Slavery: We Have a Choice, They Don't

Human Trafficking (TV miniseries) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last week I started Part 1 of a two part blog on supplement safety. Part 2 will post next Monday. Today, as we observe Martin Luther King Day, I wanted to post on an important topic that should never go under the radar.
My blog is one that is dedicated to health. Although much of what I write about is related to lifestyle and choice. The issue of human trafficking is about health, the physical and mental health of victims whose right to make choices have been stolen and lack of care results in anything but good health for the victims, the community and the world.
This blog is dedicated to the victims of human trafficking and slavery. Abraham Lincoln fought to abolish slavery and Martin Luther King, Jr. (the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his peaceful leadership for civil rights) worked to achieve his dream for human equality for people in the America. However, slavery still exists in the U.S. and is global epidemic, not just a National tragedy.
According to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, https://www.freedomcenter.org/slavery-today,
“An estimated 12 – 27 million people are caught in one or another form of slavery. Between 600,000 and 800,000 are trafficked internationally, with as many as 17,500 people trafficked into the United States. Nearly three out of every four victims are women. Half of modern-day slaves are children.”
I have seen programs on television that address this issue but when you see a “story” on T.V. I do not believe it has the same impact when you hear the voices of those who have been victimized. Katie Couric‘s show with Jada Pinkett Smith hit home, http://www.katiecouric.com/on-the-show/2013/01/14/jada-pinkett-smith-and-the-war-on-human-trafficking/, meet 3 survivors of human trafficking:
1. Asia Graves who at the age 14 left home and met a “boyfriend” who became her pimp. With help she has overcome her past and is in school on track to becoming a lawyer. She now is an advocate and helps girls like herself. Take a few moments and learn how easy it is to make a difference for victims now and those who are at risk for victimization in the future.
2. Minh Dang is a young woman from outside of San Jose, California, who hid a terrible secret for years. At just 10-years-old, Minh was sold into sex slavery by her very own parents. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley
3. Ima Matul came to this country from Indonesia when she was 17-years-old and was hired as a nanny in Los Angeles. She spoke no English, her employers never paid her and kept her passport. She was desperate and escaped.
After watching these stories and listening to the horror, share your feelings with us and please get involved, be a hero and help save lives!
For more information on how you can make a difference, see these groups below or find your own way to help on a local and more personal level.
Organizations that Help Victims of Human Trafficking

Fair Girls: Helps prevents the exploitation of girls worldwide with empowerment and education. Through prevention education, compassionate care, and survivor inclusive advocacy, FAIR Girls creates opportunities for girls to become confident, happy, healthy young women, http://fairgirls.org/

Bet you cannot imagine being involved in such a horrific crime as slavery, you may be indirectly and unknowingly be guilty, many of us are, just because we purchase commodities that are fuel the slave market. Do you know how many everyday products you use that are made by slaves? Justin Dillon demonstrates the kinds of products that increase our slavery footprint, http://madeinafreeworld.com/.

“Slavery flourishes when people cannot meet their basic needs, and lack economic opportunity, education, healthcare and honest government”, https://www.freetheslaves.net/SSLPage.aspx?pid=301, free the slaves is dedicated to fixing this problem.