Slavery Today? Human Trafficking happened this morning again
In line with many others, not least the UK government, the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807 (followed by the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act) is an appropriate time to highlight the issues of human trafficking.
I cannot emphasise enough that such battles are not won in a fortnight; it was decades of Wiberforce's political career and the joint efforts of many, including a very large segment of the population who got truly 'on board' as it were. 'On board' in a very true sense here as well, as it needed hard facts, figures, diagrams and accurate accounts of the slave ships - as wonderfully portrayed in the recently released Bristol Bay Productions 'Amazing Grace'(2006).
Rather than duplicate resources, the links list at the end of this article hopefully serves as helpful for those wanting to be more involved.I urge readers to get behind campaigns such as Stop the Traffik and organisations such as Tearfund.
Below is a snapshot from the not-so-lovely tourist attractions of the Thai borders. Tearfund works to assist small projects that enable former victims of trafficking to start afresh. Tearfund partner Cambodia Hope Organisation (CHO) in Poi Pet runs a workshop.
It's projects like this which are part of the solution to keep those most vunerable from the hands of traffickers.The promise of work and dreams in a place like Cambodia are translated into misery and sex slavery in a richer nation like Thailand. Income from trafficking enables organised gangs to bribe officials and police. There is a similar air to the slave pits of Zanzibar in a place like Poi Pet.
Children are bought and sold for sexual slavery in Bangkok and other locations. Truckloads of orphaned and traumatised children likewise are gathered up at Thailand's northern border. These days payment may be by credit card.
I cannot emphasise enough that such battles are not won in a fortnight; it was decades of Wiberforce's political career and the joint efforts of many, including a very large segment of the population who got truly 'on board' as it were. 'On board' in a very true sense here as well, as it needed hard facts, figures, diagrams and accurate accounts of the slave ships - as wonderfully portrayed in the recently released Bristol Bay Productions 'Amazing Grace'(2006).
Rather than duplicate resources, the links list at the end of this article hopefully serves as helpful for those wanting to be more involved.I urge readers to get behind campaigns such as Stop the Traffik and organisations such as Tearfund.
Below is a snapshot from the not-so-lovely tourist attractions of the Thai borders. Tearfund works to assist small projects that enable former victims of trafficking to start afresh. Tearfund partner Cambodia Hope Organisation (CHO) in Poi Pet runs a workshop.
It's projects like this which are part of the solution to keep those most vunerable from the hands of traffickers.The promise of work and dreams in a place like Cambodia are translated into misery and sex slavery in a richer nation like Thailand. Income from trafficking enables organised gangs to bribe officials and police. There is a similar air to the slave pits of Zanzibar in a place like Poi Pet.
Children are bought and sold for sexual slavery in Bangkok and other locations. Truckloads of orphaned and traumatised children likewise are gathered up at Thailand's northern border. These days payment may be by credit card.
4 million were slaves in the days of Wilberforce, today it's over 12 million. Check out the following links and let's play our part to change the future for those being trafficked.
Thanks for taking time to read the article.
Trafficking and Slavery Links:
http://www.humantrafficking.org/countries/thailand
http://www.arcppt.org/eng/thailand.html
http://www.stopthetraffik.org/
http://www.tearfund.org/Extra/Freedom+Day/Slavery+in+our+back+yard.htm
http://www.ukhtc.org/index.htm
http://www.chaste.org.uk/about/vision.html
http://www.tearfund.org/Extra/Freedom+Day/Stop+the+Traffik+Video.htm
http://www.tearfund.org/Extra/Freedom+Day/Film.htm
http://www.gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Thailand.htm
http://www.american.edu/TED/thaiwomen.htm
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/slavery/?WT.srch=1&google=amazing-grace&gclid=CPH25aq3o4sCFQUvlAodaDOtfg
http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/
http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1997/issue53/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wilberforce
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapham_Sect
