking is awareness.
For many, the most important awareness they can have is not what a trafficker
looks like and does, but what a potential victim looks like and does. For all
the parents out there, please take a good look at your child or children. If
they are headed in Miley’s direction, please intervene.
*******************************************
Why Her? A Visual Chart on How Traffickers Choose and
Manipulate Victims
The following chart of need was originally defined by
Abraham Maslow’s “A Theory of Human Motivation,” 1943.
Traffickers may use these needs in a recruitment process
similar to this:
1.
Identify the need of the child
2.
Fulfill the need
3.
Remove any other sources of need
fulfillment
4.
Exploit the child’s dependence for need
fulfillment by forcing them into prostitution
“It could never happen to my child”
That’s what Brianna’s parents thought too. Unfortunately,
the scary, inconvenient truth is that unless your child has reached
self-actualization and has no further needs, they could unsuspectingly
fall victim to a trafficker.
Brianna was a 17-year-old high school student, involved in
cheerleading, taking college courses for an early start on her nursing degree
and worked at a local restaurant with her sister. She had no idea that friendly
conversations she had with a regular customer could end with a trafficking ring
planning to transport her to Arizona, likely to be sold.
You are not powerless.
If you know or meet a girl who exhibits some of these signs,
don’t be afraid to ask questions:
- At risk of being homeless or running away from home
- Severe family issues like drug addiction, alcoholism
or abuse
- Signs of fear, anxiety, depression, tension or
nervousness
- Hyper-vigilant or paranoid behavior
- Interest in relationships with older men
- Unexplained shopping trips or purchases of new
clothing and/or jewelry, especially if the clothing is revealing or
suggestive”
Saturday, March 8, 2014
PLEASE DON'T FORGET THE VICTIMS
Please don't forget them. Share this post.
Spread awareness
and help bring an END to Human Trafficking.
Thank you.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Chinese police have rescued 382 babies in a sting operation
on a baby-trafficking ring that has led to the arrest of more than 1,000
individuals.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Oscar Winner Steve McQueen "12 Years a Slave" Did Not Forget
Steve McQueen, the director 12 Years a Slave is a hero in my
eyes. Just before he started to speak, I said to Michael, in tears, “I hope he
mentions slavery still exists today . . . but I doubt it.”
However, in his Oscar for Best Picture acceptance speech, Mr. McQueen dedicated the award to "everyone who has endured slavery and the 21 million still enslaved today. Everyone deserves not just to survive but to live," he says. "This is the most important legacy of Solomon Northup." (This is the true story of Mr. Northup).
However, in his Oscar for Best Picture acceptance speech, Mr. McQueen dedicated the award to "everyone who has endured slavery and the 21 million still enslaved today. Everyone deserves not just to survive but to live," he says. "This is the most important legacy of Solomon Northup." (This is the true story of Mr. Northup).
My heart was pounding so hard. I could not stop crying for all those suffering at this very moment at the hands of traffickers. I thank God that Mr. McQueen brought attention to heinous ongoing worldwide crime to an international viewing audience of millions.
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