Not 4 Sale

Not too long ago (as in last week) I was sitting in chapel listening to a representative from the Not 4 Sale campaign, an organization dedicated to the abolition of modern slavery. I tried to walk out of chapel that day and not think about there still being slaves in the world today. But this is something that kind of sticks with you. If you think slavery ended with the Civil War, you are horribly mistaken. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar operation, and there are some 27 million people enslaved in the world. Today. And no, that is not a typo. 27 million people (probably more, as it is hard to get an accurate count of enslaved peoples). Most are children. They will be beaten, sold into prostitution, forced to make your cheap tennis shoes, and a whole host of other horrific things. Some were kidnapped, and forced into slavery. For life. Others were sold by family members. By their parents. Slavery is real. And it is happening in our backyards. Even here, in the Land of the Free. Slavery is very real. We cannot turn a blind eye any more.

Please, take some time to read through this website. This organization is working in countries all over the world, and yes, even in our own country to end modern slavery in our life times. And we can help. Read through their information, download the App that allows you to see what companies are using slaves to produce their products, or make a pledge to help this campaign. March 13th is Freedom Sunday, and churches all over the world are rising up to help put an end to slavery. We can help. You can help. Each one of us is capable of making a major difference in the lives of people being held in slavery. This website can show you how. Will you help? Will you attempt to make a change someone's life? To donate money? To make a point to purchase things that were made without the use of slave labor? I'm not asking you to radically change the way you live. Maybe some of you will do that anyways. But you can start small. Maybe you will start buying chocolate that is made with free labor. Or maybe you'll stop buying a certain brand that is known for using slaves. (Don't know which companies are good and which are bad? The Not 4 Sale iPad/iPhone/iWhatever else app can help! It gives a grade to several big-name companies and can help you see which companies are not using slave labor) You don't have to do something drastic to make a difference. But you can make a difference.

Now you know. We can't pretend it doesn't exist any longer. Please help take a stand against the injustice of modern slavery.