We Got Hip With It

Hello our beautiful readers! I hope that you are having a great day! I know I am, though, it is a bit hot out here where I am. On that note today's post will be short and sweet but don't check out yet!

So, here is an update! Janice and I got a Facebook page up. Finally! Now here is what is up, we want you to like our Facebook page. You can find our page under: What Do You Know About Sex Trafficking.

It is an awesome page in the making and definitely something you do not want to miss out on! So, go like it on Facebook! And while you are at it go find us on Twitter at @AMASexTFacts.

Also, one last thing is we  are looking into a few other social cites and things like that. So, keep checking back for new updates! We do have some awesome stuff coming up and some important post that will be coming up very soon!

So, go right now and like us on Facebook!

Then check out our first post, "Let's Explain Our Mission" and see what we are about!

Thank you so much,

Nicole and Janice

And feel free to email us at anytime at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

A Slap In The Face

Recently we've received tons of emails from the FBI about people being convicted of sex trafficking throughout the US. What stuck out most for me was a man being found guilty with sex trafficking in Charlotte, NC. Being from NC, originally, it was a slap in the face! To think, when I lived there this business could've been thriving and now it's only growing bigger.

It's reported that the man who we'll call Philip (Not his real name). met the minor (who is never named) online. Shortly after they met the man, being charged, and the minor started texting each other. Philip and his girlfriend then arranged to picked up the minor in front of her school. They then went to a motel in Charlotte where Philip took inappropriate photographs of the minor and posted them on a inappropriate website as a advertisement to have sex with the minor.

Of course they had immediate response to the ad and Philip took the minor to engage in sex acts with two men. The only way she was found, according to the report, is because she was abandoned by the couple that took her because they were scared they'd get caught. Immediately after dumping her like trash, she called 911 and eventually the police caught the guy who was trafficking her.

The terrible thing is that though we have clearly stated, from day one, that this happens everywhere...even down the street from you...people don't seem to believe us. But everytime I get online to look through our email I find emails like this from all over the US. There have been, since we signed up, about 15 emails that have to do with sex trafficking and we haven't been subscribed long. The problem is, no one hears about these things unless they subscribe to the FBI, and who typically thinks of doing that? I would highly advise you all to sign up for them too, so that you might be able to read up on this injustice our whole blog is dedicated to fight against.

I wanted to add a couple of quotes from various people who were involved in this case. This is what they have to say on the matter of sex trafficking. People who have seen it first hand and dealt with the people on both ends. The victims, and the monster.

“Gray-Sommerville preyed upon a vulnerable young girl and exploited her in the worst possible way. Sex trafficking is a reprehensible crime that dehumanizes victims and strips them of their dignity. My office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute sex traffickers who profit from prostituting minors.”- U.S. Attorney Smith

“The defendant lured a young girl away from her family with promises of money but instead sold her as a sex slave. It is inconceivable that someone would sexually exploit a child for financial gain, but it does happen, and the FBI will aggressively pursue those who victimize our children,” - John Summers

"The verdict sends a loud message that these type of disgraceful offenses against children will not be tolerated in our community. We will continue to work with our federal partners in our efforts to protect children,” -Chief Rodgers

Sex Trafficking is not a subject Nicole and I just randomly came up with one day so we would have something to write about. It's a very real injustice and a very huge one. Maybe if someone had informed that girl of the dangers of sex trafficking and described to her some of the ways you can become involved in that industry she would've never met with this guy and never had to go through that trauma. You sharing your information on the matter of sex trafficking could mean the difference between someone remaining free, and someone becoming a victim.

Don't ever forget to stay aware,

Janice and Nicole

P.S. Have you been doing your sticky notes? If you have email us your story, we would love to share it for you! if you don't know what sticky noting is read our first blog post "Let's Explain Our Mission." Our email is: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

All names, including from quotes, were changed.

HELP!

H! E! L! P! That was the start of a jump rope rhyme from when I was younger. If you stopped jumping on "H" you had hot chili peppers and the rope would restart super fast. If you landed on "E" you had the unfortunate job of jumping again with your eyes closed. And so went the jump rope game.

So, here is the issue. Male sex trafficking. There was an older post that Janice and I had done on the matter. The issue with doing another post? It was so hard to find anything for the first post. So, why are we doing another post on the matter?

 As I read God in a Brothel I came upon the author mentioning male sex trafficking several times. This totally made me look bug eyed as I was so excited to do another post on the matter. But all I can tell you from the book is male sex trafficking is popular and that it is very popular in the Caribbean and that the boys being sold there start off very young.

This was enough from the book for me to do a post. My next matter of business was to go online to look for facts. I was disheartened at the lack of information I found. I am not sure if we are looking in the wrong places or what but Janice and I have been having a hard time finding much information. We find a lot of things that say there is male sex trafficking, but not many statistics on the matter.

What I would have love to find was current statistics from different countries. Statistics like the ratio of males to females. The average ages that the boys are. Even a list of the top five countries where male sex trafficking is the worst.

Did I find any of that? Nope. So, my next order of business was my brilliant idea to drop out of school and go do the research for myself. Janice could keep the blog up on the home front and I could keep all you wonderful readers up to date on the research. Plus, having a front row seat and help those, personally, who were being trafficked was a cool idea.

My idea was soon, momentarily, postponed with my realization of my current lack of money to fund my research. So until further notice I am still a college student. But you get where I was coming from, right?

