What Crazy News

So, for those of you who have not heard the news of this weekend. One of the largest sex trafficking sweeps, in the United States, currently took place over 3 days this past weekend. Is that not just wonderful!? Sure, the crack down is wonderful but the story is a little hard to digest; but then so are all the facts behind sex trafficking.

Currently, 150 pimps have been arrested from 76 cities, some of which include, Detroit, Chicago, Colorado (where Janice and I live), Oklahoma City (which is right by where I go to college), and San Francisco. It is said the ages of the girls, who were trafficked, are between 13 to 17. The youngest girl who was rescued out of the 105 total was a 13 year old girl.

Now, because of Janice and I being from Colorado, let’s look into that for a moment. The areas in Colorado where the sweep took place were the Denver Metro Area and Pueblo. In Pueblo 10 adults were arrested but no children were, as the news puts it, "recovered." I feel like rescued or saved would be a little bit of a nicer term, but that may just be me. And in Denver 6 pimps were arrested. Areas that were targeted were hotels, casinos, truck stops, social media platforms and places like that. Over all, and this is including Wyoming (Colorado's boarder state), "9 juveniles recovered [children who were trafficked], 6 pimps arrested, 11 pimps identified, 51 adult cited arrests for prostitution, 25 arrests for soliciting a prostitute, 6 adult arrests for other crimes (drugs, warrants, ect.)" (kktv.com).

COLORADO! Have you no shame. I am disappointed. Yes, we are not the only state that made the list in the sex trafficking sweep, but I am still disappointed. In fact, I’m a disappointed in America. Yes, for the sweep I could not be happier, people are starting to really do something about this injustice. But, there is still so much more that needs to be done! Only 105 children were rescued out of the sweep. It is said that 60% of all the children were run away foster children. That breaks my heart. But here is the thing, EVERY YEAR between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. Okay, so this sweep, yes, it made a dent in the sex trade here. But there is so much that still needs to be done, and so many who need to be rescued. After all the U.S. is the third top destination country for trafficking, in the world. The 14,500-17,500 is a yearly estimated number. So, what about all the people who have been trafficked from the years past? The number of people who are being sexually trafficked in the U.S. is continually growing. This still needs to be stopped.

Now, to the people who headed up this sweep and were apart of it, THANK YOU! You are making a huge difference! I take my hat off to you! Keep doing what you are doing, because there is so much more that needs to be done. But, the fact that you are doing something is amazing! The fact that you were even able to rescue the 105 is a total blessing and you should never forget it. Plus, you took people off of the streets that are the root cause of this injustice and I say, "WAY TO GO!" You’re getting the root!

May I now take a moment to share something I am a little worried about? Well, even if you say no, I am going to share it. When stuff like this happens there are people who get all pumped about how a difference is being made. But not long after, the passion dies away. People forget how they felt back in the heat of the moment. And they begin to stop caring.

When Rachel's Challenge came to my high school, when it first came about, many people were gun-ho on the matter! "Let's stop bullying!" But by the end of the year only a few people still had that burning passion for Rachel's Challenge. Now, this might not have been the case for every school, but it was for mine. The same issue that happened with Rachel's Challenge even happens in marriages today. People lose interest and forget the passion they once had and so they just stop what they are doing; they forget and give up, or simply quit.

Please. I beg you please! People who have a passion to see the sex trade stopped, please don't lose your passion. Though it may be sad and hard at times, think of how amazing it will feel when stuff like the 105 being rescued, happens again down the road.

When people keep their passion, that is when a change starts to happen.

Never lose hope and never lose your passion,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Have you been doing your sticky notes? Have a cool story how you are making a difference in the sex industry? Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com We would love to hear your story and share it with others to spread the passion! Don't know what sticky noting is? Check out our first blog "Let's Explain Our Mission" and find out!!

Sources for today's post:
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/More-Than-100-Children-Rescued-In-FBI-Bust-Of-Sex-Trafficking-Ring-217419601.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2380852/FBI-rescues-105-children-involved-sex-trafficking-arrests-150-pimps-weekend-sting.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-says-arrested-150-three-days-child-prostitution-154521080.html;_ylt=AwrNUbKQ9fdR_QEAU47QtDMD

Sold

For all of those repeat blog readers of ours out there, well, first off let me say thanks! But, to the main point, I love reading and the repeat readers I am sure have started to notice that. And today, this blog post has to do with another book.

No, I did not just finish reading it. I actually read this book, I believe, my sophomore year of high school. It would have had to have been about 2009-2010. I was in the school library and looking for a book to pass the time. I was in the fiction part of the library and a yellow book with the title Sold jumped out at me. Well, nothing else really caught my eye as I kept walking and so, I went back and grabbed the book.

