A Thought Tank Dream Team?

There are so many great organizations and people doing amazing things around the world to fight child trafficking and exploitation. I wish there was a way they could all meet together for a day, or a couple of days, to put their heads together and join forces.

For example, I would love to see Gary Haugen of IJM, author Siddharth Kara, one of the Rachels from The SOLD Project (hi Rachels!), Rob Morris of Love146, and maybe one of the cool teens from Minga, just to make it really diverse and interesting.

Who would you want to hear have a discussion on prevention, education, abolition, restoration, legal justice, economic policy, and all of the other things that need to come into play to make human trafficking a thing of the past?  Who would be part of your anti-trafficking thought tank dream team?




A Conversation with Gary Haugen from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

March 30, 2009

The Biggest Picture: The Hole in Our Gospel

Sorry, guys, this is a long one! And a bit more geared toward people who consider themselves Christians, but I think there's some important things to think about no matter what you consider yourself.

I signed up to the Thomas Nelson book bloggers program awhile back and have been waiting for the right book to come along for me to take part. The way it works is that I choose a book of interest, they send it to me, I read it, and then write a small, honest review (whether I loved it or hated it) on my blog, and also post the review on a site like Amazon.com. That's the background.

So I selected a just-published book called "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, and brought it on vacation to Italy with me. I read it in about 48 hours, and have been wanting to sit down and write about it since then. To be honest, I've been putting it off, because there is so much good stuff in those 279 pages that I feel overwhelmed in tackling a write up.

As a quick overview: Richard Stearns was an idealistic Cornell/Wharton graduate who, as a young man, refused to put fine china on his wedding registry "while there were people

in the world without any food to eat." Some twenty-odd years later, he wound up being CEO of Lenox, the finest fine tableware company in the world--an irony not lost on him. This is the tone that Stearns takes when telling his story of how he was asked to leave the life of a glitzy CEO to become the head of Christian charity organization World Vision. Through a series of events that made it all-too-clear where Stearns believed God wanted him to be, he went (self-admittedly, kicking and screaming) to lead World Vision in 1998--and his life has never been the same.

World Vision "serves in nearly 100 countries and is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice." During the past ten years, Stearns has had the chance to head this organization and has traveled to hundreds of countries and met with everyone from the most esteemed global leaders to those who would be considered "the least of these." Stearns has rejoiced with rescued child soldiers forced to commit some of the greatest atrocities imaginable, and met with AIDS orphans who run "child-headed housesholds;" and on the other end of the spectrum, people like Bono call him "an action hero."

So he tells us his story; his failings; and how World Vision is tackling issues of poverty, disease, and injustice. He takes a hard, honest look at the Church in America and tells us where we have gone so terribly, terribly wrong. I really think that every churchgoing person in America should read this book. It's an absolute powerhouse. Stearns brings the hammer to what Martin Luther King Jr. called "the silence behind the anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows." But at the same time, I didn't feel beaten down when I read what he had to say. I felt convicted, and I wanted to go out and start changing the world before I even finished the last page. I've been recommending it to everyone I see, because I think it's lifechanging and livegiving.

Stearns talks about what you and I can do with our money, yes, but also our time and our talents. He makes me believe that we can actually change the world. He also reminds the Church what so many of us have forgotten, or ignored: that Jesus cares desperately about souls, yes--but he also cared if you were hungry, if you were cold, if you were sick, if you were hopeless. He cared for the entire person, in this life, and not just what would happen in the next--a.k.a., the current "hole" in our gospel. I hope this would be true for the majority of humankind; but Stearns' point is, if you say that you are a follower of Jesus, this is a non-negotiable. You should be first in line to serve, as He did.

Stearns also reminds us how absolutely rich we are--something that my pastor, Tom Sparling, has also been talking about for the past few weeks. Stearns writes,

"If your income is $25,000 per year, you are wealthier than approximately 90 percent of the world's population. If you make $50,000 per year, you are wealthier than 99% of the world! Does this shock you? Remember, of the 6.7 billion people on earth, almost half of them live on less than two dollars a day. If you don't feel rich, it's because you are comparing yourself to people who have more than you do.... Our difficulty is that we see our American lifestyles as normative, when in fact they are grossly distorted compared to the rest of the world. We don't believe we are wealthy, so we don't see it as our responsibility to help the poor. We are deceived.

