Saturday, October 16, 2010

Creative Writing Blog Assignment: Invisible Chains Book Reading

According to End Modern-Day Slavery an online resource, Invisible Chains is the first book on human trafficking in Canada. The book is based on three-years of research with police officers, social workers and others on the front-lines, the book seeks to expose the problem, inform Canadians and dramatically improve Canada’s response to this hidden national tragedy. Award-winning law professor Benjamin Perrin exposes the tactics of ruthless traffickers, shares compassionate stories of survivors, and makes recommendations for government, law enforcement, companies, parents and average Canadians to end modern-day slavery in our country.

On October 13, 2010, Benjamin Perrin was at McNally Robinson Booksellers at Grant Park Shopping Centre promoting his new book Invisible Chains.  He was doing much more than promotion though.  He was raising awareness of the horrible crime of human Trafficking.  There was standing room only in the Atrium and the crowd was listening intently.  Member of Parliament Joy Smith was on site as well.  She shared the same passion for the cause.   

Perrin founded Future Group in 2002.  His research indicated that between 2006 and 2008. The top-four sources of victims of human trafficking were from Romania, the Philippines, Moldova and China.  Trafficking victims are typically brought to Canada to work in the sex trade or forced labour states Perrin.  Perrin informed the crowd that there is a difference between sex slavery and prostitution.  Perrin informs his audience that sex slavery involves horrible conditions.  The individuals are treated like livestock.  Victims can be trafficked as early as nine years old.  Tricking an individual into sex slavery is the worst lie you can tell someone . 

His talk was very inspirational and he left his audience with ten things one can do to combat human trafficking:
Tell Someone: Share information
Help Heroes : Support Organizations that help survivors
Raise Awareness: Host an awareness event
Call for Change: Contact your municipal, provincial and federal politicians
Take A Stand:
Let Your Dollar: Talk: Buy fair trade products
Speak Up
Be A Woman Against Human Trafficking: Talk to males you know about the realities of women and girls exploited in the sex industry
Be A Man against Human Trafficking: Don't pay for sex or go to commercial places where commercial sex acts take place
Report It: Be aware of the signs of human trafficking in your community, at work and when travelling
Report suspicious activity to your local police, or Crime Stoppers by calling -800-222-8477

I was so inspired by his Perrin's Passion for this cause, I wanted to help raise awareness.

Thank you for reading and please pass this information along.  Together, we are stronger.


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