Butterfly

Once there was a small gap in a cocoon, passing man stood for hours and watched a butterfly tried to get through the small gap. It took a long time, it looked as if the butterfly leaving its efforts, while the gap remained the same small. It seemed that the butterfly has done everything she could, and that she had no more strength to do anything else.

Then the man decided to help the butterfly, he took a penknife and cut the cocoon. Butterfly immediately released. But her body was weak and frail, its wings were transparent and barely moved.The man continued to watch, thinking butterfly wings are about to be uncovered and get stronger and it will fly away. Nothing happened! All its life the butterfly traipsed its weak body, its uncovered wings. She was never able to fly.

And all because man wanting to help her, did not realize that the butterfly needed the effort to go through a narrow slit of the cocoon, in order to the liquid from the body moved to the wings and the butterfly could fly. Life made the butterfly leave this shell with difficulties in order to it can grow up and develop.

Sometimes we need namely an effort in our life. If we were permitted to live without any difficulties, we would have been shortchanged. We could not be as strong as now.

A friend of mine posted that story on Facebook and I thought it was appropriate to explain how one should help another. There is hope when it comes to the issue of human trafficking. Laws are getting tougher and there are many non-governmental organizations who are out there rescuing victims. Helping goes beyond throwing money at an issue. Having a huge concert and raising millions of dollars to go where? In relation to the story, just cutting open the cocoon, nothing was accomplished. When you give to an organization who rescues girls and they are able give the girls the support they need. An organization I am close to is called Transitions Global and it is located in Cambodia. Athena and James Pond have dedicated their lives to victims of the sex trade. Their organization focuses on rehabilitated the girls, teaching them new skills, volunteering in their community, rebuilding their lives. They do not just band-aid the girls wounds, they heal them. Allowing them to move through the stages similar to a butterfly. They are cocoons in their fear, victimization, and wounds. It is a struggle to push through everything to grow. People help them however, it is not pushed, there is no specific time line they must be healed. Everything is healed in time. In a butterflies case, in time, after their struggles, they are able to push out of their cocoon and fly away on their own. Strong and Free.

What would a pimp write on his To-Do List?

I was reading my usual blogs this morning. On Michelle’s Blog for Hope for the Sold she had posted a pimp’s to do list, I guess everyone has them? I wanted to share it with you as the holidays come closer and we all have our to-do lists to get everything ready for our dinners and parties. Take a moment and remind yourself of your blessings, the support you have around you. Our options are endless and for others it is in not.

The lists were obtained by Alameda County District Attorney in California.  Courtesy of Youth Radio.

Remeber when I said…

If you have been following this blog from the beginning, you will have read my post about fizzling out and how sometimes life gets in the way. Life has gotten in the way today, well it started yesterday. My post I was going to put up yesterday went up today because of my so called life. I will not get into details but, I am at a loss today. Thus, today I will just post this amazing documentary done by Hope for the Sold about trafficking across Canada.

Myths and Realities

I am currently reading Canada’s Underground World of Human Trafficking: Invisible Chains by Benjamin Perrin. I do, do fun things from time to time, I swear. In the book there is a section with a list of 10 myths and realities of trafficking.

Quoted from Pages 64-66.

1- Myth: Trafficking involves crossing an international border with the victim or assisting in the victim’s being transported across a border.

Reality: Trafficking is about victim exploitation and need not involve a border crossing.

2- Myth: Canadian citizens cannot be trafficked

Reality: Victims include Canadian as well as foreign nationals.

3- Myths: Individuals know what they are getting into, so they cannot claim to have been trafficked.

Reality: Victims may have low-esteem and be forced or deceived into compliance. Even when they have foreknowledge of the situation, they may lack the power or ability to leave and end their exploitation.

4- Myths: The individuals committed unlawful acts, so they are not trafficking victims.

Reality: Traffickers often force their victims to commit unlawful acts such as prostitution or immigration officers. Trafficked persons are victims of crime and should be treated with compassion, dignity, and respect.

5- Myths: The individual was paid for service.

Reality: Many trafficking victims never keep any of the money paid for their exploitation; traffickers may provide small amounts of money to keep them compliant but not allow them to leave.

6- Myths: The individual had freedom of movement and so is not a trafficking victim.

Reality: Some traffickers forcibly confine their victims; many more control them using threats, manipulation. In many cases, traffickers are also able to make credible threats against the family members of the victim. Physical violence used against the family members of the victim. Physical violence used against victims can easily convince them that these threats are serious.

7- Myths: Individuals who did not seize opportunities to escape are not trafficking victims.

Reality: Victims are often under threat that make escape impossible or are under comtrol similar to that exoerienced by victims of domestic abuse.

8- Myth: The trafficker’s actions were culturally appropriate. Who are we to question such practices?