It is important to put the American Church in perspective. Simply stated, it is the wealthiest community of Christians in the history of Christendom. How wealthy? The total income of American churchgoers is $5.2 trillion. It would take just a little over 1 percent of the income of American Christians to lift the poorest one billion people in the world out of extreme poverty.... A lack of money is not our problem."

And then, the challenge:

"Think about the statement it would make if American Christian citizens stepped up and gave more than all of the governments of the world combined because they took Jesus seriously when He said to love our neighbors as ourselves."

I'm only scratching the surface here. As you can tell by the picture, I dog-eared probably every other page. I'll leave you with a few quotes that Stearns pulled for the headings of his chapters, and a recommendation: read this book. I'll even send you my copy if you want. I think if enough people understood that we really do have a say in what goes on in this world, we could be a generation that makes the defining difference.

"Christ has no body on earth but yours,

no hands but yours,

no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now."

- Saint Teresa of Avila

"There is much at stake. The world we live in is under siege--three billion are desperately poor, one billion hungry, millions are trafficked in human slavery, ten million children die needlessly each year, wars and conflicts are wreaking havoc, pandemic diseases are spreading, ethnic hatred is flaming, and terrorism is growing. Most of our brothers in Christ in the developing world live in grinding poverty. And in the midst of this stands the Church of Jesus Christ in America, with resources, knowledge, and tools unequaled in the history of Christendom. I believe we stand on the brink of a defining moment. We have a choice to make." - Rich Stearns, The Hole in Our Gospel

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.

Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

- Mohandas Gandhi

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it."

"Well, why don't you ask Him?"

"Because I'm afraid He would ask me the same question." - Anonymous

"In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!

I have overcome the world."

- John 16:33

Shock Factor

Child trafficking is one of those things that a lot of people want to pretend like doesn't exist.  It's a gutwrenching subject, and something that elicits an almost visceral reaction from most the first time (and maybe every time) one thinks about it.  For some, even the mention of a topic like child sex trafficking is too painful, and the conversation never gets past the first sentence.

I'm of the opinion that we can't do that; at least, not all of us.  Someone has to stand up and say something, or else together we make Edmund Burke's famous quote the most simple, and most terrible reality.  There are a

 number of ways to raise awareness, from ribbons to videos, virtual walkathons and chalk drawings, conversations with friends and strangers, etc.  What's on my mind tonight is if there's such a thing as being too shocking, too "realistic", or too in-your-face about making people understand what is really going on?  Are there shock boundaries that we just shouldn't cross when trying to spread awareness?  

I post some uncomfortable things on this blog, but I've actually drawn the line several times on ad campaigns or news reports that are just too disturbing for me to publish in good conscience.  Where the challenge comes in is that everyone has a different threshold for what pushes them to action, and what pushes them away.   

I'm going to keep relying on my own personal sense of the scale for this particular forum: but the question on my mind tonight is, if we're going to occasionally fall on one side of the line when promoting this cause, which should it be?  Is it worth upsetting people to get a point across?  Is it "right" to censor or sanitize what's happening to make it more understandable and digestible for you and me--or does this mute our responses?  

Or, should we simply do whatever ends are necessary justify the means? 

One Day at a Time

Today, the EU announced plans to tighten laws around child prostitution, trafficking, and pornography.  The BBC story is here. 

Northern Ireland announced that comprehensive care and support services will be available to victims of human trafficking, a move that was applauded by Amnesty International.   

Thailand and Burma have pledged to sign a pact on anti-human trafficking measures.  

And here in the U.S., Akon and composer Peter Buffett are collaborating to perform "Blood Into Gold," a new song Buffett composed to "urge an end to complacency about trafficking."  

"If we did end the transatlantic slave trade, then we can end this too," said Mr. Buffett. "It shows, actually, that there's hope. But it's far from over."

Awareness and legal enforcement, all over the world--the most important first steps are being taken, not a moment too soon.

IJM - Reality of Human Trafficking from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

Back to Real Life

Greg and I spent the last week in Venice and we had an amazing time (multiple gelatos a day will generally do that for you.)  So in honor of our trip to Italy I figured it was only fitting to devote my return post to an heroic Italian--a Roman Catholic priest, actually, named Don Cesare Lo Deserto.

