“Trade” A Movie on Sex Trafficking
Leave a CommentI just watched this movie last night depicting the sex trade of children and women from Mexico into the United States. The movie does a relatively good job in illustrating how sex trafficking encompasses a network of actors not only on a local but international level. Aside from the heartache and sympathy that you may feel for the characters, the movie illustrates the reality of the torturous, cruel environments and situations that victims are placed in on the sex trade. It is an accurate depiction of what sex trafficking has manifested itself into…even in the 21st century.
The work of Paul Farmer and Partners in Health
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A short introduction to Paul Farmer and Partners in Health. My new hero on the fight against global health inequalities and the search for an individual’s right to a proper system of health care around the world.
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4069409n
Dr. Paul Farmer, holding a young patient. (www.cbsnews.com)
I’ve just started reading his book, “Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights, and the New War on the Poor” Farmer’s cause and passion for the work that he is involved in, only makes you want to be something better and more than what you are right now…..to be able to live and focus on a cause that is so much greater than yourself: The rights and freedoms of individuals who cannot protect themselves and do not have a society or balanced system in place to provide them with a better quality of life.
An Interesting Insight
Leave a CommentI thought that these comments made by Nicholas D. Kristof were very insightful to the events occurring in the Darfur region.
The Beijing Olympics this summer were supposed to be China’s coming-out party, celebrating the end of nearly two centuries of weakness, poverty and humiliation.
This is not a boycott of the Olympics. But expect Darfur-related protests at Chinese Embassies, as well as banners and armbands among both athletes and spectators. There’s a growing recognition that perhaps the best way of averting hundreds of thousands more deaths in Sudan is to use the leverage of the Olympics to shame China into more responsible behavior.
The central problem is that in exchange for access to Sudanese oil, Beijing is financing, diplomatically protecting and supplying the arms for the first genocide of the 21st century. China is the largest arms supplier to Sudan, officially selling $83 million in weapons, aircraft and spare parts to Sudan in 2005, according to Amnesty International USA. That is the latest year for which figures are available.
China provided Sudan with A-5 Fantan bomber aircraft, helicopter gunships, K-8 military training/attack aircraft and light weapons used in Sudan’s proxy invasion of Chad last year. China also uses the threat of its veto on the Security Council to block U.N. action against Sudan so that there is a growing risk of a catastrophic humiliation for the U.N. itself.
Sudan feels confident enough with Chinese backing that on Jan. 7, the Sudanese military ambushed a clearly marked U.N. convoy of peacekeepers in Darfur. Sudan claimed the attack was a mistake, but diplomats and U.N. professionals are confident that this was a deliberate attack ordered by the Sudanese leaders to put the U.N. in its place.
Sudan has already barred units from Sweden, Norway, Nepal, Thailand and other countries from joining the U.N. force. It has banned night flights, dithered on a status-of-forces agreement, held up communications equipment and refused to allow the U.N. to bring in foreign helicopters. The growing fear is that the U.N. force will be humiliated in Sudan as it was in Rwanda and Bosnia, causing enormous damage to international peacekeeping.
Another possible sign of Sudan’s confidence: an American diplomat, John Granville, was ambushed and murdered in Khartoum early this month. Many in the diplomatic and intelligence community believe that such an assassination could not happen in Khartoum unless elements of the government were involved.
Chinese officials argue that they are engaging in quiet diplomacy with Sudan’s leaders and that this is the best way to seek a solution in Darfur. They note that Sudan has other backers, and that China’s influence is limited.
It is true that since the start of the “Genocide Olympics” campaign (www.dreamfordarfur.org) a year ago, China has been more helpful, and it’s only because of Chinese pressure on Khartoum that U.N. peacekeepers were admitted to Darfur at all. But the basic reality is that China continues to side with Sudan — it backed Sudan again after it ambushed the U.N. peacekeepers — and Sudan feels protected enough that it goes on thumbing its nose at the international community.
Just a few days ago, Sudan appointed Musa Hilal, a founding leader of the Arab militia known as the janjaweed, to a position in the central government. This is the man who was once quoted as having expressed gratitude for “the necessary weapons and ammunition to exterminate the African tribes in Darfur.”