Anyway, Janice and I have a favor to ask of you wonderful readers. Do you know of any FACTS, STATISTICS or RESEARCHES on male sex trafficking? Or even a place to find information? We need to make sure that all information shared is backed up by creditable sources. If you do, sharing the information with us would be greatly appreciated.

Janice and I are human. We need help every once in awhile.

(I want to make sure that you all know that we are very aware of the fact that male sex trafficking varies. In this post we are going off of what we know and what I personally read in the book.)

Thank you friends,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Feel free to email us information too! Our email is askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Heres to a Special Guest

Good day to all you wonderful people! Here is a post from an awesome person! He is doing wonderful things in the fight against sex trafficking. Take the time to read what he says and then go follow his blog! It is worth your time and you will not be disappointed!

Now, without anymore from us here is an awesome post from our friend Sam!

When I was 7 years old I went to elementary school, and I ate a delicious pb&j sandwich everyday at lunch.  Then I played kickball.  I have had opportunities in my life to be a part of great things.  I have had adventures, gone to fun parties, pursued my passion, and had a supportive family by my side.  Simply put, I am free, and I always have been.  

It wasn't until recently that I understood just how important freedom is.  

I have known about human trafficking for a long time.  I always hear about how there are "27 million" slaves worldwide.  But, in order to really understand human trafficking, I needed to view it on a smaller scale.  

Last year I was in a coffee shop writing for my blog, when I noticed a poster for the organization  Tiny Hands International.  After learning about where they worked, and what they did, it brought the whole "modern day slavery" idea into new light.  

I learned that every year in Nepal 10-15,000 girls and young women between the ages of 7 and 24 were deceived and taken across the border to India to be sex slaves.  Knowing this put everything into perspective for me.  Freedom is something that I have been blessed with.  The question is, what was I willing to do for freedom?

This is what caused me to dedicate my life to fighting this injustice the only way that I knew how.  I began raising money for Tiny Hands through my  passion for adventure. I call this my quest for freedom, but instead of telling you what I'm doing to fight trafficking, I want to hear what you're willing to do.

What are you willing to do for freedom?

Sam is a blogger, adventurer, and speaker.  For more information on him, and what he's doing to fight human trafficking, check out his blog at samexplores.com.  

Give Me Two Seconds to Explain

Hello! I hope that you all are having a wonderful day and that you are excited for the weekend! If you aren't, that is totally okay. Because I am! And it isn't just because there is an American Football game this Sunday. Although that may be a huge part to why I am so excited for the weekend.

Now, on to other matters! As some of you lovely people know, a few of the posts from this past week have been inspired by a book called God in a Brothel An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue. If I were to sum this book up in one sentence, I would have a hard time. I would really want to say something that completely gives the book its justice and also convince you that you should read it. But I am not sure that I can do that, but I will give it a try.

The book God in a Brothel is  amazing and totally life changing.

Is that a good enough sentence? Because, I don't think it is. So, I will retire the idea of one perfect sentence to describe an amazing book, and just tell you how I feel.

This book messed up my world single handedly. The way I looked at things were completely changed. The book was not dull. I kept turning the page. I would read the book late at night till I could no longer keep my eyes open. The book is written in a way that keeps your interest. In the end you aren't left hanging my some cliffhanger. The author tells the complete, raw truth. His views and what was going on internally are in the book along with stories of operations that took place.

I don't want to say too much on the book because I really do want you all to read it. Out of all the books I have read, and there are a LOT, I would definitely put this book in my top five. If you aren't a much of a reader, don't worry! The book is relatively short. In fact many of these posts were written in advance, as I read the book, so the information could be written down while still fresh. The author, Daniel Walker does an amazing job. The end is even an ending that I did not expect. This book is a true gem.

Now, I know that some of you may be a little interested in the title of the book. Yes, the author is a Christian. But at the start of the book he even explains how he wrote the book so that if you aren't a Christian you wouldn't be overwhelmed. Daniel has really done a good job with the book.

I cried at the stories and I wondered why people could do such horrible things. But then I guess its just free will. And that is why Janice and I are using our free will to get people up and awake so they become aware of this injustice.

In the book Daniel talks about how truly easy it is to start making a change in the sex industry. As I put this book down and am ready to pick up another one, I am more fired up and ready to continue on in the fight against sex trafficking.



I hope that you are able to take the time and read this life changing book,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Know of any other books on the topic of sex trafficking? Let Us know! We would love to take a look at them! Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Men

"It is easy to hate men. Men create the demand for sex trafficking, which the criminals involved in human trafficking are only to eager to supply. Without these men and their personal pursuit of pleasure, the simple fact is there would be no sex trafficking and no forced prostitution."

Now, before Janice and I get a lot of messages from different people about how we are "hatin" on men, let me just say, that quote is from Daniel Walker. A man.

Sure, sometimes when girls get into groups we talk about how stupid the male gender can be at times. We're girls after all and we love to vent to each other. Though this is the case I want to be completely transparent at the moment on this matter. The more I have looked into sex trafficking, the harder it has been for me to, sometimes, be forgiving to men who commit these crimes.

I would rather put my fist into the man's face then show any sign of forgiveness to him. Now, before you all start thinking I have anger issues I should stop. In my life, I understand, to be forgiven I must also forgive. I cannot hold anger in my heart to these men. Even though it is really hard to live that out.

This weekend as I was reading God in a Brothel my complete out look was changed. This book totally messed me up. There is a part in the book where Daniel talks about how even though these men are doing horrible things, he has noticed that these men are slaves to something as well. They are slaves to greed and lust. Not caring what they do, or who they hurt as long as they are satisfied. These men are slaves to selfishness. So, when you were younger and your mom told you to share your toys with you brother or sister and to not be selfish, she knew what she was talking about.