This is another story gleaned from the pages of The Natashas, and one of the few that offers a slightly uplifting look at the world of forced prostitution.  Don Cesare is a rare light in a very dark story; his mission in life is to rescue women and girls who have been forced into prostitution in Italian cities and bring them to his safe home fortress on the coast of southern Italy, Regina Pacis.  Don Cesare estimates he has seen more than 1,000 women come through his doors, namely saved from the Albanian flesh trade that uses motorized rubber dinghies to smuggle their human cargo across the narrow strait to Italy.  The women see Don Cesare as a kind of earthly savior, and are allowed to stay at Regina Pacis for as long as they wish.  

Victor Malarek writes,

"On a starlit evening, as the smugglers in Vlore are readying their speedboats on the Albanian side of the Adriatic, Don Cesare flings open the gates of Regina Pacis and leads a small procession of women across the narrow road to the edge of the rocky beach.  They stand, silently facing the sea they had crossed.  The priest raises his arms, blesses the rolling waves, and begins to pray.  The women stare out onto the water, their lips moving in prayer for the victims who have yet to be rescued."

When I was away for the past week, I thought about how easy it is to get burned out and become discouraged when constantly thinking about difficult issues like child trafficking and forced prostitution.  Sometimes it's important to step away for a moment and take a mental break.  But we always have to keep coming back; the girls who are waiting for us don't get that luxury.  So I take a deep breath; listen to songs whose lyrics whisper hope; and read about people like Don Cesare, who never give up.

I hope this post and these songs give you a lift, too.  Welcome back--so glad we can encourage each other toward something better, together.  

Coming Up Next

Unfortunately I'm not going to be blogging much over the next week because Greg and I are leaving the country on vacation! But there are a lot of great events going on, across this country, that you can be a part of over the coming days.

Let's start with my current home state of Mass:

I've mentioned the awesome girls at Minga before, and tonight, Saturday, March 15, they're doing something really cool--a Fair Trade Fashion Show. It starts at 7 p.m. at 1601 Beac

on in Newton, MA and the tickets are $15 to fight child sex trafficking and exploitation. If you're in the Boston area and don't already have plans, you should check it out!

Georgia and California:

A few weeks back I told you about The SOLD Project and their documentary, SOLD: Thailand. Well they are currently traveling across the country and will be presenting the film, free and open to the public, at some universities in GA and CA. Mercer University in Macon, GA will show the film at the S.T.O.P conference on March 17. The S.T.O.P Conference looks absolutely amazing and I wish I could go! The pre-conference events from Tuesday-Thursday night are all completely open and they have some really important topics and discussions on the docket. Go if you can!

In addition, Emory University in Atlanta, GA will be screening SOLD: Thailand at 6:30 p.m. on March 19, and as part of Slim's Benefit Concert for Abolition, the film will show in San Francisco. The doors open at 7:30, and since it's a benefit concert, there's a (small) ticket

price of around $15. See more tour dates here.

Louisiana:

The LSU Tigers are suiting up for a 5k race at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 (registration starts at 4:30 p.m.). The race will take place at the LSU Parade Grounds in Baton Rouge, and registration is $25 (register early here for $20). All proceeds will go to the A21 campaign to fight trafficking and slavery. Find out more at www.tigersagainsttrafficking.com.

New York:

Stephen Baldwin is hosting a gala auction and dinner to benefit Love146 in Long Island on Thursday, April 16, at 7:00 p.m.:

Villa Lombardi’s of Holbrook

877 Main Street, Holbrook, NY 11741

Semi-formal attire

Seventy-five dollars per person

Tickets sold in advance

Go HERE for tickets and more details

Please R.S.V.P. by purchasing your ticket on or before April 1, 2009

And of course... wherever you are, don't forget about Tread on Trafficking!

Let me know if you end up going to any of these events--I can't wait to hear about all of the good things that happened while I was away.

Until then,

Emily

Another Side of Love146

I kind of can't believe I haven't posted on this yet.

You might have heard about Lamont Hiebert and his band Ten Shekel Shirt. Lamont is one of the amazing co-founders of Love146. When he took part of the lifechanging trip to the child brothels of Southeast Asia with Rob Morris and other future founders of Love146, he decided to put his musical career on hold and form the organization. Now that Love146 has really taken off, he has returned with a newly released album called "Jubilee" and is speaking about the issue of child sex trafficking and exploitation through his music. The iTunes review calls it a "welcome return" and describes Ten Shekel Shirt's sound as an "atmospheric folk-pop groove, reminiscent in spots of Coldplay and their British compatriots... These songs are written out of faith and experience by an artist dedicated to a noble cause."

