Cause de Jour

You expect fashion to go in and out of fashion. After all, it's called fashion for a reason. But what always amazes me is how causes seem to go in and out of fashion. I mean if people are homeless in Haiti, shouldn't it be important to care until the problem is solved, not just until something new comes along?

Right now the cause de jour is human slavery. Articles and workshops are everywhere. I am not saying it's not a worthy cause. I've blogged about it myself and attended workshops. I just don't want to see it fade off the scene, like so many other causes, when something new and shiny comes along. Maybe it won't, if you and I get involved and become part of the solution.

Today I am sharing a guest blog from Diane Adams, a friend of mine, on how she got involved in working to free slaves.  Here are her thoughts:

Two years ago, I read a book called Just Courage by Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission (IJM). IJM is an organization that combats injustice and modern-day slavery around the world.

After reading the book and learning about the atrocities that go on in the world, I couldn’t just go on with life as usual. I did some research and learned things like:

• There are 27 million modern-day slaves.
•  600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year.
•  50% of trafficking victims are minors.
•  The average age of entry in prostitution is 11 to 14 years old.

I learned that there were slaves in India working in rice mills, in Africa working in brick factories, and in the United States working in forced labor. And all around the world there were young girls, and even boys, forced into the sex trade.

As I read accounts of victims and survivors, I began to wonder—What if my teenage daughter were sex trafficked or our family lived in a developing country and was enslaved by powerful tyrants? How would I feel if no one sought and rescued me, but went on with daily life, enjoying freedom without giving any thought or concern for me, an oppressed victim?  

 I kept noticing verses in the Bible in which God is described as a god of justice and felt strongly that the Church is called to act to promote justice in our community, nation, and world. But I also think the average churchgoer, like me, is unaware of the issue of human trafficking and how widespread it is.

 I encourage people to learn more about this issue. Read a book such as Just Courage or learn from websites such as www.notforsalecampaign.org, www.ijm.org, or www.iast.net. Stay abreast of proposed U.S. legislation on this issue by visiting www.polarisproject.org and write to legislators asking their support of anti-trafficking laws.

Also, become aware of the products you buy and the businesses you patronize, being sure you are purchasing fair-trade goods not made by slave labor. Another key way to make a difference in this area is to volunteer to work with at-risk populations in the community so they don’t fall prey to traffickers. Big Brother/Big Sisters, local shelters, after-school programs, and foster care are good organizations to consider.

Finally, people can help fight slavery by financially supporting anti-trafficking organizations. There are many to choose from, and you may be surprised to find that one or two are nearby. Do some investigating and discover these local groups—you may decide to join them!

In the 1800s, the African slave trade was a huge business, integrated in the cultures, businesses, and economics of America and Europe. Yet it was abolished because people’s eyes were opened to its evilness, and they chose to speak up against it.

There is an abolition movement going on in our world today, and it’s gaining momentum. Take the time to learn more and consider how you can help fight for the oppressed.

If you would like to ask Diane any questions, please feel free to place them in the comments section and I will see that she gets them (and answers!).

This month's Fine Living Lancaster also had an informative article on modern slavery. To read it, click the link to access the PDF and go to page 78 of the PDF (76 of the actual magazine) for the article "Ending Modern Slavery." Then, like Diane, decide what you need to do to be involved. And don't give up, even when slavery is no longer the cause de jour.

An Alternative Guest

One of the people I’ve gotten to know who is committed to making a difference here in Lancaster County and around the world is Jennifer Knepper. She is a staff nurse in the medical ICU at Hershey Medical Center, an adjunct clinical instructor for Lancaster General College, and a volunteer RN at Water Street Health Services. I’ve asked her to do a guest blog on an event that’s dear to her heart.

During a work shift at Hershey in 2007, I had some downtime at about 2 a.m. and decided to pick up the Patriot News. My eyes immediately went to the article that asked if your grandma really needed another sweater for Christmas or if your dad needed another tie. And I said “NO!”

My parents had actually been telling me for years not to get them anything for the holidays because they had enough “stuff,” so I began giving them gifts to honor them based on the impact that they’d had in my life. For example:

·      I gave the gift of education for a child in Africa through World Vision in their name. I choose this for my parents because my education was always something that they wholeheartedly supported and encouraged. I have come to realize how the gender disparity that exists throughout the world would not likely have afforded me an education had I grown up elsewhere.

·      One year, in honor of my sister, I gave to a cause she feels very passionate about—fighting human trafficking. I had heard the president of International Justice Mission speak at my church about the atrocities of modern day slavery, human trafficking and the like and decided to give the gift of aftercare to a young girl who had been rescued from a brothel for forced prostitution.

As I read the article, I discovered that a group of women in Harrisburg were hosting an alternative gift fair called Gifts That Give Hope. The best way to describe an alternative gift fair is to essentially think of a live version of a gift catalog that you may have seen or received around the holidays to further the work of various nonprofit organizations and to promote meaningful gift giving.

I immediately contacted and subsequently met with them in December of 2007 to brainstorm. In January of 2008, I gathered a small group of vibrant, committed volunteers to put this concept in motion for Lancaster. We hosted our first annual gift fair in November of 2008 and sold over $30,000 worth of gifts that benefited 30+ nonprofit organizations.

We’re now planning for our 3rd annual event and are excited to see how things have grown. We’ve worked to make this event unique to Lancaster with a celebratory and community emphasis. We will be featuring local flavors of well-loved cafes and restaurants unique to Lancaster County: Café Chocolate, Cocina Mexicana, Rachel’s Creperie, Spyro Gyro, Square One Coffee, Rafiki Café and Wendy Jo’s Homemade. Children’s activities are available from the following organizations: The Lancaster Science Factory, Heads Up Lancaster, Your Language Connection, Music for Everyone, and Kids and Cultures.

In addition to the alternative gifts, holiday shoppers can purchase fair trade gift items for loved ones, teachers, coworkers, and the like. Gift items range from “Bead for Life” jewelry made from magazines by women in Uganda, to “Delicious Peace” coffee (organic & fair trade) grown by Christian, Jewish, and Muslim farmers in a co-op in Uganda, and items from “Made by Survivors,” where every piece is handmade by a woman who has been removed from human trafficking and is now involved in respectable and dignified working conditions.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, November 20, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Farm and Home Center (Penn State Cooperative Extension building), 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. We are still looking for volunteers to help with this year's event. Could you be one of them?

To learn more, check out our website or our blog. "Friend" us on Facebook. Contact us with any questions or to volunteer.

Hope to see you there.