Daniel also talks about how some of the men he has come a crossed, in his work, have justified what they are doing. They feel what they are doing is okay because they are in sexually primitive countries when they are having oral or vaginal sex with girls no older then 6. They also feel that they are helping provide money for these girls. That they are spreading the wealth. But all these men are really doing is lying to themselves.

This book opened my eyes to different forms of slavery, where even the ones oppressing are victims as well. I am in no way saying that this is an excuse for their wrong behavior. But, I do feel a pinch more forgiveness in my heart. Though what they are doing is totally wrong, they need help as well. They need to be set free.

So, lets stop only trying to fix the surface issue of sex trafficking by focusing only on the rescue of girls (though we're highly focused on that too) and start, also, fighting the infection that is causing the wound to stay open and continue to spread.

Just a random thought,

Nicole and Janice


All quotes in this post are from Daniel Walker's book God in a Brothel an Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue.


Walker, Daniel. God in a Brothel An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue. Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2011. Print.

Oh, What You Learn: Sex Tourism

Before any of you continue to read, I want to put out a warning. If you are a person to get a little squirmish on sensitive matters, this post may be hard for you to read. If you don't read this post fill free to read any of Janice and my older post. But I do highly suggest reading this post.

The topic today is sex tourism. I am currently reading a book, I am a book worm after all. This book is called God in a Brothel an Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue, by Daniel Walker. The book is extremely good and I think that everyone should read it. Weather you believe in God or not. At the start of the book the author explains how he wrote the book in a way that if you aren't a Christian you wont be overwhelmed. I would continue on about the book, but I will save that for another post. Right now I really just want to talk about one part of the book.

Daniel is an undercover officer and he did jobs were he helped get girls out of brothels and the sex trade. Anyway, there is a chapter called: Southeast Asia Her Name is Mahal. The chapter is very good but it talks a lot about sex tourism. The area that he was in, the bars dealt a lot with sex tourist. He describes the men in them as, "some fit the image of the stereotypical sex tourist: overweight, unattractive and with few social skills. Others looked like men who could easily have been my mechanic, my bank manager, my barber or my neighbor."

A sex tourist doesn't just have one specific look. But at the bars Daniel went to, if you wanted to take one of the young girls back to your hotel room, you had to pay $25 first. Oh my goodness. On a side note. That is just so heart breaking to me. You pretty much can't get a pair of jeans that cheap at a department story. Do you understand that? People can buy sex for less then a pair of jeans. I can hardly go to the store and get food, as a college student for $25. I generally pay more. This fact makes me sick to my stomach and want to cry. I think that it is horrible that the world is in a place where we sell people for nothing. I think that it is horrid that people are being sold at all. At this particular site the girls that were rescued were between the ages of 12 and 14. This is just so crazy to me. And completely unacceptable.

I will continue now. After the rescue had been done, later on, Daniel had gotten a letter from one of the girls. She had not been at the bar long but she thanked Daniel and told him she would never forget him. She told him that she was going to reach for her dreams and become a lawyer to help other girls who are in similar situations, like she use to be in. And she told him to never stop what he was doing. Want to know something about her?

She had been in the bar for 5 nights and then the bust happened. She is what they called a "cherry girl." She was a virgin that was up for sale at the bars. "And while many were interested, none was ready to pay more then $900 for her virginity." It goes on to say that, "cherry popping is very popular among the many sex tourists who traverse the world."

Janice and I are just so out raged about this and filled with such a fire to see the sex industry stopped, not just locally or in some other country, but world wide. Sex trafficking needs to be stopped. Why? Why? Maybe not even why, but how? Why would a person ever want to have sex with a 12 year old girl but also how on God's green earth could that give a person satisfaction. This needs to be stopped. Sex tourism needs to be stopped. Sex with under aged girls needs to stop. This all needs to stop!

Now that I have gone on that little rant her are some facts the Daniel puts in the book about sex tourism.

1. Sex tourism is defined as traveling to a foreign country for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
2. Sex tourism is a lucrative industry that spans the globe.
3. As tourist travel to explore foreign cultures, economically developing countries have welcomed the expansion of the international tourism industry as a much needed source of income
4. Travel agencies around the globe promote exotic sexual adventures with overseas women. Websites provide potential sex tourists with pornographic accounts written by other tourists. These websites supply information on sex establishments and prices in various destinations, including information on how to specifically procure the prostitute of your choice. Associated with the exponential rise in this industry is the growth of child sex tourism. The internet also provided potential child sex tourists. They provide information on sex establishments and prices in various destinations, and how to specifically procure child prostitutes.
5. Sex tourism feeds the beast of sexual slavery

Lets stop this injustice,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Have you been sticky noting? Have any cool stories how you are helping stop the sex trade? Email Janice and I at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com We would love to share your story! If you don't know what sticky noting is read our first blog post "Let's Explain Our Mission." And while you're at it read some of our other older posts! After all, information is key in stopping the sex trade.


All quotes in this post were used from Daniel Walker's book God in a Brothel An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue.


Walker, Daniel. God in a Brothel An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue. Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2011. Print.

Cities of Sin

Bright lights. Large advertisements. Beautiful women. Half naked women. Slavery.

Its stuff like this that fuels the sex industry in major cities here in the United States. What two states am I talking about in particular? Vegas and Atlanta. Money, women and booze. Its a seemingly fun time! Or so it would seem.