I just bought Jubilee on iTunes and I'm listening to it right now (seriously? Not only

had I not posted on TSS, I hadn't purchased this yet? I don't even know what I was thinking.) The new Kelly Clarkson CD (which I also love, btw), is going to have to move over to make room for this. If you're interested, you can listen to some clips of Jubilee on iTunes here, or on their website.

I've posted a video below of Lamont speaking about Love146, Ten Shekel Shirt's music, and a few interspersed clips of their performances. It's great and I would recommend taking a few minutes to watch it. Fun fact--Johnny Rodgers, the lead guitarist, is also married to Love146's lovely Desirea Rodgers.

"Learn, as much as you can... and then join something. You can join a national group, a local, regional group: I started something at my house. A little justice study, we met and talked about issues of modern day slavery. And the third thing I would recommend to those who want to get involved is to act. They can act by giving money, by pursuing a career in law, child psychology, trauma counseling, a lawyer working on behalf of the oppressed; people can use their existing vocations or voice--I happen to be a musician so many of my songs are about abolition, restoration, and I speak about it all over the country. It's not just all a guilt trip and heaviness; It's incredibly exciting to be a part of the new abolition, the movement in our day... The reality is that it's very encouraging to see children learn to smile again, to walk in freedom, and see them restored." - Lamont Hiebert, Ten Shekel Shirt

Flip(cam) for a Good Cause

How great would THIS be for the upcoming Love146 trip?

I was checking out Flipcams tonight because I think they're neat and I'd love to be able to film some of the areas we visit in Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines on the upcoming partner trip (no identifying safehome details though, of course!)  The price is actually pretty reasonable ($179 or $229 for HD, it looks like) but unfortunately not in the budget cards at the moment!

Flip Mino Camcorder

""

Flip Mino Camcorder with Personalized Design - Available only at www.theflip.com. Check out this unique Flip Mino design. The Flip Mino camcorder combines remarkable video quality in a pocket-sized package. Now personalizable - create yours today. You've never had a camcorder that's this much fun.

View >>

What's really cool about the particular model I was looking at was that it's the Witness.org Special Edition.  You might remember when I posted about Witness.org in this post back in December--they use "video and online technologies to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations."  Now they have their own specially designed flipcam with their logo "See it. Film it. Change it." emblazoned across the front.  Oh yeah--and for every version of this flipcam sold, Witness.org receives $10.

So amazing--love that idea.  We really do change when we see things with our own eyes.  That's what makes this upcoming trip so exciting, moving, and so challenging.  Maybe someday I'll get the chance to post some Witness.org-worthy flipcam footage here, so we can all take a shared look at the hard things and change can keep on a'coming.  

Tread on Trafficking

I've been waiting for the right time to write about this exciting news/initiative/event that we at the Boston Love146 taskforce have been planning--and I figured that my 100th post would be the perfect occasion!

Woohoo! 100 is a big one! But now I want to tell you about something bigger.

Tread on Trafficking is a fundraiser we've planned to help in the fight against child sex trafficking and exploitation. Here are the details:

• Anyone can sign up to be a treader and track their hours/miles to raise money and awareness for Love146.
• Tread on Trafficking kicks off on April 2, 2009, and will run for six weeks.
• Treader registration is $25 and includes the lovely Tread on Trafficking t-shirt pictured below.
• All proceeds raised will be donated to Love146. Love146 trains aftercare workers, multiplies safehomes, aids socioeconomic development programs in high-risk communities and provides a voice for these victims of modern-day slavery.
  

To find out more information, visit www.treadontrafficking.com. I hope you'll consider signing up, whether you've been meaning to hit the gym and needed a good excuse to get your butt in gear (like me), or you're a diehard exerciser like @eastmanj who can be raising $$ and awareness while pounding the pavement--or treadmill.

If you do decide to be a treader, here are a few ideas of how you can make the most of the experience:

1. Set a goal.

Decide how many miles of a cardio activity you think you would want to do during the tread-a-

thon. This can be anything from running to biking to rowing to spinning to swimming, etc. It can also be how

many hours of that activity you think you would be able to accomplish during the

course of the event

2. Ask your neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers to sponsor you.

The more sponsors you have the more you can help rescue and keep children out of prostitution and slavery.

