October vs Human Trafficking

This has been a good month for the fight against human trafficking and modern day slavery! So much seems to be happening in terms of legislation being stepped up and people standing up to this oppression and fighting for freedom!

- 16th October marked the end of  Freedom Challenge (The A21 Campaign), the 11 day cycle via the major trafficking routes in Europe. 

- 18th October this month was Anti-Slavery Day, which was brilliant! So much awareness was raised by so many individuals and organisation. 

- This month The A21 Campaign also launched their pilot high school curriculum in the USA (contact them via their site for more details).

- New legislation will mean that traffickers can be given life sentences now, rather than a cap of 14 years: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24571971 and http://news.sky.com/story/1156086/slavery-fight-to-stop-traffickers-steps-up

- Spokespeople like Lisa Kristine spoke out again about slavery and the fact that more than 30million people are enslaved today (more than double the amount of those taken in the entire transatlantic slave trade from Africa): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMLoxLUPWhw 

- The A21 Campaign South Africa launched recently and has been hosting incredible events ever since, including their National Anti-Slavery Week.

- My friend posted a #throwbackthursday of the Run3KforFreedom event that we planned earlier this year that raised over £1,200 and it encouraged me to think of what we could do next year with more planning and advertising!

I just wanted to share some of this with you to encourage and inspire you! Please, never give up on fighting for the millions of people who are enslaved, or to forget the one: the mother, sister, daugther, father, son... who has been stripped of their rights and dignity and subjected to abuse every day.

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” {Helen Keller}

"It takes just one thought, one action and one voice to make a difference. What will be your one today?" {Ndaba Mandela, The Mandela Project}

Blessings!

Ronell x

 {photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153380442255089&set=a.10153377959065089.1073741825.143678730088&type=1&relevant_count=1}

CHIME for CHANGE! Women's Rights Campaigns

CHIME FOR CHANGE IS A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WORKING TO PROMOTE EDUCATION, HEALTH AND JUSTICE FOR EVERY GIRL, EVERY WOMAN, EVERYWHERE. CHIME FOR CHANGE, FOUNDED BY GUCCI, IS A NEW GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR GIRLS' AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT.

CHIME FOR CHANGE serves to convene, unite and strengthen the voices speaking out for girls and women around the world. We focus on three key areas: Education, Health and Justice. CHIME FOR CHANGE is powered by Catapult, the first crowd-funding site where people can make real change happen for girls and women. Through Catapult, nonprofit organizations post their projects and people can find and fund the issues that speak to them the most. 

CHIME FOR CHANGE, backed by a whole host of celebrities, is seeking to change the world by starting with basic rights for girls and women around the world. Please visit the site to watch videos about the many causes supported by CHIME FOR CHANGE to learn more about the amazing projects that they are involved with and the causes that they are fighting for.

To keep in the loop, sign up for updates. 

You can also buy tickets for the SOUND OF CHANGE LIVE concert on 1st June 2013 to raise awareness of and money for health, justice and education for women and girls.

Please help this cause to promote and continue with the fight for equality and freedom for women and girls!

Blessings!

Ronell x

January: National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the US

As I have mentioned previously, human trafficking is one of the closest causes to my heart. I have posted about it a lot, so today when I saw a post by the A21 Campaign in my facebook feed, I knew I had to share! So below is information shared by the A21 Campaign about how awareness about human trafficking is being raised in the US in particular:

Just a few weeks into 2013, the dark industry of sex trafficking is being brought to light and people are committing to change. It’s been mainstream media and unlike many passing trends, this isn’t a social justice cause; it’s human rights.

In one of the most significant efforts towards awareness, January has been declared National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the United States. If you haven’t read President Obama’s proclamation, read it here. And tomorrow, Friday, is a day designated to spreading awarenes

Come alongside The A21 Campaign for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day:

Be a voice for the voiceless by sharing why abolition in the 21^st century is important to YOU! Go on Twitter or Instagram and use the #BeCause hashtag. It could be your personal declaration, photos of yourself in #BeCause gear, or you get really creative with text designs. Go to our Facebook page and write on our wall about why you are making a difference.

Are you involved #BeCause ? One moment of our time could mean a lifetime of freedom for someone!

Maybe #BeCause there are 27 million in slavery today, our generation MUST move to action.

Or maybe everything else just became a little less important #BeCause you found a way to make the world a better place.

We’ll share, retweet, repost, and highlight why YOU are involved from our own social media platforms. We’ll be doing this from Friday, January 11 – Wednesday, January 15.

This year we are going to make significant strides towards truly abolishing modern slavery. Kick it off by sharing why you’re taking a stand!