In all honesty, I don't even know if I took the time to read the back of the book. I went to check it out and the librarian told me that the book I was checking out was a good, but sad book. Well, I should have figured that. There was a girl on the front of the book cover and her head was covered. I knew from that picture alone, this story was going to be taking place in another country. Sweet! At this point in time I had never been out of the country and hey, maybe I would learn something from this fictional book. So, sad was not the first thing on my mind.

Here is the thing. Though this book is fictional I learned so much from it. I ended up reading the book in no time what so ever. I needed to know what happened to the young girl who is the main character in the book.

This book was the first time I had ever seen sex trafficking be apart of a books main story line, and not too many fictinal books have this. The book was great! It totally got me thinking. I looked into sex trafficking, and then, sadly, it faded out of my reach. I was a high school student with no job and no idea how to do anything to help fight against sex trafficking, unlike now.

But, the book did make an impact on my life and look where I am now. Several years later and I still would recommend that you read the book Sold. It was a shocking book and through it I learned enough about sex trafficking to get a fire started in my heart. So, my dear friends, if you are looking for a book to read, check out this book.

Author: Patricia McCormick
Book: Sold
Year Published: 2006



Though this post is short and sweet I hope you are able to get something from it. And if you yourself are not a book reader, why not recommend the book to someone who is! Or maybe just try to read it yourself. If you get it from the library for free nothing was lost in your attempt to read it. It isn't a hard book, at all,  to read and it isn't super long. The perfect working persons book!

Happy reading,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Have you read any other good books on sex trafficking? (no matter fiction, autobiography or biograpghy) Let us know! We would love to check them out and let others know of the books! email us at: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Raise Your Voice

I love writing, but right now, sometimes it is hard cranking out a post. Sex trafficking can be a hard topic to continually be digging into. I mean, come on! That's why there needs to be a change. Look into the facts and statistics and it, in all honesty, can be hard to come out with a positive attitude. I mean maybe that's why we hear so little about it. It's not really the type of news we want to watch nightly.

There has been reports of sex trafficking in every state in the U.S. and at some point or another, every country. Sex trafficking is one of fastest growing criminal industries and is also one of the largest criminal industries in the world. Not to mention sex trafficking includes child pornography, adult male and female pornography, stripping, false massage parlors, some escort companies, prostitution, mail-order brides, live sex shows, military prostitution... And yes, the list still goes on. In the U.S. 12 is the average age for a young girl to be trafficked into porn and prostitution. Did you know that 55% of all child pornography actually, comes from the U.S.? And did you know that the U.S. is one on the top destination countries for sex trafficking? Land of the free they say. Well with slavery being the highest it has ever been in the history of the world, and  the United States being a major part in this modern day slavery. Unless the definition of free has changed without my knowledge, I am not too sure that I am really living in a free country.

Free in some ways, yes. I can say what ever I want. Like, "I like cheeseburgers! And I think that sex trafficking needs to be stopped. And the people responsible for such horrid crimes of taking young children's, females',  and even older males' innocents needs to be punished."

So, its understood I can say whatever I'd like and not be punished. But here is the thing. It seems no one is speaking up for these victims of modern day slavery, sex trafficking. Yes, we may hear a little something on the matter and get a little upset but that's it. The passion and fire drops off there, like it has just been frozen by some super ICE villain.

Friends, THIS NEEDS TO STOP! We need to do something. And it needs to be more then someone asking for a few bucks to "save the prostitutes!" PLEASE! Know that I think what they are doing is AWESOME! They are doing something that Janice and I currently can't do. You need all parts of the body for it to work.

But, here is the thing that I know everyone can do. INFORM SOMEONE! You can do it! I promise. You could save a life. It is not even that hard. You need a few statistics, which I went on a rant with some earlier in this post. Feel free to take them, and use them. And then just share them with someone, ANYONE! It is that easy.

I live in a country where I can say what ever I want and not get in trouble. So, as of right now, I am raising my voice against the sex trade. I, vow to start informing others where ever I go. And try my best to light a fire in the people around me,to get them to want to stop this injustice. And, I ask, that you join me in this vow to stop the sex trade. All it takes is one!

Your Friends,

Nicole and Janice

If you have decided to take this vow let us know! We want to hear from you and know your stories! Email us at: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com
Need more sex trafficking facts? Visit us on twitter: AMASexTFacts

Fathers Be Good to Your Daughters

Yes, the title of this post is in fact lyrics of a John Mayer song. Yes, there is a good reason for this. And finally, no, it is not because I woke up this morning with the song Daughters stuck in my head.

