Sign this Petition!

Several days ago, the House voted to make huge cuts in this year’s budget. Poverty-fighting, cost-effective programs—which make up less than one percent of the US budget—were sharply cut. Some key programs that fight AIDS, malaria and hunger were cut by 40%. Programs that promote long-term economic growth were chopped up to 30%. We know Congress faces tough choices on the budget, but these cuts fall hardest on the people who can least afford them.

Now it’s the Senate’s turn to weigh in on the budget—and we’ve got to let them know that they must preserve this funding. Cuts to these life-saving programs will have a real, immediate and devastating impact on the world’s poor.

This is what the petition reads:

Dear Senators, Please do not cut cost-effective, proven programs that fight HIV/AIDS, hunger and preventable disease in this year's budget. These programs--which make up less than one percent of the budget--save millions of lives, strengthen our national security, and help lift people out of poverty for the long-term.

FOLLOW THIS LINK AND ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS IMPORTANT PETITION.

Petition found by Erica McCauley

Erica's Experience with Francis Bok

Here is what senior Erica McCauley had to say about her encounter with Francis Bok this past Tuesday:

"Mr. Bok was an incredible inspiration to listen to. He was able to describe to us his past. He was ripped from his family and friends and held captive for 10 years. The day he was taken, was the last day that he ever saw his parents. He mentioned that he would lie awake at night while he was enslaved thinking, "Is there anybody out there to love me?" He described how he was beaten, and treated like a dog. He told a story about how his master's wife would not allow him to look at her, and if they made eye contact, she would proceed to beat and spit on her. He ended his discussion by encouraging the students that life is NOT permanent, and that anything can change if you put your mind to it. He explained that he was just a boy, and thought his life would always be the same: enslaved, unloved, and miserable. However, he chose to escape, and make his life better. He now fights for the freedom of South Sudanese slaves, and education for children. I spoke with him after the show, and told him about International Justice Mission on campus, and he said that he looked forward to getting in contact with us. :0)"


 We will keep you informed about any future developments!

Invisible Children Monday!

On Monday, Feb. 28^th, at Meiley Swallow Hall the Invisible Children Program, a grassroots organization that raises funds and awareness for social problems in Uganda, will present a heart-tugging film titled “Tony.”

                 

The group’s three California- based filmmakers began constructing the piece nearly eight years ago. It chronicles the adolescence of Tony Bazillo, a boy growing up in war-torn Uganda.

                 

Tony is probably like you and me were as teenagers; a goofy, self-conscious youth who garnered attention by donning fake mustaches and painting his toenails purple. Instead of going to school and cracking chemistry calculations, however, Tony spent his golden years sleeping in shelters and evading the evil rebel group, the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army).

“I invite the whole world to join me, and en this terror,” says Tony in the film’s preview as he embraces his tragic past in hopes of gaining empathy for Uganda from his peers.

Once again, the film will be shown at Meiley Swallow on Feb, 28^th, 7 P.M. at Meilly Swallow, and is sponsored by a new, Africa-focused group on North Central College’s campus. The screening is free, and is open to students and the public. 

We Made a Difference!

This is a letter sent from the organization (Global Exchange) linked with 'The Dark Side of Chocolate' and the petition that so many of you signed. Here is tangible evidence that our voices ARE making a difference:

Hershey CEO David West received a surprise this Valentine’s Day!

A box of flowers was delivered directly to West’s office, containing handmade valentines from children outraged at Hersheys’ continued use of cocoa that has not been certified to be free of child labor or cocoa prices that perpetuate poverty.  The valentines ask Hershey to go Fair Trade.

Check out this must-see web page to view nearly 200 cute, funny valentines included in the box or sent directly to Hershey.

This action to continue the pressure on Hershey was coordinated by Global Exchange and our Raise the Bar Campaign partners International Labor Rights Forum, Green America and Oasis.  Thanks to so many of YOU for participating by mailing your valentines to David West at Hershey.

Hershey Trust President Bob Reese (of peanut butter cup family fame) filed a court complaint just days before Valentine’s Day, accusing Hershey Trust board members of serious violations of their duties.  The allegations include personal financial gain and benefits at the expense of the orphanage that Hershey Company profits support, including a controversial real estate transaction, and improperly funding Republican party events.  Reese was sacked the same day.

Read more here.

The Raise the Bar Hershey Campaign sheds light on Hershey’s failure to end the unethical use of child, forced, and trafficked labor.  This scandal shows that there is a pattern of unethical practices at the Hershey Company.

National Valentine’s Day of Action:  Thank you!

Thanks to each and every one of you that reached out to educators or taught students about Fair Trade using Global Exchange’s Fair Trade curriculum.  Once again, we reached thousands of students with our important messages detailing how free trade perpetuates poverty, labor abuses, and environmental degradation, and how Fair Trade presents a solution.

Our Fair Trade curriculum can be taught all year long, so if you are and educator or know one, visit this page.

To learn more about our Hershey Campaign, please visit http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/raisethebarhershey.html

Destroying the Glue of a Society

Rape in the Democratic Republic of Congo 

The link above will take you to a ten minute documentary by Marcus Bleasdale that discusses the impacts that rape used as a tool of war has on a society. Most of his research derives from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This documentary is incredibly informative, real and devestating.