Reality: Individual liberty is a right inherent to all people; countries across the globe consider human trafficking to be a serious problem that cannot be excused or justifed.

9- Myths: Traffickers and recruiters are always men.

Reality: Women also recruit victims, enforce discipline for traffickers, and in some instances are traffickers themselves.

10- Myth: It can’t be trafficking if the trafficker and victim are related or married.

Reality: This is like the old fable that it is legally impossible for a husband to rape his wife. Being married or related does not give someone the right to victimize another. Some victims have agreed to marrying their exploiters in the false hope of lessening or ending their abuse.

Nhu’s Story

Everyday on Facebook MTV Exit puts up a new story, new information, and video’s about Human Trafficking. If some of you have not heard of MTV Exit; it is in collaboration with MTV Europe and musicians to raise awareness about Human Trafficking. Groups like Radiohead, and the Muse have been involved with MTV Exit. About 2 years ago I was asked by friend Tasha, who was asked by MTV Exit, to hand out informational pamphlets about Trafficking at a Radio head concert and then we were allowed to see the show at the Molson Amphitheatre. Some people stopped and listened when we explained the pamphlet and why Radiohead was involved, others took the pamphlet and threw it away at the nearest garbage. Not uncommon, not everyone wants to know about issues in the world, they just came to see a show.

Today’s story on MTV Exit was a story about a girl Nhu who was sold into sex slavery because her family was poor and needed money. Her story is like thousands out there but, nevertheless important. I have copied the story for you to read and take in the realities of so many young girls lives globally.

Sex trafficking survivor shares her story

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio – Her name is simply Nhu. But her life has been anything but easy.

Nhu’s mother abandoned her three days after she was born.  And at 14 years old, Nhu was working 12 hours a day, seven days a week as a cosmetologist. But that isn’t the worst part of her story.

When Nhu was 12, her grandmother, too poor to feed the family, sold her into sex trafficking. “I had to stay with him for three days,” Nhu said. “I had to do everything the man wanted me to do.”

Nhu had become one of more than a million children worldwide sold for sex each year.  But former Akron resident Carl Ralston believes things will change.  He’s an instrument in that change.

Carl and his wife, Laurie, who now live in Thailand, operate eight group homes to protect children at risk of being sold into sex slavery.  The children’s homes are in Cambodia, Thailand, India, Burma and the Phillipines. “It’s such a joy to know these kids are safe and being kids,” Laurie Ralston said. It’s wonderful.”

One of the homes is sponsored by members of Grace Church in Middleburg Heights. The congregation may have enough support to sponsor a second home soon. “I want our church to make a huge difference here in Cleveland, in our neighborhoods, and in the nations of the world,” Pastor Jonathan Schaeffer said.

Read more about Nhu and the Ralston’s mission at, http://www.remembernhu.org/

 

20s, 30s, 40s wiki

Our class had to do a wiki and our group was made up of woman in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. We all have different struggles, worries, and stories yet find a common ground with each other. So, it seemed logical for us to discuss these issues in our wiki. A kind of guide to each phase in your life. We are not speaking for everyone however, I think many people will relate to what we talk about. It was an eye-opening experience for me because it was allowed me to look back and see what it means to be a woman in the present age, and to be in your 20s. A complicated, unsure, and sometimes unforgiving time. Not sure which way is up sometimes. Even since we published it, the things that worry me, keep me sane, or future goals have shifted ever so slightly. Even that small shift has shaken a part of me.

Hope you enjoy it. I know we enjoyed doing it (except the video on the main screen, I could have done without that).

Generation XYZ: Life, Love and Liberation- Surviving our 20s, 30s, and 40s.

Generation XYZ: Life, Love and Liberation -

Surviving our 20s, 30s and 40s

Craig’s List follow up

In my last post I discussed Craig’s List and how it promotes prostitution and trafficking of girls whether it admits it or not. However, after looking for myself, it is not hard to see what the real story is. If you also took a look at what is going and want to do something about it. I have copied a letter from the Canadian Women’s Foundation you can send to the government to have your say against Craig’s List erotic section! Please let your voice be heard!

To: jim@craigslist.org

Cc: pm@pm.gc.ca

Subject: Please shut down the adult erotic services section on Craigslist in Canada

Dear Mr. Buckmaster,

I am concerned that traffickers are using internet sites such as Craigslist to sell trafficked women and girls. I am writing to urge Craigslist to shut down its adult erotic services listings on its Canadian sites as it has done in the United States.

I  applaud Craigslist’s decision to discontinue these ads on its American sites and agree with the American Attorneys General who said that adult erotic services ads on the internet create a “virtual certainty that someone will be victimized.”

For the safety and freedom of women and girls, I urge you to take the same action in Canada. Lives depend on it.

Sincerely,

YOU!