Fighting Human Trafficking; here and there

HERE

This Sunday, at Cottonwood, we are planning a special day to find out how we can help fight human trafficking in simple ways, every day, right here at home.

In America, we are able to purchase goods at extremely low prices. One reason for this is that we import goods that are very cheap. The sad thing is that many times, we unknowingly are buying goods that are made by slaves; yes, men, women, and children who are slaves; who are paid nothing for doing very hard work in incredibly difficult and unsafe conditions. Or, maybe they are paid, but they are paid only pennies a day for long hours of labor. We abhor the thought of exploiting people who have no hope of a decent life. Yet, we often have no idea what to do about it.

On Sunday, November 21, at Cottonwood, we will have a Fair Trade Meal, serving only food that is grown using fair labor practices. After the meal, a speaker will share practical ways that we can purchase every day items that are guaranteed to be produced or manufactured by people who are paid a fair wage for their work. We will get more information on Co-operatives such are Fair Trade, Equal Exchange, and Trade as One which work to

• Employ the poor with dignified work and a living wage       
• Eliminate abuse and slavery
• Eliminate child labor
• End dependency and poverty

THERE

My daughter Katy is right now in Greece, with a group of women serving with the  A21 Campaign, which helps to fight sex trafficking of girls and women in Europe. They work to rescue the victims, and provide a safe, loving, and comforting environment, access to medical care and psychological assessment, vocational training, assistance in university education, life guidance/counseling, and access to legal assistance.

Katy’s husband heard from her this evening. The group has arrived in Thessaloniki, Greece.She said a woman was rescued from the red light district and taken to their shelter while they were eating dinner. Praise God!