But behind all the glam and lights there is an industry that is secretly thriving. What is this industry you may ask? The sex industry.

I drove through Vegas on the way to a family members funeral. I was a junior in high school. What do I remember most about this city? The Trump Tower, the large casinos and bright signs that had images of barely clothed women.

In the book that I am reading, God in a Brothel an Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue, the author Daniel Walker talks about operations that he had conducted in both cities.

Lets talk about Atlanta first. With Atlanta having such a huge airport and so many places of business it makes it a target place for sex trafficking. Women from any age and ethnicity can be found. One issue that helps this is the large gang movements that are in the area. It helps trafficking thrive in the area.

In the book Daniel even talks about when a sting operation was being conducted, it was quickly shut down because when further information was gathered it was found out that, "male clients were members of the Atlanta city counsel and U.S. Senators," and the, "officers involved were reassigned."

Daniel continues on with an undercover operation he did where he met with a 16 year old girl, gathering enough information and then made a set up to meet with Steve, the young girls pimp. They had met and Daniel got enough information to get the man in trouble for some time. It turns out he had younger girls then the 16 year old Emily. But, when Daniel took the information to the police he was met with disappointment. "While they were grateful for the information, the officers explained that they did not have the political support of the city behind them to proactively pursue those involved in the sex industry. They went on to explain that Atlanta was an entrenched area for those advocating for the rights of women to prostitute themselves and that the scrutiny of law enforcement was generally viewed as an unwelcomed and unnecessary intrusion."

Here in the United States we say that we are the Land of the Free. But as I look around, I am seeing more and more people who are enslaved, and very little is seemingly being done about it, this must be changed.

Now on to Las Vegas.

The sex industry in Vegas is huge! What fuels the industry here is, "organized crime, along with an international network of pimps, escort agencies and Internet businesses." What really gets Vegas is the fact that, to get many people there, sex is being advertised everywhere, it is part of Vegas' key advertisement.

High end prostitutes can be found patrolling the casinos looking for high rollers. How do they get in? They pay off the security guards. "One security guard admitted that he typically went home each night with between $2,000 to $4,000 in tips alone, all from prostitutes." Another security guard, "admitted that he regularly let in under aged girls into his club to sell themselves, because they tipped well."

Another person who plays a key role in the sex trade in Vegas would be the taxi driver. These men, "earn many thousands of dollars in additional profit by agreeing to take their lonely male customers to prearranged brothels." These different car services that partake in this injustice make more then $100,000 a year because they are acting as a pimp.  And though there are high end brothels in Vegas there are also lower level ones that compare to the brothels in other countries.

Even though some of the girls choose to join into this industry on their own accord, they cant always get out the same way. The sex industry in Vegas may look glamorous and like an easy and fast way to get money from the outside. But once on the inside, it doesn't stay that way.


So, here is a little sum up, law enforcement all around the world would rather focus on the women who are selling themselves rather on the men who are, generally, forcing them to do so. Let me put it this way. People aren't focusing on the root of the issue. Its like you have a dead corpse in the chair next to you. (I hope this isn't the case, but pretend with me for a minute) This corpse has been dead for a little over a day and it is in the heat of the summer. The body is starting to STINK! So, to cover up the smell you take out your nice smelling perfume, cologne, after shave or what ever you use, and you spray it on the corpse. After half the bottle is gone the smell is a little better. No matter what, till you dispose of the body  properly, you are still going to have that foul smell lingering around.

People let me just say one thing. Sex trafficking is everywhere. It is in the United States and the sex industry spans the whole globe. We need this injustice to be stopped. Corrupt government officials down to young, 13 year old pimps, cover the globe. Sex trafficking in the past has been a hidden issue. We need to bring it out and into the open. This injustice needs to be stopped.

Your informers,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Know of any other good books on sex trafficking? Let Janice and I know we would love to check them out! Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com


All quotes in this post were used from Daniel Walker's Book God in a Brothel

Walker, Daniel. God in a Brothel An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue. Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2011. Print.

Awesome News

Hello wonderful readers! How are you this beautiful day? Good I hope! I know that I am! I'm looking at the grass and it isn't from the roots up; so any day like that, for me, is a good day.

My lovely sister-in-law sent me this awesome link to an article and I found it super interesting! So, I want to talk to you lovely people about it! Though the article is from a few days ago, August 10, 2013, it will still hold awesome value.

A law has been past! And it is in the favor of victims of trafficking in Ohio. The law gets rid of past criminal records of girls who were trafficked. Burned, shredded, thrown in acid! The past criminal records are no more!
This means that when a girl, rescued from trafficking, under where this law is in affect, she will have her past criminal record whipped clean. Most of the time when a girl is in the sex industry she is forced to do things that can get her in major trouble with the law. And now, when the girl is rescued her record will be whipped clean. She wont have possession of drugs or any other matter on her record that will harm her from getting a job in the future.

Stuff is being done people! Now, we just need more cities and states to get laws like this!

If you want to read the article here is the link to the page:
http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2013/08/09/columbus-human-trafficking-victim-record-erased.html

Have a great rest of your day,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. have you been doing sticky noting? Do you know of other stories like this? Let us know! You can email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gail.com Don't know what sticky noting is? Check out our first blog post called Let's Explain Our Mission.

Extra! Extra!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

So, this post is regarding a news post from the FBI's web site that was published on August 13, 2013. Though, I am writing this and posting it a few days late, August 15, it will totally be fine.

