tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254787982657904162024-03-05T15:08:17.702-08:00Fight4Freedom~Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9~Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-53217055680470313562015-05-20T10:20:00.001-07:002015-05-20T10:20:56.818-07:00A Long HiatusIt's been over two years since I posted. You'd almost think, by my involvement, the war was over. If only that were so. Instead, I've just not been sharing here and instead been posting much on my Facebook page (personal, that is - this blog doesn't have a Facebook page). With all that has been going on, though, I think I'll try to update this blog on occasion again. I'd like to have a place where links stay centralized - easier to find for future reference, I think.<br />
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If you're just finding this spot, please be patient with me as I figure out how to make time for the blog again. The subject matter is very important to me so I'll do it - I just may have some kinks to work out. <br />
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For starters, here is what I read today:<br />
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<a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/buyer-beware-early-success-for-initiative-targeting-johns-instead-of-prostitutes/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=article_left" target="_blank">Buyer Beware - early success for initiative targeting johns instead of prostitutes</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-10965190900440203552013-04-24T08:37:00.002-07:002013-04-24T08:37:34.087-07:00Slave Free ChocolateAs a serious chocolate lover, this article caught my attention. The world can get "very small" VERY fast when you are looking for places to shop and part of your criteria includes "ethical" products. I don't find that to be a bad thing as yet.<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/allyoucaneat/2013/04/17/only-ethical-chocolate-at-pcc/" target="_blank">Only ethical chocolate at PCC</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-421484523598795222013-04-09T12:48:00.001-07:002013-04-09T12:48:16.511-07:00Sweden's Take on Prostitution<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/why-the-games-up-for-swedens-sex-trade-8548854.html" target="_blank">Why the game's up for Sweden's sex trade</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-57204559905230529492013-01-30T08:12:00.002-08:002013-01-30T08:12:13.073-08:00On the Mexico Border...<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/mexico-raids-alleged-sex-slavery-cult-on-border-detains-14-foreigners-including-6-spaniards/2013/01/29/d7f33fa6-6a7d-11e2-9a0b-db931670f35d_story.html" target="_blank">Sex slavery cult</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-24281033848881446232013-01-11T08:34:00.001-08:002013-01-11T08:34:27.875-08:00Human Trafficking Awareness Day<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today, January 11th, has been declared National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. All around the nation there are various events happening where you can learn more about this horrific problem. </div>
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Modern day slavery. A term heard more and more often (Praise Jesus!!) is a very real, despicable issue that happens in every country on earth. It is illegal in every form yet it is a $32 billion dollar a year business and there are an estimated 27-29 million slaves in captivity of some form at any one time.</div>
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You can be part of the solution to this problem. Research the goods you buy, the clothes you wear, even the food you eat. Where does it come from? What are the standards and practices in each industry? Do you know that "Made in America" does not always mean wages, decent working conditions, a 40 hour work week, employees who are legal citizens or immigrants who are actually receiving their wages.</div>
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Research, research, research...</div>
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I am really enjoying this <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/WN/MadeInAmerica/" target="_blank">Made in America</a> series by ABC's World News. You learn a lot and you discover it's not so hard to find objects actually made in this country. Additionally, buying items made in America means jobs for America. We know THAT'S a good thing.</div>
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Additionally, the Polaris Project has a new <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/state-lawmakers-kids-not-criminals-pass-safe-harbor-laws" target="_blank">safe harbor petition</a>. Laws exist in our country that actually criminalize those who are trafficking victims. Until that changes, many victims of trafficking who could be rescued are re-victimized by our legal system when they are found. Not out of some sort of vindictiveness but because there is little to nothing the courts can do based upon the way our laws work now.<br />
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Finally, there are MANY awareness events going on around the country. Check the links to your right. Check with organizations in your area. If you can, attend an event today and add your voice to the growing number of people who want to see - and help bring - an end to human trafficking.</div>
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Proverbs 31:8-9</div>
Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-35823857457456010262013-01-08T13:48:00.004-08:002013-01-08T13:48:40.192-08:00Child Marriage<a href="http://wreg.com/2013/01/08/man-70-marries-15-year-old-sold-for-20000/" target="_blank">Man, 70, marries 15-year-old </a><br />
