New Statistic

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.  

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1. Keen, Laura. "Human Trafficking is on the Rise."  notforsalecampaign.org.  Not For Sale, June 24, 2014          
2. ibid

3. ibid

What Can You Do?

Do you ever have something that you know you want to help out with but the whole problem just seems overwhelming and you just don't know where to start?

Or that you want to help out but don't have a lot of time?

Does the number 27 million seem so huge that you can't wrap your mind around the number of slaves estimated in the world?

Do you ever wonder how you could make a difference?

Me too.

We are not alone.  Each person who started an organization or an agency or a group had the same thought, but they didn't let that stop them.  They knew if they could help one life, save one person, that it was worth it.

What's more is that they remember what it was like when they were overwhelmed and didn't know what to do.  So they gave us some tools to just get started. 

If you want to be a part of the movement to eradicate slavery in our lifetime, there are a few websites that can help you do a little something to get started.  You never know...one of these steps you take might lead you to find a path where you can help a little more.  Then a little more.  If that isn't the path God has for your life, you can still feel the satisfaction of knowing you did help by taking the steps listed on these sites.

• http://freedomcommons.ijm.org/ - They will help you send a letter to ask Congress to pass the Human Trafficking Prioritization Act, a letter to USDA to help end slavery in America's (!!!!) tomato fields, you can display the official national trafficking hotline flyer, and ask supermarket CEOs to sell only guaranteed slave-free tomatoes, as well as a few things you can do locally.  You can even find information pertinent to your state.  You can get your legislator's congressional score card and bills that are supported by him/her.  For example, Missouri does not have any "champions" but Claire McCaskill is listed as a "leader" as she sponsored one bill, co-sponsored 2 bills, and voted on one.  Roy Blunt is listed as "other elected officials" as he has only voted on one amendment to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2014-2017 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.  What a great way to track our legislators so we know how we can educate them and write to them about the cause that is close to our hearts!!

Not too sure about getting political yet?  Or you just completed the above?

• http://www.chainstorereaction.com/home/ - You can go to this site, select a brand/company, enter your name, email address (which will not be shared!), your country, and your postal code and click "send letter" and a letter will be sent to the company.  The letter sent is listed above so you can read it first.  It literally takes 15 seconds or less to send a letter and help make an impact.  There are 3,483 companies listed, so you can do as few or as many as you want.  Stop by every day to send a letter or spend some time once a week - whatever you can fit in.  It does make a difference!!  So far 263,644 letters have been sent.  You can also view the response from companies that responded to the letters.  There have been some companies that responded but their response does not address the issue, refused to fill out any part of the survey, or issued a cookie-cutter statement.  You can send a different letter that requests further information.  This is a great site if you have little time but do want to help eradicate slavery and human trafficking.

These are just two that can help you get started.  There are many more.  Please pray about this and take the steps that God is leading you to take.  TOGETHER we can make a difference.