On the 13th, in South Dakota, nine people were arrested for acts of sex trafficking during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. As you continue to read, on it is important to remember, that at this point, the men are still innocent until proven guilty. As of right now the charges being held against these men are only accusations.

Four of the men were from out of state while the other five were from South Dakota. The men allegedly negotiated with different officers, posing as pimps, to have sex with underage girls. These girls were between the ages of 12 and 15. The men who are now in custody range, in age, from 19 to 54. The states that these men come from were Colorado, Maryland, Alaska, Texas and South Dakota.

On a random side note, seriously! Colorado and Coloradians, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER! Actually, world, America we need to get our act together.

Now, back on track, what do you all think? Technically, entrapment was used by police forces to get these men. Is that a good thing or is it a bad thing? We want to know what you think. Because here is the thing. Though these men face no less then 10 years if the are convicted. Were they convicted in the correct way? By getting these men, at least they will not be able to hurt any more girls, right? After all, I would find it a little hard to believe that this was the mens' first rodeo, if you know what I mean. But, then again that may be me.

What do you think though? Let Janice and I know! Let's talk! Lets work together! Let's work together on stopping the sex trade!


Your friends,

Nicole and Janice.

P.S. Have any stories? Have you been sticky noting? Let Janice and I know! Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com! We would love to share your story!

Also, the link below is the one to the story I just wrote about so you can get all the details from the FBI website itself.

http://www.fbi.gov/minneapolis/press-releases/2013/sex-trafficking-sting-nets-nine-arrests?utm_campaign=email-Immediate&utm_medium=email&utm_source=minneapolis-press-releases&utm_content=248869

Disruption! Good or Bad?

When you hear, "at the restaurant I ate at last night, there was a teenager who was super disruptive!" What do you think of?

 

For most of you wonderful readers out there, your first thought would be a negitive one. And in all honesty, so would mine. But this is how the society we live in thinks. So, if your first thought, when you hear the word disrupt, is negative, Janice and I want to change that.

 

The sex trade. This is what Janice and I plan on disrupting.  Though, people are starting to become more aware of the sex industry, there's still a lot to be done. For those who are fighting against sex trafficking, good job! But for such a big injustice,  there needs to be a BIG fight. And that is what Janice and I are going to do.

 

We will be positive disruptors for a slightly unpopular topic! Is that not just awesome?! We will be the voice for those without a voice. We will be the hands and feet to reach out to those in need. We will stand up and say enough is enough. We won't stop until sex trafficking is no longer an unheard of topic. We won't stop till sex trafficking is stopped.

 

Our mission, may seem hard, but it is one that is worth it. We want to disrupt in a positive way to end an  injustice. Disbelief in our dreams is fire to the fuel thst keeps us going. There's a phrase, "Rome was not built in a day." It is important to remember that in battle, sometimes, numbers do matter. That is why Janice and I want you to be positive disruptors with us!

 

Disrupting by sharing knowledge on sex trafficking is a powerful tool. Janice and I use it on a daily bases. And so can you! A difference can be made. You can be a world changer. You can be the cause of a disruption that causes an end to one of the world's biggest injustices. Now how would you like to put that on your resume?! It's a pretty powerful thought, and you can be a part of it!

 

 

Your positive disruptors,

 

Nicole and Janice

 

PS are you making a positive disruption? If so we would love to hear from you! Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com  We would love to share your story!

Wild Hearts Cant Be Broken

When I was younger I was not the type of child who was in to your normal Disney movies. I didn't watch Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan or any other normal childrens movies. I mean, after all, Goofy creeps me out to the fullest! 

I was the type of child who liked the musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and a movie based on a true story called, Wild Hearts Cant Be Broken. I watched the movie so much that I can remember how annoyed everyone got with me always watching it.

Since I am leaving for college, I decided to watch Wild Hearts Cant Be Broken for the first time in YEARS! It's a VHS people! You can't imagine how young I felt again! Granted,  this is coming from a 19 year old but still!

Now, this movie is a, if you fall, get right back up and never back down, type of movie! If you ever have the  chance to see it, SEE IT!

In life we get knocked down, just like Sonora in the movie, we try and conquer a new challenge, but end up flat on our face or on our rear end. It happens and its a bummer,  but get up! Dust yourself off and try to conquer your goal again!

Would you like to know a secret?  This method of thinking, can totally be used when looking at sex trafficking! Kind of cool to think about right?! For one, sometimes sharing about sex trafficking with others can lead to a large variety of reactions. And sometimes those reactions are negative and a bit of a downer. Don't worry though! Get a smile back on your face! For ever person who thinks fighting against the sex trade is crazy, pointless and or stupid; there is plenty more people in the world who will think it is awesome! 

On a second thought, and this is speaking from personal experience,  what if you see your sticky note in the trash.  (For those of you who haven't read "Lets Explain Our Mission" Janice and I highly encourage you to do so! It is our first blog post and will explain what sticky noting is) I had gone to the movies one day this summer with my mother.  I had put a sticky note in the stall before the movie and after the movie I saw it crumbled up in the trash. In all honesty, my heart felt like it dropped down to my toes. 

Something I'm so passionate about, and someone crumbled it up, and tossed it out to go fill up some land fill somewhere. But what did I do? I took the advice I am giving you! I picked myself up and continue on sticky noting!  What better thing to do!?

When someone says can't, I say can. When I see my work tossed in  the trash,  I work that much harder so others know about sex trafficking.  In the end its all a matter of, is the glass half full or half empty. Though, when all is said and done the way you look at it is totally up to you! But don't forget to keep going and never back down!

