I’ve agreed to become a blogger for The Exodus Road, an organization working to rescue victims of sex slavery in Southeast Asia. Here’s five ways all of us can help those who are enslaved.
1. Educate Yourself. Take some time to research the issue of modern day slavery. Check out the slavery map on FreetheSlaves.net. It’s a great resource. You may also want to visit CNN’s Freedom Project for resources and current news stories.
2. Write your Congressman. International Justice Mission does a fantastic job lobbying governments to make changes that support freedom. Stop by their site and sign their latest petition. You can visit them by clicking HERE.
3. Buy Fair Trade. Since the majority of slavery involves labor, make an effort (and spend the money) to purchase fair trade items as much as possible. This is a practical way you advocate for the oppressed as a consumer. Consider checking out places like TenThousandVillages.com (with stores right here in Lancaster County for you locals) or Yobel Market to shop for gifts, and take a few minutes to see what your Slavery Footprint is.
4. Socially Share. Commit that every time you see something about slavery or justice, you’ll take the time to share it with your online circle of influence. When you consistently share, you become an advocate for positive social change. Like anti-trafficking organizations on Facebook and follow them on Twitter—this will help abolition efforts to remain at the forefront of your attention, too. This is a simple, practical, and free way you can actively become an abolitionist.
5. Donate to Freedom Efforts. Find a specific organization that fights trafficking and do research on their efforts, their financials, and their methods. When you feel good about their work, start by choosing a specific project that connects with you, like financially supporting prevention efforts in the United States with Love146 or helping a national undercover investigator with The Exodus Road buy a covert camera.
Which actions are you already taking? Which will you begin to add to your lifestyle?