This weekend my mother and I went out to eat. Is that not just so sweet of her!? I mean, I tell her I am craving Panda Express one day and the next she takes me there. So, as we are sitting and eating I am watching the door as an older gentalmen walks in, the door shuts on the younger girl following him. She catches the door that falls on her and she walks in and stands next to the older man. A few seconds later another girl walks in and stands with the older man and the younger girl.
Now, I can not be 100% sure but I feel like, due to ages and actions, that the older man was the girls father. So, for this blog post, the man is the girls' father.

The actions of this man shocked me immensely! Have all manors decided to jump off the face of the Earth? People say that teenagers have no mannors but, I have had many doors open for me by younger males. Why could a father not hold open the door for his daughters?

I have talked to many guys who have had daughters and all they want for them is the best. Even guys who are looking to start a family, when they have children they want their future daughter to be treated with respect by guys.

Okay! That makes total sense! I want my future boys to know how to treat a women like a lady and I want my future daughters to know how they should be treated; and it should be like a lady! So, where do the younger generations learn this? From their parents.

Here is the things. Speaking as a girl who was raised by a single mom, girls like attention. And dads! If you don't give your daughters the attention they need, they will look for it else where. And, you never know who the first guy to call your daughter beautiful will be. Think about that for a moment...

Make sure you treat your daughters with respect. Yes, when you need to be stern with them; be stern. But make sure they know they are loved, and that you treat them like a lady. Open doors for them, tell them you love them and how truly special they are.  Let your daughters know that they can always come to you. Because, when that smooth talkin, good lookin guy comes along who doesn't totally treat them right. They will know who to go to.

Plus, when a daughter is raised up this way, with love from her father, there is less of a chance that she will decide to run off with some strange man, who could potentially be a recruiter. It does happen. Girls have gone out with guys who are just the "bees knees." And then they are never heard from again. I am sure that you do not want this to happen to any of your daughters.

Now, for all the single mothers out there. It can be hard raising daughters on your own. So, first off, let me just say thank you and keep up the good work! Because, it does not go unnoticed.

Raising a daughter without a man around means that you have more work cut out for you. Make sure to continually tell your daughters that they deserve nothing but the absolute best. And make sure that you explain what that is to them. They are a prised gem! Like a diamond. When you have a diamond you treasure it. You do not throw it on the ground and step on it and just leave it there. You put it in a safe place where it won't get lost or stolen.

Remember parents, your children need to be loved and treasured. If you don't fufill that need that they have, they will find someone who will. You never know who that person will be. And that person could potentially be a very bad person.

So, remeber to tell your children you love them and they deserve nothing but the best!

Have a wonderful day,

Nicole and Janice


P.S. Have you been doing sticky notes and have a story to share? Email Us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com so we can post your story for others to be inspired by. Don't know what sticky noting is? Read our first blog post: "Lets Explain Our Mission."

When Opposites Work Together There Will Be a Change

Good day my friends! I hope that today is full of beauty and fun, no matter where in the world that you may be! Great opening sentience, don't you think? Its just so bright and happy!

So, being friends with Janice has been one of the CRAZIEST experiences in my life!!! We are so alike but then we are SO different. For example, make-up. I, Nicole, love make-up. Yes, I can go without it if I need to but, I pretty much wear make up every day. Janice on the other hand normally does not wear make up what so ever. And when she does it’s totally natural and you can hardly tell. I on the other hand wear everything from eye shadow to foundation to a shimmery lip gloss. Granted I don’t pile it on to where it looks like a mask but you can tell I have a little somethin-somethin on.

Now stick with me fellas I have a reason for saying all this. Janice and I are different. Sure, our clothing styles are TOTALLY different, and our view on what time is a good time to go to bed is a little different from each other; we still have some pretty important things in common. Like our desire to be world changers and see sex trafficking stopped.

Janice and I have conversations with different views from make-up to nail polish and then clothes, we are girls after all, but when we talk about sex trafficking; our views are the same. We both want this industry to be shut down and we both know and understand that for a dent to be made in the sex industry, we one, need to get people aware and two, we need to get at the issue from the root.

Now, why my story of how we are so different? It’s very simple really. When you decide to get involved and try and bring down the sex industry, you meet a LOT of different people. Mothers, fathers, people who are vegetarians and people who live half way across the country and even sometimes the world. My point is, its crazy to think that so many different people can come together, united, and fight for a change; even when they are all so different then the others around them. I LOVE IT!!!

So, on this lovely day, I want you all to embrace your originality! There is no one else in the world like you! You bring something unique to the table that no one else does. And in that you can help reach people and help stop the sex trade in ways that others never will be able to. Crazy to think about, right?!