The journey may be long but don't give up,

Nicole and Janice

PS have you been sticky noting? Have a cool story about how you are making a difference in yhe fight against sex trafficking? Have a story how you refuse to be broke?  Email Janice and I at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com We would love to share your stories! 

Run, Walk, Jog and Make a Difference

Hello our beautiful readers! I hope you're doing well this fine day! Currently, I want to tell you about a cool event. But to understand the event let me give you the history of it! So sit back, relax and enjoy the story.

This past Wednesday I had the pleasure of meeting a rather remarkable woman. Her name is Jenny and her and her husband host the Justice Run here in Colorado. Last Wednesday we were able to sit down and talk at a park for awhile until the rainy Colorado weather made us part in our separate directions. The rain was a little bit of a downer but sitting and talking with such a wonderful women definitely was not!

The run started when friends of Jenny and her husband needed money to help with a non profit in Germany call the Justice Project. The Justice Project goes into Red Light Districts and invites girls to a Spa Day. When they are at the spa day they get hair cuts and things like that. But, while the girls are there, and away from their pimps, they are asked if they are being held against their will. If they are the organization helps the young girls get out. Is that not just totally awesome!?

The first time Jenny and her husband did the run it took a long time to plan! 200 people showed up and they were able to raise $7, 500! From there the numbers have gone no where but up! This year it is estimated that 700 to 1, 000 people will show up to run! Isn't that awesome!? Over the past 4 years the numbers have continued to grow!

Half the people who show up to the event, which will take place in Colorado on October 6th of this year, come to run, the other half come to support the cause. So, say you want to get involved and join the Justice Run but you aren't much of a runner. That's totally okay! You can walk the Justice Run! 

Want to know something else? Say you are one of our readers from a different country, you would love to help but you can't make it to the U.S. in time. That is okay as well! On the Justice Run's website there is a place where you can donate! The website is www.thejustice run.com!

Now, hold on! Before you start asking how much of your money is actually given to help people who are trafficed, let me answer that for you! All of it goes to helping people who have been trafficked! Here is how it works. The cost to get the run up and running is totally taken care of by the sponsers and from Jenny and her husband. That way all of the money you pay to run goes completely to helping others! Cool! Right?!

Though, when Jenny first started doing the run she was only raising money for one Nonprofit, the Justice Run now raises money for three Nonprofits. The Justice Project, Street Hope (which is a local Denver project) and a nonprofit in Africa! All 3 nonprofits are awesome!

At the Justice Run there is also a run for kids. It is $5 and its, "kids protecting kids from trafficking." That's pretty clever isn't it?!  The money raised from the kids go to an orphanage in Uganda to help street kids from being trafficked.

Now, for you business members out there you can become a sponser of the Justice Run! Go onto their website and see how you can become a sponser! It takes around $5,000-7, 000 to get a race started and you can help!

And, to you awesome nonprofits, go on to the Justice Run's website and see how you can get a booth up at the run! You have to, in some way, be helping in the fight againt sex trafficking! And if you want to check into selling items you can! All the money you make at the event needs to go to helping in the fight against sex trafficking!

This year there will be painters at the run who will have paints based on their experience with the matter of sex trafficking!

Now, for people who don't want to walk or run, you can always volunteer at the run!  Invite your friends and family to come with you!  Get a group from your school or church to come and volunteer with you! With an event like this there will definitely be ways you can help!

For Jenny to get a race like this going it takes about 10 hours a week. And when the race gets closer its about 20-30 hours a week she spends getting the race ready! And did you know, for you local Coloradians, you can help volunteer in the weeks leading up to the race?! You can! And you totally should!  Plus, Jenny helps get other Justice Runs in other states started! This year there will be one in North Carolina!

Remember!  This event is an actual race! There is awards! There is food and fun for kids and booths that will be set up for people to find out more on trafficking and how they can help!

Check it out!

Important Information:

Date: October 6th

Time:
Race Day Reg 7:30 am
10k Run: 8:35 am
5k Run and Walk 9:00 am
Kids Run 10 am
Awards and raffle 10:15

Website: www.thejusticerun.com

Check it out!

Have fun and hope to see you there,

Nicole and Janice

Ps. Do you know of events like this? Let us know! Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Silence Isn't Always Golden

Silence.  We keep our secrets. We hold them tightly  to ourselves and never let them  go. But then what happens if your secret could save someone's life? What if your secret could save many peoples lives? Would you still keep your secret to yourself?

I wouldn't, at least at this point in my life I don't think I would. But, here is the thing. I have not been beaten,  starved, raped or threatened to keep my mouth shut. I have not had so much fear put in me that I refuse to talk to people.

Sex trafficking is kept secret.  And a lot has to do with the fact that not a lot is known about sex trafficking,  not many people know the details. And when a person is rescued out of sex trafficking they, generally, refuse to talk. Why is this you may ask? Well, the men and women who hold these girls captive use different, cruel tactics to keep their victims from talking.

Rape by captors and by blunt objects, threats against family members, starvations, beatings, long periods of isolatons are some of the tactics that are used to instill fear into young girls. So, even if a girl is free, more often then not the girl will refuse to talk.

Because of this, though this girl is free, other girls are kept hidden in the sex trade. The silence means that the people who run the sex trafficking industry can keep on getting away with what ever they like, there is not great volumes of people and information to stop them. Silence is on their side.

