Truth: You can buy a child in 10 hours.

That sounds like a ridiculous statement! But a reporter went undercover to reveal the truth, that in fact, you CAN buy a child in 10 hours. In fact, he would have been able to buy three. Check out the article; it is shocking, sad, and obviously, terrible!

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/buy-child-10-hours/story?id=5326508&tqkw=&tqshow=NL&page=1

Please; go read it! (I realize that it was written 2 1/2 years ago, but undoubtedly the situation remains the same, especially after the earthquake that hit Haiti this January.)


Did you know that Human Trafficking is the fastest growing trade in the world? It is also the 3rd largest crime industry that after drugs and weapons.
Did you know that there are more slaves today than EVER in history before?




Human Trafficking does not stop at the U.S. borders however.
The following is taken from an article found online.

"Still, many Americans believe human trafficking to be an international phenomenon.

I, like so many others, thought that trafficking was a problem that plagued other countries like Thailand and India, but was oblivious to what was happening right here in our backyard," said Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel, who is spearheading the county's efforts to combat human trafficking and open a shelter for sexual trafficking victims."

"About 300,000 American youths are trafficked for sexual exploitation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. During a one-night national sting involving 29 cities last February, law enforcement officers picked up seven underage girls involved in prostitution in Portland -- more than any other city besides Seattle. They also picked up six adult pimps in Portland and cited 14 adult prostitutes.

Still, many at the conference said a collective national denial of the issue remains.

"What we're about in the U.S., we're willing to jump out there and save the world but we won't look under our own rocks because it's embarrassing," Bickford said after giving a presentation on the work he's doing with the task force. "
(http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/01/human_trafficking_industry_thr.html)

A church in Portland, Oregon has a ministry particularly for women who find themselves victims of sexual exploitation. http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/article/scarlet-cord/

"Within the U.S., Atlanta, Georgia has been identified as currently having the highest rate of child sex trafficking, with 200-300 exploited for the commercial sex industry every month." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking)

Last night I was SHOCKED to read that there are actually LEGAL BROTHELS within our own country.!!!!
There are nearly 30 legal brothels within the state of Nevada alone!! (http://investigation.discovery.com/investigation/prostitution/prostitution-history-05.html)
Here's one last (and kind of intense) video I want to share with you.

(http://investigation.discovery.com/tv/hookers-saved-on-strip/)

Do you want to DO something about all of this?
I know I do.

(And I'm working on putting something together to inform the community of everything that goes on. Let me know if you would want to help.)
Check out these other sites for more information on the subject, and what you can do to get involved and help support the groups fighting modern day slavery. They are very informing.

http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
http://www.callandresponse.com/
http://areyouokaywiththat.org/