From Senior Erica McCauley

'Lost Boys' -> Sudan's Child Soldiers

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For ‘Lost Boy,’ Vote in Sudan Is Homecoming

 

The election for the indefinite split of Northern and Southern Sudan has brought many people back to their motherland, including refugees and ex-combatants. In particular, there is a group that has been named the, “Lost Boys”. These boys were abducted at the beginning of the war, and thought they would never be heard from again. This article briefly describes the pain of being torn from your family, and also of reintegrating into a society after so many years. 

What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng

 

        This is a book authored by Dave Eggars, written in 2006. It is based off of real life stories from Valentino Achak Deng- a former child soldier in the Sudanese civil war the previous article describes. 

 

 Information from Erica McCauley

EVENT OPPORTUNITY!

Francis Bok, whose autobiography Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity and My Journey to Freedom in America addresses his enslavement in his native Sudan from age 7-17 and his work in the United States as an abolitionist, will be speaking at Aurora East High School at 7:30 p.m. on February 22nd in that school’s auditorium. Bok works for the American Anti-Slavery Group and Sudan Sunrise, an organization promoting peace in Sudan. He has testified before the United States Senate, conferred with former President George W. Bush, and has received honors from many colleges and universities as well as organizations such as the U.S in  Olympic Committee. Advance sale tickets (cost  $3).  Many tickets will also be available at the door.

 If you would like to attend this event, please contact Erica McCauley at ehmccauley@noctrl.edu

Afghanistan: Child Police Officers

Afghans Plan to Stop Recruiting Children as Police

Afghanistan has finally reached the point where it has received enough United Nations pressure to stop recruiting children as police officers. Afghanistan finally made the decision to take steps towards changing this issue when the United Nations put them on their “blacklist” of countries that use child soldiers. However, in Afghanistan, the children recruited to the police force are used more than just child soldiers: they are used as sex slaves for the male officers. Read more about the issue, by clicking the link above. 

 

Post by senior Erica McCauley

Also, watch this video about the Bacha Bazi. Bacha Bazi are Dancing Boys in Afghanistan. They are then used for sex. This is a flourishing organized sex trade in Afghanistan.

Informative Article on Human Slavery

Check out this highly informative essay from David Batstone entitled 'From Sex Workers to Restaurant Workers, the Global Slave Trade Is Growing.' This article provides a thorough examination of the realities of human slavery in the world today. Prepare to be hit by statistic after statistic of horrific reality. We have to keep fighting. We cannot allow the world to continue to look like this article describes. Batstone is an author/employee with Sojourners. Sojourners is a Christian organization actively fighting for social justice.

How can YOU end Child Slavery?

After viewing the film 'The Dark Side of Chocolate,' we now know the terrible realities of CHILD SLAVERY involved with chocolate production. Hundreds to thousands of children are smuggled into Cote D'Ivoire and Ghana every year to work as slaves in cocoa-bean fields. And what do the major chocolate companies in the world do about this? Nothing.

This Valentine's day, do not show your loved ones you care by purchasing chocolate that comes from Child slaves. This includes Hershey, Nestle, and all the other major chocolate companies. Look for fair trade chocolate. It is more expensive, but you can start a consumer pattern that will demand companies change their ways. It will show that we, as consumers, care about the lives of children all across the world.

Our campus chapter of the International Justice Mission would like to provide you with the first step in 'going fair-trade.' Come to Kaufman Friday and Monday from 12-2 and the Cage Saturday from 4-6 and purchase a fair-trade Valentine. If you give us your loved one's mailbox number, we will deliver this wonderful gift to them.
Come show your love for your lover and for children all around the world.

Romania a global center for human trafficking

 

Journalist David Batstone follows sex trafficking throughout Europe starting in Amsterdam (where prostitution is legal). He discovers that most of the women there have come from Eastern European states such as, Romania, Hunagry, or Bulgaria. In this article, Batstone focuses on Romania, and the increase in human trafficking. He relates the increase to the recent join to the European Union, which has allowed Romania’s borders to become more relaxed.

'The Darker Side of Chocolate'

Miki Mistrati with Not for Sale Campaign: ‘The Darker Side of Chocolate.’

The Danish journalist Miki Mistrati heard rumors about a correlation between child forced labor and the cocoa industry. Intrigued, he decided to investigate these claims himself. The realities he discovered were more shocking than he had originally inticipated. His research brought him to Mali, West Africa. What he discovered was the business of trafficking small children into the Ivory Coast to work as slaves for cocoa field industries. The children are as young as seven that are being forced into the fields. They are forced to carry loads heavier than their own weight and cut down the cocoa with extremely sharp devices. Kidnapped, unpaid and forced into dangerous labor, these children’s lives are stolen for our chocolate. 

‘The Darker Side of Chocolate’ is Mistrati’s research made into a documentary. 

The International Justice Mission at North Central College is showing this film Feb. 10 at Mieley Swallow, 7-9. Come see where our chocolate comes from.