So, to the men and women who talk to people who have been rescued from trafficking, know that you are doing a good job. Though it may be hard at times, a difference is being made.

I was always told when I was younger that secrets don't make friends. And in cases like this it couldn't be more true. It could cause people to actually lose their life. But when dealing with a situation like this it is important to know that by a girl keeping her silence, she could actually be saving her own life or the life of a family member. That's one reason why this matter is so unstable in my eyes. What side would you want to choose?! I mean, I want everyone in the world to be safe and able to sleep at night.

So, the next time you sit and think to yourself. "Why don't they just tell what they know?!" Remember, the situation could be more complicated then you realize. Threats against the young victims family could have been made and threats on her own life could have been made as well.

Silence on some matters is good while on other matters, silence is a bad thing. Sex trafficking is not a matter that should be kept quiet.  We need to speak up and share what we know with the people around us!

Raise up tour voice for those who are force  to be silent,

Nicole and Janice

PS have tou been doing your sticky notes? Have an awesome story how you are changing the world? Email us your story at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com We would love to share your story!

Make the Most of Your Time

There has to be a song some where out there in the world that totally fits the title of this post, but I can't think of one. So, lets just move on.

I hope that you are all having a wonderful day! I hope that your days is full of smiles, laughter, butterflies and love. Am I starting to sound a little cheesy? If I am, I apologize.

In a world like ours it can seem like everything is rush, rush, rush. And lets be honest for a moment, Americans, it seems, are known for this. We are always going, going, going. And then one day we will be gone. Not such a happy thought, right? Okay, I will continue.

I'm not here to tell you that you need to stop and smell the roses. But, hey, if it is something you would like to do in life, by all means, do it! I'm here to ask you what is important in your life. Your family? Friends? Work? Faith? Partying? Saving the whales? Stopping sex trafficking?

I know for me, faith, family, and stopping sex trafficking are all some of the things that are important in my life. So, I make time for these things. I take the time to write some sticky notes, and I do it in bulk! It only takes about 10 minutes to crank out 20 post it notes with a sex trafficking fact and this blogs web address. That's it. Of course a few other things are put on the sticky note, but you got the idea. Then I put my finished sticky notes in a cute little wallet type purse a lady gave me. This is where the sticky notes hang out till they are put into use.

In life though we get busy. We have to run to the grocery story for our family's dinner, we need to get gas in the car, we have to get the little kids clothes when the old ones have holes in them. Well, did you know, that when you are doing this, you have the perfect time to get people aware of sex trafficking. Besides just talking to the people checking you out at the store there are RESTROOMS! Who knew those existed, right?

Bet you didn't see that one coming! Actually, restrooms are my favorite spot to place those sticky notes I mentioned earlier. You can run in and plop it up on the mirror, and if you really need to use the restroom you can also put it in the stall! Or just run in, plop it up, and run out. Easy as that.

Pretty smart idea right? Without even going more then, maybe, 20 feet out of your way. You can help in the fight against sex trafficking. You can help start a domino affect that could save someones life! Awesome to think about, right?!

So the next time you have some spare time, why not just make a few sticky notes to keep in your wallet or purse? Then when you get a chance, post them! It is actually pretty fun to do! And takes hardly any time at all.

When you have done this you can even take a picture of your lovely sticky note, and send it to us (askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com) where we will try and post your story! We want to share the passion with everyone!

So take the 10 or so minutes to put your time into something that can change the world. Janice and I are asking just for some of your time. We aren't asking you to, right now, open your wallets, and give us a chunk of change. We just want to share knowledge with people all over the world!

Remember you can be a world changer too,

Nicole and Janice

Here is an example of one of our sticky notes! Super simple, yet effective.

How I View Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking is not always the easiest thing to look into. The facts are harsh and unpleasant and in all honesty a complete downer. So, when I decided to start doing something about the sex trade I really meant it. I wasn't going to do all this for nothing. A change was, and is, going to take place.

So, how do I do it? Digging into the facts and doing my best to make a change?
I view sex trafficking, parts of it, with the mind set of a young school girl with a crush!

Now before you think I'm crazy let me explain.  As most people know, I am a book worm. And one of my favorite book series is the Chronicles of Narnia! In fact,  I'm currently rereading them.

When the new movie The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe came out I was so excited! I couldn't wait to go see it. I was in 6th grade and I was going to see the movie with my class. We had been reading all the books in class.

When the movie started my 6th grade heart fell in love! It must have been love right? I mean, I still to this day, will admit to you with some blushing, embarrassment, I have a HUGE crush on William Moseley and I have since 6th grade.

For those of you who don't know William is Peter, the eldest brother in the movie. He has amazing eyes and great hair plus lets not forget his accent. Let me just stop right there while I'm ahead of myself, though.

Anyway,  when I was younger, with the strong love of William and Narnia I did everything I could do to know more about both subjects.  I watched Narnia all the time! I even watched the commentaries.  While my best friend was looking up stuff on line about her crush from the Star Wars movies,  I was hanging posters in my room of Narnia.

No matter what, I never had enough information on William and on Naria. (Sounds a little stalkerish but I promise I'm not! I was just young) What can I say, I was a crushing school girl. Now, I will only admit he is a crush I have. Searching for information on him and Narnia has stopped (but you can't deny he is one GOOD lookin guy!).

Here is the point to my story! I couldn't get my hands on enough information on William and Narnia when I was younger. I just kept researching and researching. And when I did find information out I always told the people around me. After all, I WAS GOING TO MARRY WILLIAM MOSELEY!   