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Apparently, in this poor girl's household, her value is $20,000...<br />
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I don't know her parents' motivation for selling her to this much older man. There are many possibilities:<br />
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1. They were greedy for money.<br />
2. They have other children to feed, are poor and made a choice - sacrifice one to save many idea.<br />
3. They were lied to in regard to what her exact situation would be.<br />
4. Culturally speaking a daughter has little value so they saw no harm in profiting the family.<br />
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Obviously this is a short list and by no means comprehensive but somewhere in all of that is the truth. No matter the reason, it does not sound as if it was the girl's choice to marry this man and that alone should make the arrangement untenable. <br />
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So many girls like her...and so many in far worse situations. My heart breaks every time I read even just the headline. The story itself makes me weep.<br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-41277213016135734912012-12-28T16:18:00.000-08:002012-12-28T16:18:05.056-08:00A Letter from a Chinese Laborer<a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/work-money/letter-chinese-laborer-pleading-help-found-halloween-decorations-202400773.html" target="_blank">Letter from Chinese Laborer Pleading for Help Found in Halloween Decorations</a><br />
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What disturbed me, almost as much as the text of the letter, was the lack of response the letter finder received from various human rights organizations.</div>
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The work is plenty but the laborers are few... There are SO many human rights violations around the world and organizations are overwhelmed and simply don't have the manpower or the ability to respond to each request. I have run into this issue myself when trying to figure out how to help.</div>
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Take it to your church, to your workplace...share the information and then pray, think...get creative. There ARE things you can do (for instance, the last paragraph that discusses looking for items made in America to purchase instead of China...). Don't give up hope, don't allow yourself to feel inconsequential. Everyone has a place in this fight and everyone CAN do something to end these atrocities. </div>
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-19737479499855464712012-12-11T09:34:00.002-08:002012-12-11T09:34:42.984-08:00In Local News<a href="http://q13fox.com/2012/11/30/convicted-tacoma-man-faces-up-to-life-in-prison-for-sex-trafficking/#axzz2ElWOztf5" target="_blank">Convicted Tacoma man faces up to life in prison for sex trafficking</a><br />
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The film <a href="http://rapeforprofitfilm.com/" target="_blank">Rape for Profit</a>, which shows the problem of human trafficking in the Seattle area, is now playing. You can find show times and locations <a href="http://www.bigscreen.com/NowShowing.php?movie=153323&from=rss" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-90001621842816021492012-12-10T16:27:00.003-08:002012-12-10T16:27:39.679-08:00Strength & CourageI can't imagine living for 10 years, knowing the horrors my daughter was enduring and not being able to stop it.<br />
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This woman, though, showed we are not powerless. We are not incapable of fighting this evil.<br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/argentine-mom-rescues-sex-slaves-not-daughter-201941336.html" target="_blank">Argentine Mom Rescues Sex Slaves, but not daughter</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-62697077758291876802012-12-05T21:40:00.004-08:002012-12-05T21:40:52.596-08:00Slavery for Christmas<br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/newsmakers/enslaved-children-freed-after-being-forced-to-make-christmas-decorations-potentially-headed-for-us-194625049.html" target="_blank">Enslaved Children Freed After Being Forced to Make Christmas Decorations</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-74539219073900740142012-12-04T17:56:00.002-08:002012-12-04T17:56:40.928-08:00Freedom and Fashion<div style="text-align: justify;">
People often ask me what they can do, specifically, to combat human trafficking.</div>
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The truth is, we unknowingly aid those who combat in persons on a daily basis. What we look at, what we buy, where we shop... even the food we eat. I do it and I'm aware of trafficking issues and you can bet that, unless you make a serious, concious effort to do your research and shop where you KNOW the vendor guarantees they do not use any suppliers or themselves use slave labor, they probably do somewhere along their production line. Please do not misunderstand - companies are not always aware they're using someone who trafficks in persons. Others, though, simply do not care.</div>
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It is becoming a bigger issue - you have probably seen or heard stories about companies "caught" using slave labor in their production lines. People are letting those companies know it is NOT ok.</div>
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Today, I learned about this website: <a href="http://freedomandfashion.com/" target="_blank">Freedom and Fashion</a>. Through this website, you can find clothing and accessories guaranteed fair trade. I already have a few favorites.</div>