Embrace your you factor,

Nicole and Janice

 
P.S. Have you been doing sticky notes? Do you have an awesome story on how you are stopping sex trafficking? Let Janice and I know! Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

A Cup of Coffee, Sip, and Repeat

Coffee, The drink from one source that comes in many forms...and is also kind of like sin.

Sin, is when we do something wrong or something that we shouldn't. Call it misbehaving if you would like. Reguardless, its wrong. Here is the thing about misbehaving, or sinning. There are many types, like: stealing, not listening to the people who are in charge over us, lying, the list goes on and on. However you put it there are many types.

Sin is knowing something is wrong, but doing it anyway. Like sleeping with young girls. Selling young girls so others may sleep with them. Beating girls. Raping girls. Shall I go on? Sex trafficking, no matter how you put it, is WRONG! But, see here is the thing. Its just like coffee. When you were younger, if you had a parent like mine, you were told that coffee is not good for little people, just like sin is bad for us. But you grew up and tasted that first cup of coffee, and you got that boost of caffeine! It kept you awake, and you liked it. Pretty soon, after sipping on the iced coffee with a pump of carmel, for months, you realized that you can't go a day without your coffee or you will get a headache from caffeine withdraws. PAINFUL!

When we do something bad for the first time, its like that sip of coffee. We aren't commited to it yet, just wading out in the water a little and testing it out. But, then the more we drink the coffee the more we need it and the easier it is to drink. The same with sin. The first time, it was a little iffy, but hey! You weren't caught, you didn't get in trouble and you kind of liked it. So you come back for more. And pretty soon you are hooked to sin!

I'm sure no one, when they were little, desired to be a recruiter for sex trafficking. They may have even felt bad for the first few girls they took. But the more girls they took the easier it became. Same with the men sleeping with the young girls. Maybe, the first few girls they paid to sleep with, they felt bad about, on some level. But the more girls they slept with the easier it became.

It is somewhat hard for me to understand how any person could sell an eleven year old girl to a fourty year old man for sex; and then do that on a normal bases. It just does not seem human to me. But, it is human nature, we have free will and there are people in the world who abuse it.

So, my challenge to you today, and I will work on it too, is to try and think of the men using these females for sex, as human. What must have happened to them to lead them into such a life style? Maybe it was greed or a lust of money. Maybe they felt that selling girls was the only way they would ever make a profit. Maybe it was a family business and they didn't want to let the family down. Regardless, the life they leed now is not good.

We all have made mistakes in our lives. Justice needs to be given to the girls who have had their innocents taken from them. But we need to remember, we cant stop the sex trade if we don't reach out and stop the humans who are behind it. It isn't just enough to reach the girls who are being used, because more can be taken; which is truly a sad thought. We need to reach the people who are taking the girls and reach the guys who buy these girls for sex. We want, not only to set these girls free, but to set the "John's" and "Pimps" free from whatever chains keep them in this business. When this happens, you know progress will be made.

Though the topic of sex trafficking can be a downer it is always important that even the smallest things make a difference.

Just another normal human being,

Nicole and Janice


P.S. Have you posted any sticky notes? do you have pictures of it and a fun story?! Do you have any questions that you want us to answer? Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

The Time Has Come

"'The time has come,' the walrus said, 'to talk of many things...'"

 For those of you who are unaware, that is a quote from Alice in Wonderland. The quote seemed fitting for today since I currently would like to talk about STICKY NOTES!!

For those of you who are new to the blog...WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME! I hope you find this blog interesting, informative and maybe even somewhat entertaining!! It came about with the hopes and dreams of two American teenagers who continually dream of changing the world. And if we can be a little honest, there aren't too many of us out there, and that is the first order of business we plan on changing!!

Now, on to more important matters. (Does that not just sound as formal as can be?! FRIGHTENING!!)

On to the matter of sticky notes. Peeps? Have you been working on them? I have and so has my buddy Janice!! I have even recruited my mother! Yup, its true, my mother has become a partner in changing the world. Go figure! Did you realize that, though? By sticking up sticky notes, you are a part of changing the world! Give yourself a pat on the back world changer!

Even if it doesn't seem like much, getting the word out, on sex trafficking, is a huge part of stopping a large criminal act. Did you know that sex trafficking is the 3RD LARGEST and FASTEST growing criminal industry in the world? My friends, it is very important to start getting the word out, and start fighting this injustice!!

