To learn more about human trafficking, I read Not for Sale by David Batstone this summer (08). This book helped give direction to my life, and is still working to shape the career and educational paths I want to take. For many years I've held an interest in Eastern Europe, it's struggles, its culture, its languages. First I learned about the terrible condition of many Romanian orphanages, which sometimes feeds into human trafficking. My mission in life is to help end the cycles that feed into the human trafficking industry; trafficking spans the globe, and even happens in my own backyard of Atlanta:
http://media.www.gsusignal.com/media/storage/paper924/news/2007/09/19/Metro/not-For.Sale.Campaign.Exposes.Sex.Trafficking.In.Atlanta-2977508.shtml
Right now I am pursuing a degree in International Affairs and am learning Russian. I already have a background in Latin and classical culture. I'm starting to plan ways that I can help raise awareness of this modern slavery. I'm a member of the group Invisible Children at UGA; we help raise awareness about the crisis in Uganda, and to educate people about the LRA and child soldiers. I think want to start my own group, just I don't enjoy speaking and organizing meetings, generally I am introverted. Now is the time to bring awareness to Atlanta, which the above article reports the FBI lists as the "number one" destination for traffickers in the US.
I like the idea of movie screenings, not sure about benefit concerts. I'm also concerned with the risks of exposing and possibly angering traffkers, who are likely mob-affiliated and very dangerous.