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I don't get a lot of time to work this blog (which is probably why it doesn't have a large readership) so I didn't email and get permission to publish pictures from each of Freedom and Fashion's partners. I urge you, though, to head to the website and check out their "Partners." It really looks like it'll be worth your time.</div>
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And you, by your purchase, will help someone, in a very large way, caught up in the ugly world of trafficking.</div>
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Seems to me to be a win.</div>
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-65657220407679166642012-11-25T09:30:00.001-08:002012-11-25T09:30:19.234-08:00As Fire Races...There are many facets to human trafficking. No one working in this factory may have been trafficked but then again, many could be as the definition of human trafficking includes those forced to work, as summarized by the <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/tip/what/index.htm" target="_blank">United States State Department</a> is: <br />
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<em>"Over the past 15 years, “trafficking in persons” and “human trafficking” have
been used as umbrella terms for activities involved when someone obtains or
holds a person in compelled service.</em><br />
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<em>The United States government considers trafficking in persons to include all
of the criminal conduct involved in forced labor and sex trafficking,
essentially the conduct involved in reducing or holding someone in compelled
service. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act as amended (TVPA) and
consistent with the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish
Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol),
individuals may be trafficking victims regardless of whether they once
consented, participated in a crime as a direct result of being trafficked, were
transported into the exploitative situation, or were simply born into a state of
servitude. Despite a term that seems to connote movement, at the heart of the
phenomenon of trafficking in persons are the many forms of enslavement, not the
activities involved in international transportation."</em><br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/least-112-killed-fire-races-garment-factory-outside-141012538.html" target="_blank">This</a> article reports on a factory fire in Bangladesh. This paragraph jumped out at me: <br />
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"Bangladesh has some 4,000 garment factories, many without proper safety measures. The country annually earns about $20 billion from exports of garment products, mainly to the United States and Europe."<br />
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As well as this statement:<br />
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"Had there been at least one emergency exit through outside the factory, the casualties would have been much lower," he said.<br />
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Safety standards in other countries are not what ours are and this very well be simple laziness on the part of the factory owner - the idea that if I don't "have" to do something for my workers, I'm not going to because it will cost money. We won't know for a while, if anyone ever reports on it again. An investigation will be conducted, so the article says but... we'll see what, if anything comes from it.<br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-48123335678733211802012-11-20T13:15:00.001-08:002012-11-20T13:15:04.898-08:00A U.S. Prostitution Ring BustedSaw this article via Yahoo this afternoon. <br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/human-trafficking-victims-freed-u-prostitution-bust-183229717.html" target="_blank">Human trafficking victims freed in U.S. prostitution bust</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-21855475693521726942012-09-27T06:00:00.000-07:002012-09-27T06:00:02.325-07:00What Do You Think?An article published in the New York Times regarding human trafficking and prostitution. <br />
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/opinion/sunday/ending-demand-wont-stop-prostitution.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1" target="_blank">A Misguided Moral Crusade</a><br />
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What do you think?<br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-79337999500072178802012-09-26T09:55:00.006-07:002012-09-26T09:56:01.527-07:00President Obama SpeaksAt the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative Meeting:<br />
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President Obama delivers his <a href="http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/ourmeetings/2012/webcast/archives/player.asp?id=62" target="_blank">speech</a> outlining what the United States will be doing to ramp up its efforts to combat human trafficking.<br />
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Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you!!<br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-26106091464067327782012-06-23T09:30:00.001-07:002012-06-23T09:30:31.286-07:00A Way to HelpA place for those trafficked on the streets...<br />
