10 campaign

Since 2006, STOP THE TRAFFIK have been running a campaign which focuses on ending child trafficking into the cocoa industry. Specific emphasis is on the major cocoa growing nations of West Africa, particularly The Ivory Coast, which together produces over a thrird of the world’s cocoa.^[8] The campaign has seen some success, with several major chocolate manufacturers agreeing to adopt Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance cocoa. Some of those who have announced this switch since the campaign began: Mars have pledged to make their Galaxybar Traffic Free by 2010, and their global range by 2020;^[9] Dutch manufacturer Verkade committed to 100% Fairtrade cocoa and sugar in their chocolate bars in the Netherlands from autumn 2008; Swiss Noir committed to Fairtrade cocoa in their chocolate bars in the Netherlands from March 2009; Cadbury committed to producing a Fairtrade Dairy Milk bar in the UK andIreland from autumn 2009.^[10][11]

Typical STOP THE TRAFFIK campaign material is often presented like this:

The truth behind your tasty treats
Over a third of the world's chocolate comes from Cote D'Ivoire, Africa.It's highly likely that your favourite chocolate bar comes from here.
Thousands of children — from within the Cote D'Ivoire and neighbouring countries — who pick and harvest these beans have been trafficked.
They have had their freedom taken away from them and are forced to work long hours on the cocoa plantations without receiving any money for their work.
In 2001 the ICI (International Cocoa Initiative) was set up as part of the Harkin–Engel Protocol to combat trafficking in the chocolate industry.
Although small scale community projects have been set up, the ICI actually promised to eradicate the worst forms of child labour, including trafficking, by 2005.

• They missed the deadline.
• They then extended the deadline to 2008.
• We are still waiting.

We want the chocolate industry to live up to its promises and give us traffik free chocolate.

Freedom Relay Canada

Canadians march to “STOP THE TRAFFICKING!”

         Freedom Relay launches cross-Canada event

For immediate release:

From Newfoundland to British Columbia - Canadians are saying “Make It Stop!”

Human Trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery, forces vulnerable people into unpaid labour and sexual exploitation. It is a global problem and Canada and our communities are not spared. Canada is regarded as a source, transit and destination country for victims of human trafficking.

For the first time a concerted effort is underway to unite Canadians and organizations in putting an end to the misery, fear and destruction of human lives caused by this terrible crime.

The Freedom Relay is organized by the Chrysalis Anti-Human Trafficking Network and  Stop The Traffik,Canada, in collaboration with NGO’s across the country.

“The problem of human trafficking begins in a community, and we believe the solution to human trafficking also begins in a community,” says Jacqueline Linder, Executive Director of Chrysalis.  “By participating in this national freedom relay, Canadians are saying: ‘Make it stop!”

The relay begins September 17^th in St. John’s Newfoundland. It then moves across the country and concludes in Vancouver on October 1^st.

The relay is a series of events organized locally (see below for details) but are united by common purpose.

“The relay is about unlocking the chains – and the keys are awareness, support for victims, a national strategy, legislation and law enforcement,” Linder says. “This event is creating a network to bring these pieces together, and to bring ordinary Canadians into the fight.” 

http://www.freedomrelaycanada.com.

Relay Dates, information

Relay Dates

1) Sat, Sept 17 - Newfoundland
2) Sat, Sept 17 - Montreal (relay info)
3) Sat, Sept 17 - Ottawa (relay info)
4) Sat, Sept 17 - London (relay info)
5) Sat, Sept 17 - York Region (relay info)
6) Sun, Sept 18- Toronto (relay info)
7) Sat, Sept 24 - Winnipeg (relay info)
8) Sun, Sept 25 - Saskatoon (relay info)
9) Sun, Sept 25 - Edmonton (relay info)
9) Sat, Oct 1 – Vancouver

For more information; interview requests: 

Mike Linder, Chrysalis Network: 780 504 0329
Linder.comm@gmail.com
http://www.chrysalisnetwork.org/

The Chrysalis Network is a national organization that provides free, confidential trauma counselling service to women and men who have been trafficked and exploited for the purposes of commercial sex and forced labour.

STOP THE TRAFFIK is a global movement of individuals, communities and organizations fighting to prevent the sale of people, protect the trafficked and prosecute the traffickers. It has more than 1000 member organizations in 50 countries and tens of thousands of activists all over the world.

 

Freedom Relay Canada was inspired by the Freedom Ticket For Life relay created by Stop The Traffik.  The Canadian relay is organized by the Chrysalis Anti-Human Trafficking Network and Stop the Traffik, Canada in collaboration with NGO’s across the country.

         

www.pact-ottawa.org

      www.actalberta.org

      mobilizingmen.com

       www.freethem.ca

Freedom Relay Canada

http://www.freedomrelaycanada.com.

 www.freedomrelaycanada.com

The TV tells lies.

