“When you tell yourself that there is nothing you can do to arrest the global slave trade, you underestimate your own potential and abandon hope for those trapped in captivity.”
-David Batstone, founder of Not For Sale.
I think I am one of those sensitive souls who gets overwhelmed by the evil in this world. I often find myself saying, “It’s too much.” I feel small and powerless against the giants of human trafficking, poverty, and the violation of innocents around the world. I want to do something but don’t know where to start.
Then I am inspired by a twelve-year old girl who opens a lemon-ade stand so she can send money to stop human trafficking. Or an eight year old boy who does chores around his neighborhood so he can help dig a well for a village in remote Uganda where there is no safe water. Or university students who volunteer their time at a local coffee shop whose every resource goes to fighting sex trafficking.
I am an aspiring writer. I’ve been working on a novel series for years. A couple of years ago I made the decision that when I do publish, I will give a portion of the sale of each book to fight the trafficking of humans for sexual purposes, a particularly heinous thing to me. (SVU watchers probably heard a doink, doink there.)
I can also help to raise awareness among those I know through social media and through this blog. Awareness is a first step. I don’t know that we will reabolish slavery in my lifetime–that’s like wanting to eliminate Organized Crime or Global Hunger– but I would like to see a significant reduction in numbers and more help set up for victims. It would be great progress just to hear the majority of people say that yes, there is a problem. Yes, in this country. Yes, in our own area. So many are still unaware because the very nature of this kind of slavery is covert, shrouded in secrecy.
So as my Helen Keller quote from a few days ago says, “I am only one…but I will not refuse to do the something I can do.” I can help to open some eyes.
Human Trafficking Awareness Day: What is a Child’s Life Worth?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/11/human-trafficking-awareness-day_n_2455950.html
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/news/2011/01/11/jan-11-national-human-trafficking-awareness-day/
http://blog.socialvest.us/2013/01/january-11-national-human-trafficking-awareness-day/
J D Abbas, fantasy writer 
I’m a sensitive soul too and it is too much. Good luck with the novel and happy writing. 🙂
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Thanks, K.S. I was just reading your post about the double standards in domestic violence. I have a friend, a Viet Nam vet. He’s a big guy. But he confessed to me one day that his first wife beat him. She would hit him with a frying pan. He tried to report once and was laughed at. He is a big man–like 6′ 3″, 230 pounds, but he is a teddy bear. He finally left. You’re right: the violence is never right, no matter which gender is doing it. I like how you turned a situation around, how a woman would respond to the same scenario.
I’m glad you’re a sensitive soul. Stay that way. And good luck with the horror writing.
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I’m glad your friend got out. Thank-you!
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