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<a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018495747_streetcrimes22m.html#.T-VNM1-ubT4.facebook" target="_blank">Cops launch drop-in shelter to help prostitutes in Sea-Tac</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-85267368910727630992012-06-21T08:14:00.001-07:002012-06-21T08:14:11.664-07:00Prostitution Website Not Ruled IllegalThis highlights one of just many challenges facing prosecutors today in combating prostitution and other forms of human trafficking:<br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/college-president-prostitution-ruled-legal-165922002.html" target="_blank">College president's 'prostitution' site ruled legal</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-73015563521000518612012-06-20T07:54:00.002-07:002012-06-20T07:54:24.778-07:002012 Trafficking in Persons State Department ReportYesterday Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the 2012 Trafficking in Persons report, released by the State Department.<br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/27-million-people-living-slavery-us-070112851.html" target="_blank">Up to 27 million people living in slavery: US</a><br />
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You can view the entire report <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2012/index.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-9795640721969532492012-06-13T13:37:00.002-07:002012-06-13T13:37:33.512-07:00HeartbreakingSharing an opinion but I will keep it brief - we should not be surprised by this article, only surprised that it has taken so long to happen. How will we break this cycle? What do we teach our children (girls AND boys) about prostitution and the all-around wrongness of it? <br />
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<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/canadian-teen-girls-charged-human-trafficking-forcing-prostitution/story?id=16557372#.T9jsJitYvxY" target="_blank">Canadian Teen Girls Charged with Human Trafficking</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-22260227846773119402012-05-25T14:19:00.002-07:002012-05-25T14:19:15.086-07:00Praying the prosecution is successful and the victims are all rescued.<br />
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<a href="http://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-news/Detectives-arrest-four-in-human-trafficking-investigation/-/101214/14145530/-/15aera8/-/index.html" target="_blank">Detectives arrest four in human trafficking investigation</a><br />
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The first arrest for trafficking in Spokane County.<br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-51796640762939476792012-04-18T09:15:00.000-07:002012-04-18T09:15:10.457-07:00On The Front LinesAnother article in the Seattle Times today: <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2018002470_lynne18.html" target="_blank">On The Front Lines in the Battle Against Human Trafficking</a><br />
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If you're in the area, <a href="http://frontlineforjustice.org/" target="_blank">Frontline for Justice</a> (Northshore Baptist Church, Bothell, WA) is hosting Sheila Houston of <a href="http://www.nhmin.org/" target="_blank">New Horizons Ministries</a> on May 21, 2012 (7PM).<br />
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As someone who went through New Horizons Ministry training and has heard Sheila Houston a few times, I can tell you it would be well worth your time to attend.<br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-21148827961041111862012-03-19T13:30:00.000-07:002012-03-19T13:30:20.156-07:00Another aspect...As if there aren't enough:<br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/bangladeshs-teenage-brothels-hold-dark-steroid-secret-024639562.html" target="_blank">Bangladesh's "teenage" brothels hold dark steroid secret</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-14116437190476652732012-03-16T20:28:00.000-07:002012-03-16T20:28:49.212-07:00From the United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington<a href="http://www.justice.gov/usao/waw/press/2012/Mar/tramble.html" target="_blank">SeaTac Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Trafficking</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-73632270789426039292012-03-05T11:01:00.000-08:002012-03-05T11:01:05.164-08:00A New LinkIt has been a while since I've posted anything on this blog. However, I just learned about this organization today.<br />
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Is one of your God-gifted talents sewing? Then this might be something you want to look into. Around the world, girls are trafficked because they are poor. This organization works to clothe girls in such a way as to help reduce that risk. Nothing fancy, they don't end up looking "rich" - they just look cared for and thus making them less at risk for being trafficked.<br />
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Check out their site... <a href="http://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/" target="_blank">Dress A Girl</a><br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225478798265790416.post-48137620133851327192011-10-18T08:01:00.000-07:002011-10-18T08:01:58.351-07:00Our children... expendable?A person does not have to be moved between borders to be trafficked. They don't have to be used for sex to be considered trafficked, either. In part, the definition of someone who is trafficked is someone who is coerced and/or forced into labor.<br />
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In the news today:<br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/mexican-drug-cartels-recruiting-texas-children-173402030.html">Mexican drug cartels recruiting Texas children</a><br />
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Would you consider your child expendable? Can you imagine the fear these children must feel? Their parents? How helpless is law enforcement right now? They do all they can and then...evil gets more creative.<br />
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Proverbs 31:8-9Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128672904128145179noreply@blogger.com0