That is what I do with sex trafficking.  I research and research. And I let people know the information that I find.  Though it is not a topic, like a hot guy, I still get information to other people. The information may not be as desired as information on a hot guy or hot girl (don't want to forget about you male readers out there) but its information that will make people aware. And hopefully put an end to the sex trade.

So, the next time you decide to do a little investigating on the guy or girl you are about to go on a blind date with. Maybe take a moment and do a little investigating on the sex trade.  After all, if conversation is a little awkward,  you have a great topic to fall back on for the date!

With love from your crushing school girls,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. have you been doing sticky notes?  Have a cool story how you arw stopping the sex trade? Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com. we would love to share your story.  Dont know what sticky noting is? Check out our first blog post "Let's Explain Our Mission!"

The Adventurous Online Life

I would like to start this off by saying that this subject came from a movie I watched on Friday. Some things I talk about in this post will be issues from the movie. I am not naming the movie because though it gave me some intense insight.. the key word is INTENSE. It was TERRIBLE!!!! I don't mean the acting sucked, or the graphics were bad, I mean it was RAW! It was straight forward, to the point, and sad.

So to start this off I want to say: the subject Nicole and I took on of sex trafficking is not the ideal subject. It is not happy, joyous, or fun in the sun. It is dark, saddening, scary, and cruel. But it is a subject we took on in the hopes that if we share our knowledge and it keeps ONE, just one, person from becoming a victim.. then our whole mission was worth it. All the late nights, writters-block, sadness, frustration, anger, hurt, money, SADDENING research, and fights. It was ALL worth it if we can just save one.

Ok- now since that's off my chest let's get to the main subject of this post. The internet. I used to LOVE the internet. It's a place where you can be whomever you want to be. No hiding behind insecurities or fears. You can say what you want and you don't care what people think because they don't really know you. They can start a ciber fight, but what does that matter, right? You are who you want to be. The person you aren't when you're with your real life friends, but the thing about the internet is you don't know who you're talking to.

I was watching this movie, of which I already said I won't name because it was the saddest thing I've ever seen, and these two girls from Hollywood. Best friends. Schoolmates. Well, they lived seemingly normal lives. One was a popular girl who had tons of friends, got LOTS of guys, partied hard, was super secure, outgoing, and beautiful. The other, well she was shy, insecure, and modest, pretty.. but not model-tastic, not the type of girl most guys notice.

The cofident girl, we'll call her Stacy, met this "hot" guy online. His webcam was broken, so he sent her pictures. Totes legit, right? Anywho, her webcam worked totally fine. So she showed him who she was. Showed him a little more then needed, but he wanted it, and she wanted the attention. She thought he was her age, attractive, sweet. They talk, they flirt, they like each other. So she decides to meet with him. In the back alley of a diner where she lives. Turns out, he's not a teenager, he's not attractive, and he's not into her because he wants to "hook-up". He wants to use her as a sex slave. He kidnaps her, and uses her for his own pleasures as well as others. That's where Stacy's story stops for now.

Now let's move on to her friend, the shy one. We'll call her...Sarah. Well because she was Stacy's best friend, she of course knew about the guy Stacy had met online. Sarah reaches out to this guy after Stacy's disappearence. She asks him if Stacy ever met up with him that night. He of course never met up with her, or so he says. I mean I wouldn't admit to such a crime either. But because Sarah is scared he did something to her best friend she goes to the police and tells them about this mysterious man online that Stacy was going to meet with. Once this guy finds out about what Sarah did, because it's all over the news, he takes her too for fear that she'll get him caught.

In the future scenes it shows what he's done to the girls after taking them. He's raped them multiple times, sold pornographic photos of them on fetish sights, and used them for other sexual things for his gain.

He sex trafficks these girls after kidnapping one of them whom willingly met him in a back alley thinking him to be a hot teenager. The other, he took because she wouldn't keep her mouth shut. This was a true story that took place in 2007 in hollywood. 6 years ago sex trafficking was an issue in the USA. It's only getting worse as time goes on and people allow it to continue without a fight.

Moral of the story #1: Share your knowledge. NO ONE is protected from this crime unless you know you're stuff. If you are niave to the issue how can you protect yourself from it? You can't. So share it. Fight against this issue.  

Moral of the story #2: Don't EVER meet anyone you met online unless it's in a highly public place. Leave out, in your conversations with this person, where you live, your true name, your true age, and don't try to be super sexy by sending them inappropriate pictures. If they like you and are truly who they say they are they will abide by your terms willingly. If they don't then there is something wrong there. Also, listen to your gut. It's not always right, but is right more often then not. If you don't feel like this person is telling you the truth, listen to that gut feeling and stop talking to them. I'd rather you be safe then sorry.

I know this isn't a happy post, but this subject of sex trafficking is not happy at all. Nicole and I are not here to candy coat this issue but to bring it into light. To expose the ugly side of this business. To expose every form of this business.

Please don't take this information and forget about it. Don't read this post and act like it never existed. Please, please, please share the information you gained through this post and do a HUGE part in changing this industry. If there aren't any guys or girls for them to take then it won't thrive.

Thanks for your support, time, and effort!

Janice & Nicole

P.S. Have you been changing the world with sticky notes yet? If not, read our first post "Let's Explain Our Mission" and see how you can make a difference in such a easy way. Once you do email us at: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com and share your stories with us. We would also love to hear about what you're doing to stop this injustice, or a personal injustice of your own. We would love to have your questions, concerns, and comments emailed to us too. We REALLY want to hear from you.