Thank you for support for this amazing cause!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.” {Isaiah 40v28-29}

21 Ways to get involved with the A21 Campaign (14/21): Unite and Conquer!

United we stand, divided we fall. The core values of the A21 Campaign rest upon the collaborative efforts of those in the fight against human trafficking. Together we are stronger than when we are separate.

Today’s challenge is to unite and conquer, whether that is socially as suggested in the post party with a purpose, or meeting new people online in forums or at events that combat human trafficking.

British Ministers have also been focusing on human trafficking in the run up to and follow up after the London 2012 Olympics, recognising the definite need for unity in order to tackle this vast issue:

“We cannot effectively tackle the problem in isolation.  It is a transnational crime, and it requires a transnational response. We are working internationally on prevention through education and alleviating poverty. We are strengthening our borders to catch gangs and rescue victims. We also want to see greater protection for those victims, allowing them to return home and receive the support and aftercare they need.” {Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire}

“Our aim is to build on our collective efforts with international partners so far to continue to support victims and to identify and punish the perpetrators.” {Home Office Minister Mark Harper}

So enroll your friends and enlist your classmates in the fight for freedom! Together we can stand against the injustice of slavery – whatever you do, don’t do it alone!

Search online for events near you. If you are in America, the Polaris Project lists US events on their site: http://www.polarisproject.org/take-action/attend

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” {Ecclesiastes 4v9-12}

21 Ways to get involved with the A21 Campaign (12/21): be an abolitionist- start a revolution! (NB BearFaced for Children in Need today!)

I hope you remembered to go ‘BearFaced’ for Children in Need today ladies! (Children in Need asked women across the UK to show their natural beauty and wear no make-up for BearFaced Day – today). I just want to say a big thank you to my friends Iman and Alicia who supported this cause with me today- thanks guys! (and a big thank you to anyone else who joined in!)

Today’s post is a continuation of the  21 ways to support the A21 in the fight against modern day slavery and human trafficking (12/21): be an abolitionist- start a revolution!

Abolitionists are committed to advancing the cause of justice by engaging others in the fight against human trafficking.

Whether a student, a business person, or a mum...the A21 Campaign believes that everyONE can make a difference.

If you are still studying, join thousands of students around the world who are locking arms and taking a stand at their schools and universities! Start an awareness group at your local secondary school, college or university and get your friends involved in spreading the truth about human trafficking to your community.

If you are not studying, see if there is room for starting such an awareness group in your local community or at work.

By increasing awareness, providing education, and forming an abolition group, you as an abolitionist will be able to reach those within your sphere of influence to help identify and respond to see slavery abolished.

For more information on A21 abolition groups, or to download abolition resources, click here.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” {Isaiah 58v9-10}

UNICEF’s Day For Change 2012

UNICEF protects children’s rights. The five rights that UNICEF fights to uphold and promote are:

1.   The right to be heard

2.   The right to a childhood

3.   The right to fairness

4.   The right to education

5.   The right to health

This is your chance to get involved with this fantastic organisation and set aside a day dedicated to change. This campaign in particular is aimed at schools to promote awareness amongst children of rights that they may not be accessing and also of the millions of children around the world who have access to few, if any, of these rights.

Every year, UNICEF chooses a project: a different country and a different theme. This year, your school can help to change the lives of children Uganda by funding Sports for Development programmes.

UNICEF believes that sport can be used to engage children, developing their confidence, talent, skills and sense of teamwork. It is essential for their physical, mental and social development. But lots of children, especially girls, are being denied their right to an education. In Uganda, UNICEF is helping children realise their rights through sport.

Denying children's rights is wrong. Help us to put it right.

To find out more, go to: http://www.unicef.org.uk/Fundraise/Community-Fundraising/Schools/Day-for-Change-2012/

To register to take part in a Day for Change in 2012, go to: http://www.unicef.org.uk/asp/regions/events/registration_dayforchange/index.asp . If you are unable to get involved with Day for Change 2012, start planning now for a Day for Change in 2013!

To watch/share a video about UNICEF’s Day for Change, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgZECRy6PU

Register now for a free resources kit! Every school that registers receives a free resource kit packed with fundraising ideas, assembly and lesson plans, real life stories, stickers, posters and much more to make their Day for Change a success. Schools can also download additional resources or print out extra copies on our Day for Change 2011 resources page.

If you do not work in a school, you can still help to make a difference!

-       If you have children, nieces, nephews or friends whose children go to school, pass this on to them to suggest to their school.

-       Pass this on to your friends who may work in schools.

-       Pass this on to schools in your local area.

-       Organise your friends and family to fundraise for UNICEF, or do your own, unofficial Day for Change and donate the proceeds directly to UNICEF!

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Safeguarding the rights of others is the most noble and beautiful end of a human being.” {Khalil Gibran}