We want to hear how you are fighting this injustice, so make sure to email us so we can share your stories and help build the passion for fighting this injustice. But wait! What if you have no ideas how to start fighting the world's 3rd largest criminal industry? Its simple start with doing some sticky notes! It's simple, easy, cheap and, might I add, fun! Oh, the stories you get from trying to be covert! They are stories that can make anyone smile! Especially, when you have to duck into a stall of a bathroom so no one sees that you're the one sticky noting. (side note: that may have happened to me WAY more then I will care to ever admit)

Here is the thing, my friends. We want to share your stories! So, please feel free to email us anything that your heart desires! If you are out fighting crime, bringing down the men who sale women, in hand-to-hand combat let us know! If you are fighting sex trafficking by awareness let us know as well!!! Or if you have any ideas on new ways of raising awareness. We want to share your stories! We want to inspire people to stop the criminal industry, once and for all!! Email us at: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

People! It is easy to get involved! So do it, get involved! You can change a life and even save one without ever knowing!!

If you don't understand the sticky note thing completely. Read our first blog post "Let's Explain Our Mission." That will catch you up on all the stick note talk. Then you too can start sticky noting everywhere as Janice and I do.

Have a great day my fellow partners in changing the world,

Nicole and Janice

A Movie and a Reminder

Hello my friends and happy Monday to you all. I know that Mondays are not most peoples favorite day of the week but let me point out some plus sides for you today. 1) You woke up breathing; you are alive and not dead. You are not looking at the grass from the roots up. YAY, to that! 2) If you have a job to go to, be thankful for it. It may be a Monday but there are people all over the world who would fight for your job. 3) If you aren’t enslaved in the sex industry, you are truly blessed! Just think, you didn't wake up today with a pimp demanding you make him money. So my friends be happy and smile because you only have today until 12am and you should make the most of your time. Because then it's over. You'll never get today back, so make the most of it!

This week I had the privilege to hang out with a good friend of mine! We went to Starbucks where I, hopefully, converted her to be a “sticky noter.” (if you would like to know how you can become a sticky noter as well check out our post "Let's Explain Our Mission") After a few hours of catching up we decided to run some errands, you know because girls just wanna have fun, and then finally decided to rent a redbox movie and watch it at my place. The movie of choice was "Abducted." The reason this movie was picked was because it was about sex trafficking. Which is all I obviously think about these days!

The movie was pretty good. Not a favorite, but still good. It sat right between too cheesy and too dull. The perfect combination of a "pretty good" movie. But let me just stop there, THIS IS NOT A MOVIE REVIEW. But if you feel compelled to go out and rent/buy it after you read this, please, by all means, do so.

 Now, a cliff note on the movie (and it won't spoil anything too important). In the movie there are two Russian men who are posing as model scouts. In all honesty, these two men are feeding off of a woman's desire to be beautiful. Just like a normal requiter would in the real world. What better way to catch girls off guard then to make them believe you want them to become models? I mean, we all know most guys think models are hot and desirable. Which makes most girls want to look like that in order to get guys. Plus, when some Russian men promise you that you'll travel overseas for photo shoots. I mean, common! I'm SOLD! It's a smart plan really. To be honest, without using wisdom and being educated, I'd probably fall for it too. And I am sure that many of you might as well. These girls probably felt GORGEOUS after these, so called, "model scouts" confronted them with such an offer.

The weird thing, and what should have thrown up major red flags for these girls, was the fact that these guys were keeping the girls in an abandoned hospital. SCARY! We all know in scary movies, hospital's are BAD! And what can we learn from all those scary movies we watch late at night...STAY OUT YA'LL!! But really. These girls were obviously insecure, seeking attention, and they were some what naive. They allowed their emotions to control them; which as girls, this happens more often then we would like to admit. One HUGELY affective way to avoid being run by your emotions is to have KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM. Keeping your family and friends up to date with what is going on in your life, isn't always a bad thing. It can help let off steam and hopefully they can give you some good insight as well.

The guys in this movie were Russian, but girls in the U.S and other places around the world aren't just being trafficked to and from Russia, it's happening EVERYWHERE! No exaggeration. Sex Trafficking is taking place in American, Europe, Africa, Asia, Canada, Australia, and South America. There is not one country that has not been effected by sex trafficking in some way or another. No matter where you live there will be victims of sexual exploitation. And this is what we want to stop. Unless you are aware of the issue and choose to be wise about how you use the knowledge you've been given on the subject, there will never be a change. So, share it, live it, and use it. Sex trafficking is something that IS preventable and knowledge is where prevention starts.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Have you been sticky noting? Do you have any questions you want us to answer? Stories you'd like to tell us? Email us at askusaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Bookworm Turned World Changer with a Hint of Male

Welcome to bookworms anonymous! My name is Nicole and I will be your…blah blah blah…
So I don’t know about the rest of you out there but I LOVE to read books. The more time I have to read, generally, the happier I am. I like reading all types of books autobiographies, biographies, memoirs, fiction, non-fiction. Lets be honest the list goes on and on. One of my favorite book series is, I will admit, not the Twilight series, but the Hunger Games! I also love The Chronicles of Narnia and The Great Gatsby. When asked my favorite book I really can never just say one.

