Happy Thanksgiving Day-- Remembering trafficking victims on holidays

I haven't been very consistent with keeping up with this blog. A lot happened since last time I posted anything on this blog. But, I am trying to write more often here so you have something to read on human trafficking more often and I get to say things more often. :)

I also write a weekly column on The Washington Times Communities every Wednesday. I am not allowed to be so personal on that column i.e., not allowed to ramble nor use "I". So, I would like to keep this blog as more conversational and engaging with readers and other advocates who care about human trafficking.

Besides, this helps me blab about human trafficking and social issues with other people who care, when nobody else around me is really interested in talking about the subject.

So, I recently interviewed a nonprofit founder from Alabama. Her name is Tajuan. She is also a survivor of human trafficking victim. She talked about her bleak Thanksgiving Day as a victim on my column this week. She described her holiday as a victim as follows:

Instead, her pimp made her stay out on the street longer during holidays than on other days, because sex customers usually stayed home with families on holidays making it hard for the workers to meet the daily quota.

Now, I've never been trafficked. But, I sure remember how it feels to be alone and isolated on holidays. There was one holiday that I had to stay in VA all by myself to prepare for an exam. The small town that I stayed in felt so so very dark and cold. Everything including Walmart was closed. I think CVS was opened till 6 pm but that was about it. I would imagine that the only thing that keeps anyone warm from that cold weather and dreary town during that holiday season was their families, esp. the loving parents (and grandparents) who wanted to stuff them with turkey and gravy with extra love.

That holiday, I had none of that. But I also didn't have a pimp who forced me to be on the street without food all day and not letting me come into the motel room unless I make daily quota. Without the pimp, that winter was cold enough.

Can you imagine being in a victim's shoes? It must've felt like someone stripping her and whipping her back in the cold weather while everyone is watching her. Not to be too graphic or pessimistic on this wonderful holiday, but I just wanted to share my thoughts on how a holiday is like to trafficking victims.

Comments and thoughts are welcomed.

Labor Exploitation in North Carolina

*Juan, a sixteen year old from Columbia, is a migrant farm worker in North Carolina. He came to the U.S. to support his family two years ago after his traffickers promised a wonderful life in this land of opportunity. Unlike what his traffickers promised, however, Juan's life in the States has been nothing but challenging. Everyday, Juan gets up 4 o'clock in the morning, heads to the farm, and works for 14 hours. Under the hot scorching North Carolinian sunlight, Juan gets neither a bathroom break nor cold water to quench the thirst. He would be lucky if he gets to come home at the end of the day without getting heat stroke.

But, Juan's story is common among the farm workers in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking, North Carolina has seen 260 percent increase in the number of human trafficking victims for the past three years, and 38 percent of the victims were the ones exploited with labor like Juan.

Many migrants also often are subject to very poor living and working conditions, According to one research:

• Of the growers provided housing submitted to water testing, 44 per cent had contaminated water (University of North Carolina. Reported by Smith-Nonini.)

• One wash tub per 30 workers meets the state’s requirements.

• In 1986, of farm workers tested, 86 per cent had intestinal parasites - a reflection of poor sanitation and contaminated water (University of North Carolina. Reported by Smith-Nonini.)

• Despite a legal requirement, a survey found that only 4 per cent of farm workers had access to drinking water, toilets and hand washing facilities in the fields. (Human Rights Watch)

• There are four federally funded clinics that serve farm workers where patients pay on a sliding scale according to income. However, more than 60 per cent of the migrant farm worker population live in counties outside the service area of a migrant health center. (NC Farmworker Health Alliance, March 1996)

• The state provides limited funds for migrant health services. These funds provide reimbursements for doctors, dentists, clinics and pharmacies for care to farm workers and their dependents who have been employed in the state within the past 24 months. (NC Farmworker Health Alliance, March 1996)

But, the situation of migrant workers on tobacco farms in North Carolina are worse than others. They often experience green tobacco sickness due to the excessive absorption of nicotine through the skin. The symptoms of green tobacco sickness include, "dizziness, vomiting, weakness, coughing, nosebleeds, and headaches." Yet, many of them have no ways to speak up for themselves because the traffickers or their employers threaten them with deportation.

