I never worry about action, but only inaction.
-Winston Churchill
Not very often, am I left seeing a movie, enraged and horrified. I am very glad I watched "The WhistleBlower" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0896872/ *which was an eye opening film, which quite literally left me feeling sick to my stomach after watching. A "based on truth" drama, based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska cop who served as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and outed the U.N. for covering up the most vial and disgusting sex scandal. As a peace studies minor, and someone who once wanted to work for the UN I am saddened, and left feeling utter shame for those involved in, and what was allegedly done to the poor women of war who were brutally tortured. I do not want to paint every member of this organization with the same brush, but for those involved, and those who covered it up (which in my heart I believe to be sadly true), you make me sick to my stomach, and I don't know how you sleep at night? Please see this movie if only to spread awareness to a horrendous issue. The estimated average is anywhere up to 4 million -20 million women and children around the world (approximately 14,500 a year) are being "human/sex trafficked"- and that might be an understatement.. Unicef reports that around the world, over one million children are being trafficked every year. I have no words...
Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) was an ardent nationalist and prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. He is perhaps best remembered for the following poem:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.
If you think this doesn't affect you, you are wrong. This affects all of humanity, regardless of race, nationality, or religion. We are all citizens of the same world, and we can not sit idly by while injustice occurs. If you can bear it, please read the sex traffic facts: http://www.iast.net/thefacts.htm. It is speculated $32 billion dollars of profits are made annually, but what is the price of ones soul who allows such atrocities to occur? Who does nothing?
To learn some more information on Human Trafficking:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking
I literally was left feeling with a pit in my stomach, and the age old question, "I am only one person, what can I do to help stop this international horror?". I could not sleep thinking about the harsh truths of reality. I feel called to action, and I wanted to learn more, to do more... somehow, someway. There are so many things which occur in our world, and we may or may not know about them, in the deep recess of our minds. When someone shines a light on the harsh reality, and clears away blindness of ignorance, how can we do nothing? Sometimes, the issue is we are unaware; sometimes it's just about educating ourselves, and those around us. Sometimes it's about creating awareness and taking a call to action. If after watching this movie you are not left wondering how can I help?
If you are thinking, I am just one person, what can I do? Read here:
http://www.soroptimist.org/trafficking/stopping.html
Organizations which help to combat this are: Not for Sale-
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
The project to end human trafficking:
http://www.endhumantrafficking.org/
Coalition Against Traficking in Women:
http://www.catwinternational.org/
“Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.”- Robert Fulghum
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