Still fighting the battle of slavery

Give me your tired, your poor,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

This famous quote from a Emma Lazarus poem “is graven on a tablet within the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands,” and is included at the beginning of the Trafficking in Persons Report of 2008.

With the word freedom we patriotically ring our bells, clap our hands, cheer, and wave our national American flag, but unfortunately modern-day slavery still plagues us.

Since 2000, the Secretary of State has submitted annually the Trafficking in Persons Report to Congress.

“‘This report covers ‘severe forms of trafficking in persons’ defined as:

‘(a) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or (b) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.”

Condoleezza Rice says:

The goal of this Report is to shine a light on recent accomplishments and encourage governments in their resolve to confront those who prey on the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. Together, we are confident that this modern, growing abolitionist movement will continue to rescue,
rehabilitate, and restore the lives of those from whom so much has been taken.

Ambassador Mark P. Lagon says:

We remain committed to acting as a voice for the voiceless—an advocate for the prostituted woman or child, the exploited domestic worker, the trapped agricultural laborer. Their bondage demands our attention and is worthy of our efforts.

The government seems to be making an effort to extend annual awareness with the goal of preventing modern-day slavery, but just how aware are we?  What measures is the government taking to inform the public and prevent the action?

Check out the report!

On The Ground with Nicholas Kristof

Only days ago ended the deadline for the third annual reporting expedition with The New York Times very own, Nicholas Kristof.  February 13 marked the cut-off for aspiring young individuals -university age- to dictate by video, essay or both, reasons why they should be the next lucky chosen to accompany Kristof on a stint in Africa for two weeks.

Kristof has no consistent method for his selection, but like every great journalist, the student must have good communication skills, understand blogging and vlog, and stand out above the rest of the competition.  No easy task!

This competition can be categorized as “once in a lifetime,” for how often is it that one gets to travel across the world with a journalist/reporter in the opportunity to learn from their mentorship.

Here are some comments to the Win A Trip blog:
“I believe it was Stalin who said, “The death of one person is a tragedy. The death of 25,000 is a statistic.” You have done a good job of personalizing the tragedies around the world, but unfortunately most us of just don’t get it.”
— Kenneth Bannerman

“Many Americans are very concerned about the situation of poverty and violence in the world, but are lacking in knowledge about what they can do to help. Sometimes people read advertisements for charities, but the public doesn’t know which charities are effective or ethical. Also, the public is not clear about how America can have a positive impact. The attention given to the hawk was probably the result of knowing that a specific action for a specific purpose would get a result. The problems in foreign countries seem overwhelming. So I think one goal of the journalism should be to inform people of where their efforts or contributions can result in progress being made. I think people would contribute the effort and money they can if they knew how the money will be used and what results will be achieved.”
— LAS, Redmond, WA

“I’m afraid that you are getting a self selected group of applicants. My son is smart, mostly engaged, and on one level a ruthless thinker. He would never apply to your contest, and if he were dragged over to Africa with you, would challenge your every premise starting with a Darwinian position.

I grew up in the third world, had malaria and typhoid as a child, and know whereof you speak. I’m afraid that the US is full of people like my son. If you could figure out how to reach them, that would represent a great stride indeed.”
— tveye 52

For this trip Kristof has the desire to select an individual that will personalize the objective view and add a student’s approach to the field.  He is always in search for new angles to tackle a topic and wants to see the world through different eyes and perspectives than his own.  Something we should all strive for.

I’m curious to see what this trip will detail for us what is “new” in Africa –giving voice to the voiceless.

A World Affair

It was in late October, 2008 -a chilly afternoon -when my friend Sarah and I heard an approaching ROAR from the narrow streets of Granada, Spain.  Our curiosity sent us running to the edge to see masses of people coming forth with fighting words of espanol and arms thrusting upward in proclamation formation.  Innocent bystanders we became of an education protest.

Granada’s main industry is la Universidad de Granada, or Granada University.  My friend later informed me that the protest had to do with the University taking away or minimizing financial support such as loans and grants.  The students were furious.

Today as we -the United States of America- enter in to another year, we continue in a mysterious dark alley known as recession.  In December of 2008, The National Bureau of Economic Research declared that the U.S. has been in a recession since December 2007.  WOW!  This period of reduced economic activity has been happening for a year already!  I know we all evidently recognized this recession in the burnt hole of our pocket books from sky-rocketing gas prices.  Even the price of milk one could choke on.  But this economic hardship has set in at the turn of a new leaf, with a new President, and a new year.  I think we all realize it might get a little worse before it gets better.  Lakshman Achuthan, managing director of Economic Cycle Research Institute, said that at this point, the only solution for the recession is time.  Achuthan states “there’s lots of gloom, but we don’t see doom.”

But we are not alone in this gloom.  Our world is in financial crisis.  The effects of a recession include: trade, inflation, high prices, unemployment, etc.  Government leaders at the World Economic Forum feel at the moment that the solution to the financial crisis remains elusive. They are careful to suggest policies that might crimp trade. “Trade is part of the solution of the global crisis,” said Switzerland’s Economy Minister Doris Leuthard.  “In fact, free trade could serve as the largest economic stimulus package to revive the global economy and fight poverty,” she said.

America.  The nation most consider to be the greatest in the world.  Number one.  If this nation is in fear of economic depression, I can only imagine how our condition might affect the rest of the world.

I received an email a couple days ago from my friend in Granada, Spain.  He informs me that they as well are facing severe economic situations.  Granada is affected hard because their city is not as developed as other cities in Spain or throughout Europe.  In the words of Miguel… “this will be a crisis.”

Curiosity: a strong desire to know or learn something

Michael Berryhill said once in our evening class that as a journalist you do not necessarily have to know a whole lot, you just have to be curious.  Ever since I was a little girl I approached life curiously questioning the whys of conditions or unknown situations.  Nightly news interviews captured my attention as convicted serial killers, famous political figures, and the occasional everyday family responded to deep questions about the story they intentionally or unintentionally became a part of.  I was attracted to the story and I wanted to know more.  How I pictured myself in that cranberry sofa cheer gaining insight or perhaps wisdom from the message I received.  How I saw myself across the world risking everything for the truth; finding the story.

Passion.  It starts with passion.  I believe a great journalist has to have passion.  Passion for the truth.  Passion for the story.  And even passion for the people it may influence.

Some subjects I am passionate about are people and about the world including the different cultures.  Because of this, I am drawn to social issues such as poverty, human trafficking, hunger, aids, etc.  Right now one of the heightened social issues of America is the economy.  I would like to not only look at the effect the economical crisis has on the U.S. but how it affects the world at large.  I plan to take my curiosity to greater levels.