Spread the word wherever you can.

3. Go out and get FIT!

This doesn’t have to interfere with your normal workout routine. In fact, Tread on Trafficking

encourages you even more to get in shape.

Be sure that you keep wearing that t-shirt and tell anyone who asks you about it how to sign up!

The more you work out, the more you are

combating child sex

slavery and exploitation.

The bottom line is, we can ALL do something. Even if you just consider sponsoring someone for a few cents per mile, or pay the $25 to be a treader and simply wear your shirt for better awareness, you will make a difference.

And who knows? That might make you feel even better than all of those newfound endorphins.

A New Day for the Natashas

I've been reading Victor Malarek's The Natashas a little bit at a time, because it's almost too much to take otherwise.  I can usually only read a chapter before the brutality that he describes makes me have to put it down.  There is also so much information in this book that I'll probably be writing posts on it for months to come.

So it only makes sense that I start with the prologue--especially since that very prologue is making headlines around the world today.  The Natashas begins by setting the scene with nineteen-year-old Ukranian Marika, who has been promised a waitressing job in Tel Aviv that, of course, doesn't exist.  Marika is flown instead to Cairo, trafficked across the Israeli/Egyptian border, and smuggled across the desert by bedouins.  She eventually is imprisoned in a brothel in Tel Aviv and told that she had to work off a $20,000 debt for her travel to Israel.  The prologue says,

"While servicing the steady stream of clients, Marika found one thing particularly puzzling.  Most didn't distinguish between the girls' ethnic backgrounds.  It didn't matter whether they were from Russia, Moldova, Romania or Ukraine.  In the eyes of the men, they were all Russian.  Even stranger was the way that many of the men addressed them: 'They called us Natashas... to them, we were all Natashas... 

Natasha was my nightmare.  Marika was my salvation.  I never told any of these men my real name.

And they never asked."  

Much of the book so far has examined the sex trafficking trade of Eastern European women and girls--many trafficked straight out of orphanages.  What I've read has been weighing on me heavily, especially a particularly disturbing chapter called "The Breaking Grounds."  So imagine my delight when @notforsale and @eastmanj discovered this news story last night:

Tel Aviv Police Hunt Head of Women Trafficking Ring

"Tel Aviv police are searching for Jacky Yazady, suspected of heading Israel's largest women trafficking network, following a crackdown on what they say is Israel's largest human-trafficking ring, allegedly responsible for smuggling thousands of women from the former Soviet Union into Israel, as well as Cyprus, Belgium and England, and forcing them into prostitution. (....)

The gang allegedly recruited thousands of women from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Uzbekistan by promising them work in Israel as waitresses or dancers. The women were then flown to Egypt, and from there they were smuggled across the border by Bedouin. (....)

According to Chief Superintendent Pini Avraham of the Tel Aviv Police's Central Unit, this is the largest trafficking ring in Israel, and one of the largest in Europe.

'The suspects essentially went on a shopping spree for women throughout the former Soviet Union,' he said. 'We are talking about over 2,000 women who, we suspect, were forced to work as prostitutes via threats and violence, in Israel and Cyprus and, later, in Belgium and England as well.'" (Article by Yuval Goren, Haaretz Correspondent)

From the pages of this book straight to the front pages of worldwide newspapers: I think I can read a bit more tonight, because tomorrow is a new day for the Natashas.

Fashion Statement

Get it off your chest, by putting it on your chest!
Here are a few ideas of ways to raise awareness and get a conversation started. Click on the shirt to see more details.

Georgia, On My Mind

I've written a couple of times about the state of Georgia's unfortunate place in the spotlight for incidences of child sex trafficking. One particular approach is getting some attention today, and I'm interested to hear what YOU think about it.

Georgian citizens are urged to sign a petition for Georgia's lawmakers to:

"hold the adult entertainment industry accountable by passing a $5 per patron surcharge on those who frequent adult entertainment establishments to help children trafficked for sex in the surrounding community."

The $5 surcharge, in effect, will potentially help to curb commercial sex patronage in the area while raising much-needed funds (and awareness) for child victims of sex trafficking. One thing is clear, especially as I read more of a book on sex trafficking called "The Natashas:" trafficking and commercial sex outlets like strip clubs and "massage parlors" are very closely linked. Obviously not every strip club and prostitution ring involve trafficked girls and women, but unfortunately, many do--often without patrons even realizing it.

