Dec
17
2011
Everyday Abolistionist: Nicole at Lusso Bags
Melissa Everyday Abolitionist, Partner Organization News 1
Everyday Abolitionist is a recurring feature on the blog where we’ll hear firsthand from someone using their skills, talents, and opportunities to fight trafficking. This time around we have Nicole who is the founder of Lusso Bags. (Check out the Mrs. Bird Shoe and Accessory Bag in the STF Shop.) How did you first find out about human trafficking? My cousin told me about her trip to India where she visited a couple of social enterprises that enabled women to leave the sex trade and work as seamstresses. What is it about the issue of trafficking that compelled youRead more
Dec
15
2011
Keep Girls Home for Christmas
Melissa Fair Trade, Partner Organization News, Trafficking News & Information 0
Check out this blog post from Freeset this fall. It’s tough to face the heartbreak, but let the heartbreak fuel your resolve to the goal—no more trafficking. Ending trafficking keeps young girls safe at home—for the holidays and always. Shopping fair trade helps families have options and prevents the desperation and despair of poverty that helps fuel trafficking.
Dec
15
2011
A Different Kind of Hustle & Bustle
Melissa Fair Trade, Partner Organization News, Survivor Stories 0
By this point in December, many of you are probably starting to get worn out. Between parties and the mall, life just gets tiring. While most of us could use a bit of downtime, it’s important to remember that being busy doesn’t always mean being frantic and stressed out. Here’s a look at the busy world of 31Bits in Uganda. It’s a place where action brings life and joy. Here’s a bit more about their programs. The women of 31Bits encourage me to find ways to ditch the stress by remaining active in life-changing work.
Dec
01
2011
Play Fair This Christmas
Melissa Everyday Abolitionist, Fair Trade 1
Here at STF, we talk about fair trade a lot. (You might even get tired of hearing it.) But during the consumer holiday season, fair trade changes life for hardworking families around the world and adds meaning to the gifts you give. Plus, it’s just darn good stuff. Here are some tips as you seek to make your season as ethical as possible. Commit to Buy Fair Trade You likely won’t be able to make all your gifts fair trade—and that’s okay—but challenge yourself to find fair trade options as much as possible. Does your mom want a scarf? FindRead more
Sep
19
2011
Give Hope to Cambodia Through Hagar International
Melissa Everyday Abolitionist, Partner Organization News, Survivor Stories, Trafficking News & Information, Uncategorized 1
Read previous posts about Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge, and what everyday abolitionist can do to help heal Cambodia. Our partner organization Hagar International works extensively with exploited women and children in Cambodia. Here’s how their website summarizes the conditions of Cambodia and the work they do there: Today, most Cambodians live in extreme poverty, with more than 77 percent of the population earning less than $2 a day. Women and children disproportionately bear the burden of intermittent employment and limited access to health and education services. Sexual and domestic violence are also realities within Cambodian society. Extreme poverty, low levelsRead more
Sep
13
2011
Reclaiming History and Cambodia
Melissa Books & Resources, Everyday Abolitionist, Survivor Stories, Trafficking News & Information 3
Read previous posts about Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge. Last week we looked at some information about the Khmer Rouge and the devastation the remains in Cambodia because of the genocide the Khmer Rouge carried out. If you’re like most Americans, all or part of that information came as a shock to you. As I researched, even knowing some of about the topic beforehand, I thought, This is huge. How on earth did this happen so close to my lifetime, without me having heard about it. It shocks me and makes me outraged at the lack of 20th century worldRead more
Sep
06
2011
Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge
Melissa Books & Resources, Everyday Abolitionist, Survivor Stories, Trafficking News & Information 3
Read last week’s post about Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge was a communist regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The leader, Pol Pot, left a legacy of genocide and famine. It was one of the most lethal regimes of the 20th century. Cambodia is still recovering from the damage it caused. According to HumanTrafficking.org, “The International Labour Organization argues that the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge regime is still felt both psychologically and economically and plays a direct role in labor and sexual exploitation arising from ill-prepared migration. The upheavals caused by the conflict and lack of opportunitiesRead more
Aug
30
2011
A Look at Trafficking in Cambodia
Melissa Everyday Abolitionist, Partner Organization News, Survivor Stories, Trafficking News & Information 5
Cambodia is a little known country to most Americans. It’s beautiful, lush nation in Southeast Asia, filled with ancient culture and deep history. If you read our blog much, you also know that it’s a hotbed of trafficking and that our partner organization, Hagar International, works there. Over the next several weeks leading up to RESTORE, we’ll be taking a closer look at Cambodia, examining its present problems, its history, and the hope that’s growing there. We’ll also hear from several people who’ve visited or work fighting trafficking there. The immense problems of the past and present can be overwhelming,Read more
Jul
08
2011
Everyday Abolitionist: Stacie Donaldson, Part 2
Melissa Everyday Abolitionist, Fair Trade, Partner Organization News, Trafficking News & Information, Uncategorized 0
Everyday Abolitionist is a recurring feature on the blog where we’ll hear firsthand from someone using their skills, talents, and opportunities to fight trafficking. This time around we have Stacie Donaldson. She shared the first part of her story last week. She works with Wonderfully Made and is an activist for exploited people in her city, Wichita, Kansas. She’s going to share her story in two parts. Here’s STF’s collection of Wonderfully Made Jewelry (more to come when our new site launches!). Mandy told stories of sex trafficking in Thailand and Eastern Europe, but also in places closer to home,Read more
Jul
01
2011
Everyday Abolitionist: Stacie Donaldson, Part 1
Melissa Everyday Abolitionist, Fair Trade, Trafficking News & Information 1
Everyday Abolitionist is a recurring feature on the blog where we’ll hear firsthand from someone using their skills, talents, and opportunities to fight trafficking. This time around we have Stacie Donaldson. She works with Wonderfully Made and is an activist for exploited people in her city, Wichita, Kansas. She’s going to share her story in two parts. Here’s STF’s collection of Wonderfully Made Jewelry (more to come when our new site launches!). I was probably procrastinating about something the day I first heard about the reality of human trafficking. Lying on my bed, scanning e-mail and Facebook on my laptop,Read more