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StayingPower
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 252
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 Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:52 am Post subject: Human Trafficking |
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Saw the movie last night. Some startling statistics. Made me feel gross, as if I wanted to take a bath, wash away what I feel the scum of humanity can do to the powerless.
800,000 people are trafficked annually. Most are young women, some children. Could be your son or daughter, your brother or sister. Could be you.
I think of how vulnerable I am, being 41(Ha, ha.) No really, how vulnerable I am, and perhaps a lot of us, to criminal organizations. In some ways I feel a little correlation with working abroad, for reasons I don't want to get into. But I feel 'humanity' is being trafficked quite easily here, and it disgusts me.
About human trafficking: the US leads the way. It's the 3rd most profitable organized crime business after drugs and guns. |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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Not sure I could stomach that documentary, ST. 800,000 human beings sounds like a incredibly gross underestimate when you consider all the insiduous ways of enslaving people without actually outright 'buying' them. Tennant farming, child labor, factories that put their workers in debt and have guard towers and barbed wire around them to make sure no one escapes, constription, women who weren't necessarily 'sold' into brothels but once in can't get out, sweat shops in dangerous buildings, people working for no pay and thugs around to shut them up if they complain. It goes on and on, sadly. I would think that at least half the people on this earth are entrapped in one way or another, some more severe than others of course. Welcome to our lovely civilization.
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StayingPower
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 252
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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| bluetortilla wrote: |
Not sure I could stomach that documentary, ST. 800,000 human beings sounds like a incredibly gross underestimate when you consider all the insiduous ways of enslaving people without actually outright 'buying' them. Tennant farming, child labor, factories that put their workers in debt and have guard towers and barbed wire around them to make sure no one escapes, constription, women who weren't necessarily 'sold' into brothels but once in can't get out, sweat shops in dangerous buildings, people working for no pay and thugs around to shut them up if they complain. It goes on and on, sadly. I would think that at least half the people on this earth are entrapped in one way or another, some more severe than others of course. Welcome to our lovely civilization.
BT |
What you said is what got me to thinking. I feel and think the same, which is also why I posted this. The fact of being powerless in another country is certainly something that crosses my mind. International law is pretty much non-existent, I believe, so I feel most vulnerable. The whole shabang of having your rights violated in some shape or form, is also a constant, and scary at times.
But the experiences I've had have made me meet some of the other foreigners here, the majority of whom seem easily sucked into a sort of 'human trafficking of humanity' in order to be used for unscrupulous employers. And I'm not just speaking of the Southeast Asians. |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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If I may say this, SP, with recognition towards your post, that things have pretty much sucked for the great majority of humanity for the past 6000 years.
Civilization ain't what's it cracked up to be.
BT |
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ParaIchigo
Joined: 08 Mar 2007
Posts: 8
Location: CA--USA
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| i was even more shock to learn that there's human trafficking in the US. i don't know why i didn't think it could happen so close to home... guess i was just being naive... |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:06 am Post subject: |
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| Illegal immigrants? No rights, no recourse. Migrant workers are basically the property of the traffickers. |
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Dr_Zoidberg
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 406
Location: Not posting on Forumosa.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:09 am Post subject: |
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| bluetortilla wrote: |
If I may say this, SP, with recognition towards your post, that things have pretty much sucked for the great majority of humanity for the past 6000 years.
Civilization ain't what's it cracked up to be.
BT |
Civilization has always been a precarious commodity. In spite of the great technological advances we've made, we've always been just one step away from chaos. |
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Sgt Killjoy
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 438
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:25 am Post subject: |
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| Guest Workers? I think in some respects, most of us TEFL teachers are just that, guest workers. I have heard of a few situations where teachers felt trapped in a school because of overbearing bosses, would that make them victims? Sure does. |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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Well I'll just cut to the quick and give me opinion, knowing that many will disagree. While I concede that it is natural for some animals to be territorrial, humans have taken that behaivor to grotesque and twisted heights. Nation-States are nothing more than prisons, and MNCs are the modern equivalent of the Landowner/Serf paradigm (right- neocolonialism). As far as I'm concerned, this is my earth and I have a right to go anywhere I want, anytime I want.
But considering the enormous problems facing the human race today, maybe none of that even matters anymore.
Not too optimistic.
BT |
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StayingPower
Joined: 18 Aug 2006
Posts: 252
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| Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Sgt Killjoy wrote: |
| Guest Workers? I think in some respects, most of us TEFL teachers are just that, guest workers. I have heard of a few situations where teachers felt trapped in a school because of overbearing bosses, would that make them victims? Sure does. |
This is quite accurate, making me think about the plight of people who work here and the abuse of worker's rights. It's quite commonplace. But like in the movie, the abused often end up accepting their fate as hopeless, deserving, normal or in some perverted way, enjoyable.
That's what ticks me about some of those who often live-down the negative experiences some of us have. This is particularly true when it comes to those working for more powerful employers, like the big chains, since they feel they're part of a norm. |
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Dr_Zoidberg
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 406
Location: Not posting on Forumosa.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:31 am Post subject: |
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| blue tortilla, do something about your avatar. |
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bluetortilla
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 815
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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sorry- i was extremely busy.
there- food for thought. the fresh ones are much better.
BT |
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