Personally, I think this surchage is a fantastic idea. But, admittedly, I just heard about it and haven't had a chance to give it too much thought or research. What do you think? Are there any "cons" to this suggested legislature to consider? Would this have any unintended negative consequences or in any way harm women or children trafficked into the sex trade--or is it one of the brightest and most practical ideas we've heard in awhile? As of now, I'm standing full-fledged behind the petition and surcharge unless convinced otherwise.

If you're a Georgia resident, seriously consider putting your name and county on this petition: "We Urge You." And for everybody else--feel free to leave your opinion in the comments.


A Heart of Money. Photo by Wisforworlddomination.

Update: Or maybe, in addition to requiring a working phone number, Craigslist could put a $5 surcharge on its erotic services section....

Update #2: Okay, according to this CNN article, Craigslist is in fact already charging a fee to place ads in its erotic services section.  But police say it's not that effective because people using the site for prostitution purposes often use fraudulent credit cards or just move the ads to the free section.  Sigh... 

Get the Picture

Just wanted to tell today's blog post in pictures.  

This is more work from the amazing Jeff Hall, and his picture from Today's Black and White -- February 20, 2009.  Buy this orchid print and the money goes to aid children rescued from the sex trade.  Jeff is so talented it gives me chills! 

Here I am, working on support letters tonight for the upcoming spring Love146 partnership trip--a little sleepily. :)  Every week closer to departure I get a little more excited, and the ultimate reality of the issue gets a little more sobering.  Let me know if you'd like to hear more and I'll send you a note! 

These icons are a few examples of the Blue Heart campaign launched by the UNODC.  You can show your support and help to raise awareness about human trafficking by displaying the logo on blogs/Twitter/Facebook/any other social networking sites.  The ultimate goal is to "rally public opinion against human trafficking."  For more info and a downloadable icon go here --and maybe one small blue heart will help someone around you to really "get the picture."  

She Dances

There is so much good stuff going on--I love it!!

I'd like to introduce you to She Dances, a nonprofit organization I came across today.  It's just getting started, and I'm already really excited about it.  She Dances is a group based out of Birmingham, AL that is taking on the child sex trade: starting first in Honduras.  She Dances is partnering with a group called L.A.M.B. (Latin American Missionary and Bible group) to build a safe home and refuge for child victims of trafficking.  

Here's their "movement" mission statement:

We can be a voice for girls who even at the young age of 11 or 12 are bought and sold forcefully into the sex trade.

We can be a voice for women in servitude labor... for hearts held captive.

We can be a voice that stops human trafficking in the United States and in our world.

It starts with all of us as we look at ways to engage the movement of freedom...

I'm currently fundraising for my Love146 trip so unfortunately my t-shirt buying is on hold... but I want one of these really badly!  Maybe you can buy one for yourself and help spread the word for me :)

Follow She Dances on Twitter or on their blog... I have a feeling that through them, great things are in store.  

"Every girl deserves to dream.  Every girl deserves hope.  Every girl deserves to love and to be loved. Every girl deserves to dance."  

Punk'd

Want to see Ashton Kutcher, of MTV and That 70's Show fame, get serious about something?

He knows his stuff when it comes to child sex trafficking, and he and Demi are speaking out about it whenever they can--whether that's with Lisa Ling on this Oprah video or Tweeting stats from his Twitter account while meeting with the founder of GEMs.  

From reading other blog/media commentary on the celebrity duo's proclaimed commitment to end slavery within their lifetimes, it's apparent that a lot of people are pretty cynical about their involvement in the cause.  But I think they're legit--and to be perfectly frank, I don't really care even if it does turn out to 

be a flash-in-the-pan publicity stunt.  Like they say in Hollywood, no publicity is bad publicity.  

I see more and more people getting in line to care about something other than themselves, and in my mind, children being trafficked and exploited are one of the most important and pressing issues out there.  As Demi notes while speaking with Lisa Ling, 

"There's something very timely about this... Not that this hasn't been talked about, not that people haven't done incredible documentaries and exposed us to this information... but I think that now there's a readiness to really make a change, and really end this." 

Picture of Ashton Kutcher by Eugene.