Hi again, Friends:
I just wanted to share a few more thoughts about the Tsunami and how it is affecting people in south and Southeast Asia.
One of the horror stories is that human traffickers have started to move into the refugee camps set up for survivors of the Tsunami. If it weren't bad enough that many children have been orphaned by this disaster and now have to live in these make shift camps, they now have to deal with human predators.
The traffickers are looking for children which they can then either sell into the prostitution trade or sell as labor. As you probably know, South and Southeast Asia have been combating both of these problems with only moderate success over the last several years.
Complicating this has been the increasing amount of cheap labor available in China (off-shoring has not only hurt the American job market, but it hurts those in South and Southeast Asia, who in general earn higher wages than those in China). Hence, those people who would traffic in humans have seen the perfect opportunity for them to ply their trade.
Again, you can help by doing small things. Even if you are unable to donate, you can write letters to your elected officials and newspapers to help raise awareness of the problem.
You can learn more if you go to the Child Wise web site at http://www.childwise.net While they are an Australian organization, they work directly with Asian governments to help combat the problem.
Also, if you have experience setting up or operating a Non Profit Organization, please E-Mail me at jay@siamese-dream.com since we are trying to set up an NPO to help provide education and vocational training to children who are at risk of being lured into the flesh trade.
Thanks in advance for your concern and your help.
Sincerely,
Ms. Jay
|