Thankfully, an organization like Farm Labor Organization Committee has stood next to a farmworker like Juan to protect his rights. But, further work needs to be done. What can you do for a worker like Juan?

For more information, visit supportfloc.org

*Juan is a fictitious name.

Budget-friendly ways to support human trafficking victims

January 11, 2011, is human trafficking awareness day. If you are tired of having too many awareness days, like I once were, you might say,

"Give me a break. another awareness day for what? We already have too many of them from Green earth day, human rights day, women's day, and what not. I got plenty of things to do and barely have money to get a pedicure for myself." Besides, I am still saving up money for Valentine's Day for my sweat-heart."

That's fine. But, there are other ways you can get involved to raise the awareness for human trafficking victims on January 11th, next Tuesday, aside from spending your precious nickels and dimes away in this economy. Trust me. when it comes down to being cheap, I am right there with ya.

So, here are somethings you can do for human trafficking victims for no or a little cost.

1. Donate your clothes, shoes, toys, etc. to anti-human trafficking organizations:

Shoe Revolt: This organization is looking for people who will donate their gently used shoes for human trafficking victims. All profits will go towards building shelters and assistant programs for trafficking victims in the U.S. GEMS is one of the organizations that ShoeRevolt works with.

Courtney's House: This D.C. based organization works with children who are sexually exploited in commercial sex industry. D.C. is cold place to be in January. The organization needs plenty of winter coats and other supplies to assist child victims. To name a few of Courtney's house needs:

• New or gently used winter coats, woman's sizes M-XL
• Winter boots woman's sizes 6-10, man's sizes 7-12
• Winter hats
• Gloves
• Tights
• Hand/foot warmers

• Pots & pans
• Toaster oven
• Plates (no glass)
• Plastic bowls
• Cups (no glass)
• Measuring cups
• Cutting board
• knives
• Apron (10)
• Baking dish
• Spatula
• Kitchen towels & oven mits
• Iron
• Green cleaning supplies
• Energy efficient light bulb
• Hangers (plastic)
• Laundry detergent (green)
• First aid kit (2)
• Toilet paper
• Curling Irons (6)
• Flat Irons (6)
• Blow Dryers (6)
• Floor Lamps (2)
• Paper towels
• Napkins
• Reusable shopping bags
• Dish detergent
• Gallon pitcher (2)
• Plastic bins (10)
• Plastic cereal containers (3)
• Toiletries including hair products for African American Hair
  

To find more information about donation needs, visit Courtney's House.

2. Have a little get together with friends to raise the awareness:

If you are a social butterfly who enjoys having get together with friends, you can invite your friends and colleagues to raise the awareness of human trafficking. You can order a short video clip and brochure from RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, for free. Though the contents of the video is primarily focused on human trafficking in Canada, it nicely elaborates the general details of what human trafficking is and what is not which can be applicable to many places around the world.

3. Bake Sale

Do you love baking? This is the perfect time to bake for trafficking victims. If you are working, you can bake it the night before and take that big fat batch of cookies and muffins with ya to your work. I am sure that not everyone in your office is detoxing after holidays. And make sure that you take a little donation jar that says "Human Trafficking Awareness Day: Bake for Trafficking Victims" or something along those lines. That way, people will know what you are up to other than fattening them up for no reason. But, if you are a stay at home mom, you can always send it with your husband with a donation jar.

You might say, "well, it's only going to be $1 or so even if I bake like a mad woman the night before. But, consider that every nickels and dimes count. In fact, with $1, you can provide daily meals to a child who is vulnerable to human trafficking in many poor countries. In Nepal, for instance, if you have $32 to buy a goat or piglet, you can save a girl from being sold for sexual and labor exploitation for life.

So what do you think? Do you think you can join the fight next Tuesday?