My son came upstairs upset and furious at the television.

think about what you watch... 

We've recently gotten a basic cable package for free with our internet and phone provider - this is new for our family. I've always tried to teach my son that the TV is at best a marketing toy - it's designed to make you want to buy things and make you feel less of a person if you don't. We've pretty much talked a lot about it. But I was surprised when he came upstairs and announced to our entire company (we host a small group at our place) in a very loud voice, 'The TV lies!' It was a proud day for me.
Of course he was suggesting that a specific commercial just simply wasn't true but the entire statement is a good one when we are talking about identifying ways in which we 'buy in' to a dominate culture group.

Have you ever tried to shut off the media/TV/internet for a season? A day? A week? What happens to your life?? It's an experiment that has been sorely lacking in anyone giving it a go?
The television is case in point - it constantly speaks a world dominate massage with vivid colour and life-like precision. I think it was in the book A Brave New World that Aldous Huxley painted this picture of the future where books weren't banned they just were no longer needed - people used to sit in front of this 'mood box' for a few hours every night to feel better. At the time it was science fiction - hmmmm. I wonder how much exciting community involvement and betterment could be done in the amount of time we give to our endless entertainment through sitting around watching a little box that tells us lies.
If you can't shut off you TV at least listen to the lies and begin to identify them as such. My son is ahead of us on this. Say it out loud - proclaim it to the heaven lies. Let the whole world know that if you are going to watch TV - it will LIE TO YOU and it will lie to you blatantly and without apology. Who knows - maybe a no TV revolution is in our future?

Recognition: the first step

Somebody once said that the first way we contribute to injustice is to choose not to see it. It's a good point. And I'd also suggest that the first way we contribute to our own oppression is to choose not to see it. Many people in places of oppression suggest that not dealing with it is easier than dealing with it. This is true for the short-term. You can imagine the big speech that William Wallace gives to his scared scottish  friends facing the professional formal army of the English... 'fight and you may die. run and you may live - for a while, as a slave.  But lying in your beds 20 years from now wouldn't you give all your years from this one to that one for just one chance to fight for your FREEDOM.'

the question is to we long for freedom? and do we even know what freedom looks like?
If we've been defining our freedom by the worlds standards (economic prosperity, scenic beautiful living rooms of perfection, the perfect body, success etc...) than how do we know when we've become enslaved in the 'culture' of the world. It's most likely when we look back and realize that more than 2/3rds of our lives were spent working for the money to spend on the perfect life that left us empty and longing for something more... but by that time we think an affair and a hot vehicle will satisfy the ache (because that's what the world tells us) and we throw away our family, home, and deep relationships for something quick, easy and emotionally shallow and again, it's not until it's too late that we realize that too was another lie - rooting us further in our own oppression.
Recognising oppression is half the battle.
So, I ask myself. Where is my definition of freedom coming from?
What is it?
For me it looks like abandonment, and surrender. I understand from the scriptures that a deeply surrendered life leads to freedom. Freedom to be who God says I am. Freedom to say yes to God no matter the consequences. Freedom to challenge the 'norm' and question the 'normal' and live a different way. Freedom to not even care what my neighbours think but to invite them to join the Kingdom party. Freedom to use my recourses freely - instead of hoarding them and locking myself into a life of protectionism of epic proportions (locks, alarms, more locks, secret codes, secret banks etc...).

I'm looking for a freedom found in Christ. With no ownership He lived a meaningful and colourful life. Not owned by anyone, except His Father - He was ultimately free to say yes to God all the time.
I'm aiming for that kind of freedom and I recognize that this world I live in does not promote that kind of freedom. And I'm beginning to recognize that I have a need. What a great step towards the way I was truly born to live.

the silence is over

Well, I've been a total slacker in the blog world. My apologies.
I have been writing elsewhere - but there really are no good excuses. So, instead of getting kicked off of Stephen Court's blogroll I've decided to pick up the slack and give it another go.
Thanks for your patience. :-)
I've been contemplating a new book with Jonathan Evans around the Exodus. After doing some workshops of that title at Soul Survivor I've realized again just how important this topic is. How do we get out of a culture that is so dominant - like excessive capitalism for example (I'll unpack this in some future blogs). But, I've been thinking a lot about how our 'normal' becomes normal. And the realities around that. For example: exercise. For some people a 10km run is a totally normal thing - and for others it's a crazy thought or simply a dream for crazy people.
I lived in an abnormal neighbourhood called The Downtown Eastside of Vancouver for years. And a few of us got so used to crazy as normal that we decided we would point out the things that weren't normal. So, a pregnant drug addict coming up to my newly engaged friends announcing that they have the perfect wedding gift - their baby!! is NOT normal and yet it is also normal. It's all in your perspective. Which begs the question - do we have the right perspective.
More of this later.
Glad we are talking again. :-)