Now, with this love of reading I can venture off into other worlds much different then mine and fight with the gladiators or go along the path of a boy soldier from Sudan. The options are limitless, and I like it! But today I was reading a book and came upon a situation, in the book, that would be considered a form of sex trafficking. My first reaction was a huge gasp because I had not seen that coming. My second reaction was to text my good friend Janice, my other blogging buddy and partner in changing the world, and tell her of the discovery I came across in the book. But want to know what also caught me off guard? It was a boy character in the book that was being sold for sex.

After my shock, from the horror of what had just taken place in the book, I stopped for a moment to think on what I just learned. And being the way I am, my mind started to think of the people in the world who are being trafficked for sex. Though it is not a super talked about matter, males are being trafficked all around the world too. Though it is not typically for sex they are normally trafficked for labor. But, sex trafficking is a growing area that is starting to take young males.

 Now, do not get me wrong, labor trafficking is still a horrible injustice, for males and females alike. But it still makes me sad to think that even males cannot be 100% safe from sex trafficking. And if we think about it, we hardly ever hear about the female gender being trafficked for sex, what about the males? Though there is still a higher market for women in the sex trafficking business, we can not push aside the men and forget about them, like so many already have, myself including on occasion. Even finding current and useful facts and statistics from male sex trafficking is hard. But, it was found when, “research conduted by Case Alianza in 20 Honduran cities found that, from a sample of 1,019 minors victims of sexual exploitation, 42 of them (4 percent) were male” (Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking 2009).

Crazy to think about isn’t it? That in one country, back in 2009, young males were being taken and its 2013 and what has been done? The statistic for male victims of sex trafficking has gone no where but up. Who has started talking for the boys being taken? Not many people have taken these boys under their wings, because even when you look at it, how many of us really know what is going on for females who are being trafficked, let alone males?

I am not in any way trying to point fingers at people for not being informed on the matter. I mean, in all honesty, I recently found out males were being trafficked for sex as well as females. When there is an issue that is not very talked about, like females being sex trafficked, and we hear about it, we just look at the surface and want to help the girls at the front of the camera lens. I feel we get a drive to help save them because they are at the front of the picture and we don’t take the time to dig deeper into the matter. After all, females are the face of sex trafficking. Look up a picture on Google of sex trafficking and you get a women.

We cannot forget about the young boys out there in the world being sold for sex. It’s a common question I feel, “would you want your younger sister or daughter to be trafficked? Would you just sit around and do nothing?” Well, here is my question for you today. Would you want your little brother or your son to be trafficked for sex? If they were trafficked for sex, would you just sit around and do nothing?

We need to start digging into the information and not just scratching the surface.

Your friends and informers,

Nicole and Janice


 P.S. Have you been doing your sticky notes? Let us know because we would love to hear about it! Or if you have any questions email us! askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com


Citation for Quote:

 "UN.GIFT." Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Boys and Male Adolescents in Central America. Global Eye on Human Trafficking Bulletin, 4 June 2009. Web. 09 July 2013

Hookers Matter Too!

Many people don't understand that prostitutes are victims of sex trafficking too. I find that when I tell people I desire to work with these girls the common response is, "Why? They CHOOSE that business. They are not forced into it." In many cases this may be true. But the reason they are also victims is because, though they might choose the life of prostitution, there is typically little chance for them to get out of it. They acquire pimps along the way that refuse to let go of their "employees." They threaten the girls and/or their families with methods such as beatings, rape, death, or starvation. Therefore, it's just as much of an injustice as other forms of trafficking.

These girls are held captive by more then just their pimps and threats. Most of them are forced into prostitution due to a lack of finances. Maybe, they have a family to provide for or they feel worthless, as if sex is all they'll ever be good at due to verbal or sexual abuse from a past relationship. These are just a few reasons. Understanding everyone's situation is different and everyone's choice is their own, I highly doubt that any person would desire this life for themselves. Especially, after experiencing the true nature behind this so called business. The risks that are involved are huge! A person can get different types of STD's,  they run the risk of being beaten, abused, or even killed by your "clients." There are even cases of this happening to in many different places. One of the most famous one's is the "Green River Killer," from Washington State, who killed prostitutes because he said, "No one would miss them, it is my duty to rid the earth of such scum." That in and of itself is an injustice. These girls are slaves too.

