I am honored to welcome back guest blogger Jovon Tucker from Book2Buzz Productions. Today Jovon talks about Polaris Project.
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Human trafficking…modern slavery…sex trafficking. Words that one year ago I thought applied to the developing world, to Brazil, to Aruba, to countries far far away from where I sit in the United States. No. Human trafficking is very real and very close to home, all over the world and growing at a very sad rate in the U.S. Human trafficking is happening right now!
Polaris Project – The Mission
Polaris Project is a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Named after the North Star “Polaris” that guided slaves to freedom along the underground railroad.
Polaris Project is transforming the way that individuals and communities respond to human trafficking in the U.S., and globally by successfully pushing for stronger federal and state laws, operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline, conducting trainings, and providing vital services to victims of trafficking. Polaris Project creates long-term solutions that move our society closer to a world without slavery.
Sad Truths
Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries. The U.S. government and academic researchers are currently working on an up-to-date estimate of the total number of trafficked persons in the United States annually.
One Hundred Thousand children are estimated to be in the sex trade in the United States each year, it is clear that the total number of human trafficking victims in the U.S. reaches into the hundreds of thousands when estimates of both adults and minors, sex trafficking and labor trafficking are aggregated.
Labor traffickers use violence, threats, lies, and other forms of coercion to force people to work against their will in many different industries. Common types of labor trafficking include people forced to work in homes as domestic servants, farm workers coerced through violence as they harvest crops, or factory workers held in inhumane conditions with little to no pay.
How can you help?
You can help end these atrocities by being vigilant in recognizing the signs and getting help to that person. The following list includes but is not limited to some red flags for victims of trafficking:
- Recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work.
- High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations.
- If a person is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes.
- Person is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts.
- Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager.
- Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips.
- Has few or no personal possessions.
- Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account.
- Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport).
- Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture.
- Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement.
- Avoids eye contact.
You can also make a donation to Polaris Project to keep their organization running and help end modern slavery! To find out more information on Polaris Project, get involved, or make a donation, click HERE!
How is Book2Buzz Productions doing their part?
As a woman who loves reading, helping and children in general, I, Jovon Tucker, make regular donations to this organization! As a business woman who uses her business to help make a difference, Book2Buzz Productions donates $5 for every book trailer package sold!
You can do the same! If you do not wish to create your own fundraising page, you can make your donation to the fundraising page of Book2Buzz Productions.
If you are an author in need of a high quality, unique and AFFORDABLE book trailer, then why not visit the Book2Buzz Productions website to see exactly what we have to offer you. Keep in mind that with every trailer created, $5 is donated to either Room to Read OR Polaris Project…your choice!
In case you missed it, read Jovon’s article on Room to Read.
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Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries. Let’s hope for greater awareness for this sad problem that affects many throughout the world!
By Augusto (Gus) Venegas
@ Gillian, you look gorgeous. The subject Polaris is so shocking and yet so real. I like the name Polaris as it was a star that guides slaves through the Underground Railroad. I am glad that somebody is doing something about this huge problem.
I work on another Railroad project, the trafficking of north Korean refugees in China. It is very difficult as China hides them well in factories along the border with North Korea. It has nothing to do with the Chinese government. Their philosophy is to repatriate them to North Korea where they are usually shot.
Life is so bad in North Korea that many refugees are ready to take immense risks to get out of the country.
Recently, the Toronto police has arrested hundreds of pedophiles involving hundreds of thousands children around the world but mostly in the Toronto area. It was so dispiriting to find out that among the pedophiles, there were church ministers, teachers and police officers. It could be anyone, even your neighbours.
If Canada can have such a large network of sexually abused children, I wonder what it must be in the US with a much larger population.
We thought that all slaves in the States had been freed but it is not the case. Thank you for bringing this subject to our attention.
Romy Kerwin
By Romy Kerwin
Thanks Romy! It is scary to see this happening right under our noses. I had no idea about how bad it was in Canada. I knew it existed and had an idea about China. What measures are in place to help victims in Canada? If you ever want to do a piece on my website I would love to have you! Gillian
The matter has gone hush-hush. First of all, the identity of the children must be protected and this kind of operation is usually ultra secret to catch the organizers as well as the pedophiles. The head of this organization was in Canada but had customers all over the world. There were quite a few from the US.
From time to time, we are learning about such discoveries and it seems to be a never ending problem. There is trafficking of young women everywhere as well, especially in Japan and the US. Young university students from Korea, especially are lured into ” entertainment establishments ” where they completely disappeared. Their passport are removed and they are forced to prostitute themselves. It is so discouraging yet it happens.
The trafficking of children is worse, all over the world.
I do not think that I have enough information to do a piece for your newspaper but I will let you know of future ” discoveries “.
Greetings,
Romy
By Romy Kerwin