Rescue from the Kilns

273 people. 273 slaves. 273 men, women, and children who had been robbed of their lives were forced to do hard labor every day for up to 17 or 20 hours, seven days a week. Never allowed a break. Never allowed to leave.

 273 people were freed Monday evening as we sat in the 

 training session of IJM's advocacy summit through the desperation of one official from Chennai, India when she learned of their entrapment. Originally she understood there to be 32 workers enslaved and reached out to IJM to help free them. When they went in, they found two brick kilns owned by the same remorseless man, and not 32, but 273 slaves begging to be set free.

Please tell me: how can we turn deaf ears to the millions of people in the same straights?
Tell me.....I want to know.

Your Voice Is Needed to Ensure U.S. Fights Slavery

Email from Free the Slaves. Please join with us. It only takes a minute. Locate your Senator here: http://www.senate.gov/ Dear Abolitionists: You may already know that slavery is connected to you. It’s in the products you buy, the clothes you wear and the car you drive. There are thousands of slaves in America, some hidden from view, others standing on street corners you pass every day. Ever wonder: What can I do to stop it? Here’s one simple but vital thing you can do: Call or e-mail your U.S. senators, and urge them to support the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S.1301). This critical legislation is pending in the Senate right now. Your voice could make the difference in ensuring the U.S. continues to fight trafficking and slavery. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act ensures the U.S. will remain a world leader in combating slavery. It directs authorities to raid brothels and sweatshops, freeing slaves and prosecuting slaveholders. It enables rescue shelters and rehabilitation programs to operate, inside the U.S. and overseas. The Act helps Free the Slaves conduct programs that you support in India and Haiti. This landmark anti-slavery initiative was created by Congress years ago, but the Act expires soon and must be renewed. Any delay could jeopardize the remarkable progress the U.S. has made. It’s easy to find your senators’ contact info at the top right corner of the Senate’s website. Here's what you can say to their receptionists, aides or voicemails: “My name is ___ and I live in (your state). I'm calling to ask the senator to co-sponsor S.1301, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. I also would like the senator to support strengthening the Act, by requiring major companies to disclose on their websites and in annual reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission what they’re doing to end trafficking and slavery.” The battle against slavery has always been a bipartisan effort that brings lawmakers together, even in polarized times. Senators are working on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act behind the scenes, even though other issues are center stage at the moment. Your senator needs to hear from you now. Please contact them today. Thanks for your continued support. Karen Stauss Director of Programs Free the Slaves     1320 19th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 USA (202) 775-7480 info@freetheslaves.net Content Copyright ©2011 Free the Slaves. All rights reserved.

So What Am I Supposed to Do?

Ever wondered what on earth you could do to help fight modern day slavery? Here is one solution three young men came up with. Good example of a weapon of love.

If any one has any other ideas, I would love to here them. Please leave a comment or email me.

Thanks!

Wednesday, 06 August 2008

Kayakers Travel Length of Mississippi River, Raising Funds and Awareness for IJM

The kayakers celebrate after reaching port in the final stop of their journey, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Three men have just completed an incredible kayak journey down the length of the Mississippi River to raise funds for International Justice Mission and awareness for its anti-trafficking casework. Timothy Cahill, Ethan Johnstone and Justin Blomgren began their voyage in St. Paul, Minnesota and paddled 1,703 miles to New Orleans, Louisiana, where they arrived nearly two months later.

The trio set out on May 12, 2008 with the goal of raising thousands for International Justice Mission and educating people about trafficking in every town they stopped in as they traveled to New Orleans. The men, who met each other as students at California Baptist University, were inspired by IJM’s casework history of partnering with local authorities to free victims of human trafficking.

The team began their kayak journey in St. Paul, Minnesota and paddled an incredible 1,703 miles to New Orleans, Louisiana.

“We chose the Mississippi River because it is the ‘Great American River,’” explains kayaker Timothy Cahill. “Also, because there are so many cities and towns, we could go through the heart of America and spread the news of human trafficking and what IJM was doing.”

For the rest of the article, please see  http://www.ijm.org/articles/spotlight