I understand this thought process though, I myself used to think the same way. Not until I gained a heart to stop sex trafficking, experienced it first hand, and made myself aware on the subject did I realized that this injustice is so much bigger then we can even imagine. There is even more going on then I, myself, know. So much is hidden from the public. So much is kept quiet. It is a modern form of slavery, and a mafia, all wrapped into one! It isn't until we gain knowledge that we can safely say we understand what's going on. Judging people won't save them. Gaining knowledge and fighting for them will. 

With this being said, Nicole and I were asked the other night why sex trafficking was what we were raising awareness for. Why not other huge issues? I want to let all our readers know that there are many other injustices we are very aware of. Ones we stand up against. Maybe, we don't have a whole blog dedicated to it, who knows that day may come. This is the subject God placed on our hearts. A subject we both felt strongly needed to be addressed. We support those of you who have other injustices you stand up for, or strongly raise awareness for. This is our current mission though. Who knows what the future might hold for us. There may come a day when we raise awareness for other issues. We thank all of you for your support, your time in reading our post, and the awareness you are helping us raise.

Sincerely your determined difference makers,

Janice & Nicole

If you have any stories about this post, or our blog. Please feel free to comment or email us. We love hearing from you all. Even if its questions, concerns, tips, stories, the good, and the bad. We want to know what you think! Also, if you are raising awareness about other injustice we would love to know your stories! We want to support your journey and injustice the same way you support ours. If you choose to email us, you would do it at: askmeaboutsextraffcking@gmail.com

A Thought and a Lesson Relearned

The holiday weekend is quickly coming to an end and I hope that you all have enjoyed it. I hope you were able to spend time with the people you love and do things that you enjoy. But before the weekend does come to an end, I would like to share with you something I learned a long time ago. Something that was very recently brought back to my attention.

Last night I was watching a television show, the name does not matter, but in this specific episode it dealt with a type of sex trafficking. A mother was pimping out her young daughter for money to men three times her age. The daughter, I believe, was about 11 years old and in the hospital because she had caught an STD. While in the hospital the mother told the doctors and nurses a false statement of how her daughter had gotten sick. She was quickly caught in the lie, as she was continuing to sell her daughter to men in the hospital, while she was being treated. Shocking and horrible I know.

Now here is what I would like you to get out of this. Sometimes, it is all too easy to get in the habit of thinking sex trafficking is just a large community of men working together. Where they own a large number of females, of all ages, and sale them for sex. I also had fallen to this form of thinking in the past. But we need to remember both forms of trafficking; the parent who sales his or her own child for sex and the group of traffickers who work together. Both are just as cruel as the other, and both need to be stopped. The only way that ALL forms of trafficking can be stopped is to know and address the different types. For example, sex trafficking includes prostitution, pornography, stripping, military prostitution, sex tourism, mail-ordered brides and live-sex shows. Though it is hard for us to imagine these things are taking place all around the world, include all ages, and come in many different forms. 

No longer can we as people, who have been made aware, sit down and watch this horrible injustice continue. We need to stand up, and demand that it be stopped. That is why we ask for your help in the fight against sex trafficking by posting sticky notes to bring awareness to others. Never forget that one person can be the difference.

Your friend with, a burning passion to see the sex trade stopped,

Nicole

P.S. Have you been doing your sticky notes? Have any questions let us know! (askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com)

Here are some pictures of Janice and I at Bass Pro sticky noting it up! It was a fun way to spend our Fourth of July!

BANG! BOOM! POW!

Hello and Happy Forth of July to you lovely people! Yes, we know that the Forth is not celebrated around the world but we would still like to wish you ALL a wonderful day! We hope it is blessed and full of laughter and fun!!

On this wonderful day we might celebrate America's freedom, but I still have a bit of sadness for those in the world who are not free. Sex slavery is the third largest criminal industry in the world. We ask that, with this statistic in mind, you would keep these victims and their families in your prayers and thoughts. Thank God for their future freedom, of which we are fighting so hard for, as you also thanks God for your freedom here in the US.

So on this Forth of July, make sure to use wisdom as you celebrate, and maybe while you are at it tell someone you know of this injustice, sex trafficking. Make this day so much more then just about you and your families freedom. Make this day the day you decided to change the world of sex trafficking by spreading awareness with us!

Your Friends,

Janice and Nicole

P.S. Have you done any sticky notes? Do you have any questions on sex trafficking that you want us to look into for you?  Let us know!!! (askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com)

Let's Get Physical

Safety, Safety, Safety! Your safety is something that is very important to Janice and I! So, today's post is going to be simply about getting you informed on how you can be safe with information.

