Back in 2009, it was estimated that trafficking of humans brought in $32,000,000,000 annually with the illegal sale of women, men, and children. (1) 32 BILLION. What a staggering number. Can you imagine that number? Can you imagine what we could do to end worldwide poverty with that amount of money?
But it is used for the sale of human beings. Want to know what is more staggering?
That number has grown. Not by a little. I mean even a 5% raise would be huge - $1,600,000,000. But it didn't rise by 5%. Or even 50%. Not even 100%. It EXPLODED. It is estimated that the profits from this "industry" has increased THREE HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT PERCENT. (2) That's right. 368%. So while America's (and other countries') economy(ies) has(have) gotten a little unstable over the last several years, people have found the money for trafficking. For further demoralizing the poor, for further degrading those who need our hand up not their hands shackled.
Human trafficking now generates $150,000,000,000 in illegal profits annually. (3) It is on the rise. It is not going away.
Think on that.
Don't feel compelled to act?
If it continues like this, if it continues to explode by 368% every four years, that is another increase of $552,000,000,000. It would be over a $700 billion illegal industry by 2017.
I can only imagine that with the profits exploding that the number of victims has done the same. We cannot keep turning a blind eye. There aren't an endless number of human beings in this world. One day, if this doesn't stop, each of us will be personally affected by this. Our sponsored child, someone we met on a mission trip abroad, our neighbor, our friend, our daughter. We aren't immune to this in America.
We need to pray.
Then after praying, if you feel compelled to physically do something, please check out a website for many of the agencies that help rescue those who are trafficked or prevent trafficking. Here are a few of my faves, but there are many more.
A21 - http://www.thea21campaign.org
Not For Sale - http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
Abolition International - http://abolitioninternational.org/
International Justice Mission - http://www.ijm.org/
Justice Generation - http://www.justice-generation.com/
Out of Darkness - http://www.outofdarkness.org/
Polaris Project - http://www.polarisproject.org/index.php
Project Rescue - http://projectrescue.com/
Please pray. Pray nonstop. Pray for these lives. Pray that this will stop.
Then act.
It doesn't do any good to know, then do nothing about it. And you can't un-know.
___________________________________________________
1. Keen, Laura. "Human Trafficking is on the Rise." notforsalecampaign.org. Not For Sale, June 24, 2014
2. ibid
3. ibid
Showing posts with label Agencies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Agencies. Show all posts
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Friday, April 26, 2013
Tiny Hands International
This post is a little premature, as I haven't written yet about the decision I have made, but I only have these items a short while, so posting on THI now. More information about my decision and other human trafficking/fair trade agencies will be coming soon.
One of the choices I made was to raise money for human trafficking and to buy fair trade when/where possible. I perused the Internet for quite some time - several months - and found Tiny Hands International (THI). THI allows those of us with the desire, to become part of their mission. You can donate, pray, become informed, become an advocate, volunteer, or host a product party.
According to the THI website at http://tinyhandsinternational.org/:
Tiny Hands is a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the church in the developing world to help the poor overcome poverty and become lights of the world. We are committed to finding the greatest injustices in the world, and working towards relieving them however possible. We are particularly called to orphans, street children, and the victims of the sex-trafficking industry. We want to find those who are already doing the work, who are called and faithful, and help them do it in greater ways and with more efficiency. We do it all in obedience to, and for the glory of Jesus Christ.
This post I am going to talk about the product party. We are having a Human Trafficking Awareness day at church this Sunday. Jean Roberson from WMU will be speaking during the services. After church is over, we are having a fair trade/slave free meal and there will be fair trade items for sale. Tony from Three Story Coffee (more about him in another post...what a great guy) will be there with coffee and I will have THI products. According to THI website at http://tinyhandsinternational.org/get-involved:
Many of the women who have been trafficked or have been vulnerable to trafficking have learned to make jewelry for a living as part of their aftercare. Each of these handcraft necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pendants are uniquely crafted. We also sell Tiny Hands bags, purses, fleece jackets, pashmina scarves, and more! Putting on a Tiny Hands product party in your home is a fun way to support the ministry as 100% of the profits from the sale of these items at product parties goes to fund the ministry.
They make participating easy, which allows you to participate in an important ministry. Here are a few of the items they sent my way. If you are interested in Tiny Hands International, I encourage you to check them out. Read about who they are and what they do. If nothing else, you can become informed about them and know how you can pray for their ministry.
One of the choices I made was to raise money for human trafficking and to buy fair trade when/where possible. I perused the Internet for quite some time - several months - and found Tiny Hands International (THI). THI allows those of us with the desire, to become part of their mission. You can donate, pray, become informed, become an advocate, volunteer, or host a product party.
According to the THI website at http://tinyhandsinternational.org/:
Tiny Hands is a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the church in the developing world to help the poor overcome poverty and become lights of the world. We are committed to finding the greatest injustices in the world, and working towards relieving them however possible. We are particularly called to orphans, street children, and the victims of the sex-trafficking industry. We want to find those who are already doing the work, who are called and faithful, and help them do it in greater ways and with more efficiency. We do it all in obedience to, and for the glory of Jesus Christ.
This post I am going to talk about the product party. We are having a Human Trafficking Awareness day at church this Sunday. Jean Roberson from WMU will be speaking during the services. After church is over, we are having a fair trade/slave free meal and there will be fair trade items for sale. Tony from Three Story Coffee (more about him in another post...what a great guy) will be there with coffee and I will have THI products. According to THI website at http://tinyhandsinternational.org/get-involved:
Many of the women who have been trafficked or have been vulnerable to trafficking have learned to make jewelry for a living as part of their aftercare. Each of these handcraft necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pendants are uniquely crafted. We also sell Tiny Hands bags, purses, fleece jackets, pashmina scarves, and more! Putting on a Tiny Hands product party in your home is a fun way to support the ministry as 100% of the profits from the sale of these items at product parties goes to fund the ministry.
They make participating easy, which allows you to participate in an important ministry. Here are a few of the items they sent my way. If you are interested in Tiny Hands International, I encourage you to check them out. Read about who they are and what they do. If nothing else, you can become informed about them and know how you can pray for their ministry.
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