FIRST OFF: There can be both male and female recruiters. This means that the cute couple who approached you for a full-time waitress position, or told you that you had the perfect bone structure to be a model, could in fact have other plans for you.

I don't want to make you panic, but be smart. If a stranger approaches you, use WISDOM. Also if you really want to check the place out bring a friend with you, like a male, or your dad. And if on your way there you start getting funny feelings about the place, your gut could potentially be telling you something.

Be smart and use wisdom. That is something that is very important over all.

SECONDLY: There are stories of women who, when their new boss offered to take them to work, and they accepted, the boss actually took them to a hotel to perform sex acts for other men.

THIRDLY: Recruiters have the ability to be very manipulating. Making you feel bad, and like you owe them. Some men may help women and younger girls with certain things, but in return they force them to commit sexual acts with other men, so they can get "paid back." They wont tell you that of course, but that is their plan from the start of the relationship.

LASTLY: Recruiters and people like them have patience. They will wait. Either, till you are worn down or they know they have total power over you. Sexual Exploitation is a fast growing industry. They know they will in time be paid back for the wait. They're in it til the end.

Please remember that if a boyfriend, husband, friend, or anyone else is making you or someone you know have sex with others for their profit. THAT IS NOT RIGHT!


We hope that this has helped you get more informed about how to be aware on keeping yourself safe. In the future we will have more posts and stories of how others and ourselves are doing things to keep everyone safe! If you have any tips as well, please email us and let us know them (askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com)! We want to hear from you!


Enjoy your day and keep safe!
Nicole

P.S. Have you been doing the sticky notes? Let us know!

4 Peeps from North Carolina+ Post It's= Crazy Awareness!

                  I attended the Passion conference this past January in Georgia, and the EndItMovement was a really big topic while were there. Enditmovement is basically an organization that helps raise awareness of modern day slavery across the world, including sex trafficking. After reading some of the statistics about sex trafficking in America, you can’t help but want to try and raise awareness for the cause.

As I was waiting for the church service to begin this morning, I quickly scrolled threw my news feed on Facebook, and I noticed my dear friend Janice’s post about sex trafficking. I clicked on the link and it took me to her blog about sharing facts about sex trafficking with strangers through post it notes in public restrooms. I shared this idea with my friends Jenna, Gabe and Jessica- who was my roommate at the Passion conference. We stopped at Dollar Tree for post it’s and pens; and we decided we were going to plaster the restrooms in our local Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart has two sets of bathrooms, one at either end of the store. We started with the men’s room in the back of the store.

                  Jessica poked her head in and made sure they were empty; we both ran in and began sticking them above toilets and on the mirrors. I even stuck one above the water fountains outside the restrooms.

Jenna and I began putting them in the ladies room while Jessica wrote out more notes. As we were putting them in the ladies room, one of the employees asked about it, and I shared with her what we were trying to raise awareness for, and she seemed uninterested. Unfortunately, Jessica actually noticed her brush one of our notes off of the wall, and this kind of made me feel a little discouraged. As we made our way to the restrooms in the front, I decided that I was going to tell everyone, and I didn’t care who took them down. Someone was going to get something out of our notes. I began sticking them on shoes and clothes as we walked by. 

When we got to the rest rooms up front, Gabe went into the men’s room with a hand full of post it notes, while Jenna, Jessica and I went into the ladies room. When we walked, in a woman, I’m guessing in her 40s asked what we were doing. We told her about the conference we attended in Georgia, and about Janice’s blog, and about how we were trying to bring people’s attention to sex trafficking. She thought it was great to see that were so adamant about the subject 6 months after our conference. We held a conversation right there in the bathroom with her as people were coming in and out, for probably 10 minutes.

Some of the statistics are just unbelievable, and it’s really saddening to think it goes on here in our own country. This is was such an amazing experience, and I really hope that we are able to share more about modern day slavery and sex trafficking with strangers. It felt so good to know that we could be potentially saving a life by sharing this information with someone, and it was practically free to do it! I pray that someone wonders about our notes enough to research and help with the cause! -Danielle

I kind of have mixed feelings about my experience. It made me glad, sad, frustrated, and irritated all at the same time. I got a little upset and angry when the employee pulled down one of the notes, because it’s so important, and it shouldn't just be brushed off like it’s nothing! I’m grateful that I got to help make a difference, even in our small town. Most people will probably ignore the notes, but I know that someone is going to notice it, and God will speak to them. Words can’t really explain all of the feelings I have but that is as close as I can get. -Jessica

I feel like we made a difference, and it felt really good to inform people. There were a few people that stopped to read the notes, and it was exciting to see people reading them. It felt good to know that what we were doing could help someone somewhere in the world. -Jenna