Other countries also must do much more, but China is crucial. If Beijing were to suspend all transfers of arms and spare parts to Sudan until a peace deal is reached in Darfur, then that would change the dynamic. President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan would be terrified — especially since he is now preparing to resume war with South Sudan — and would realize that China is no longer willing to let its Olympics be stained by Darfuri blood.
Without his Chinese shield, Mr. Bashir would be more likely to make concessions to Darfur rebels and negotiate seriously with them, and he would no longer have political cover to resume war against South Sudan. That would make long-term peace more likely in Darfur and also in South Sudan.
I’m a great fan of China’s achievements, and I’ve often defended Beijing from unfair protectionist rhetoric spouted by American politicians. But those of us who admire China’s accomplishments find it difficult to give credit when Beijing simultaneously underwrites the ultimate crime of genocide.
China deserves an international celebration to mark its historic re-emergence as a major power. But so long as China insists on providing arms to sustain a slaughter based on tribe and skin color, this will remain, sadly, The Genocide Olympics.
Violation of Human Rights? Female Circumcision as a Tradition
There is much difficulty in understanding the advantages of what is commonly known to the western world as female genital mutilation or female circumcision in traditional terminology. As studied and researched by individuals, institutions and advocated by human rights groups, there are no significant or even medical advantages to such a procedure. This ritual of female circumcision is viewed as a harmful and excruciatingly painful violation of human rights that is bestowed upon young girls. The difficulty in discourse on this issue is the understanding of how culturally, traditionally, religiously and socially this right of passage is for young girls as a social norm and acceptance into their Islamic societies. Without this ritual, scrutiny and chastisement from such traditional and conservative societies can become a burden to not only the young girls, but their entire families as well. So, even though the need for education and change towards this ritual in regards to human rights must be expressed, it still needs to be presented with an examination and understanding directed towards the sensitivity of the cultural and traditional attributes and reasonings of such an issue. Without making an attempt at this first, it will be difficult to establish any sort of change into a society.
Stephanie Sinclair
Picture and article from the New York Times January 21, 2008: “A Cutting Tradition”
Global Poll: Skepticism of UN over protection of human rights
18 countries were involved in a multinational study that was conducted on the issue of human rights and responsibility of the UN in the Darfur region. The main point that can be generalized among all of the respondents is the strong belief that the UN has the responsibility to protect individuals from human rights abuses and other issues such as genocide even if it means nations acting against the interests or will of their own governments.
Unfortunately, this poll also expresses the lack of support and optimism that nations have regarding the strength and responsibility towards protection that the UN was established and created for.
The report can be found on World Public Opinion site: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org
Domestic workers as a human rights issue
I found the Human Rights Watch site just by happen-chance one day while on the internet. What sparked my attention was the World Report for 2007 that captured different subjects and sub-sects of the human rights issue as a whole. The subject on women’s rights is one of the studies that has been of great interest to me for a long period of time. No, I’m not talking about feminist politics, philosophies or beliefs, so let’s not automatically assume that I’m being radical or prejudice in anyway. What I’m bringing out to point hopefully, is the issue of women and gender rights as a whole, which are unfortunately impeded upon in the more secular and traditional state systems.
There are numerous factors as to why the treatment of women differs among countries, so as an obvious point: Going into any system with the goal of absolving a problem with a single type of approach is doomed for failure. Which brings up another interesting thought to mind, which is that going into any country and trying to crusade for the eradication of a problem is not necessarily a positive undertaking at all. I’ve become a bit more cosmopolitan with my approach to solving the world’s problems by believing that it is the responsibility of the international community to work against the plight of global issues on certain macro and micro levels. Proactive approaches need to be made to eradicate problems, especially those in the countries that don’t have the capabilities to do so on their own.
What does turn into a negative realization is the bureaucracy of the states in the international community not taking stands on issues because it is not in their national interests or it is so close to their interests that the issues are replaced and exploited with other results. I think that this is why advocating for human rights may at times seem to be a double-edged sword.
Going back to what I tried to start with, domestic worker’s rights is a t0pic that as a human rights issue illustrates constant struggles. Women from developing nations search outside and migrate to more developed countries to provide a living for their families back home. What may seem as a natural process of globalization to some turns into a horror for those who are exposed to the abuses and exploitation of their employers; sexual, physical and verbal abuse, being under-paid or not paid at all, over-worked, living in constant isolation. These women are trapped as modern-day servants and slaves to those who employ them because the realization is that there is no easy or safe way out. Those who are lucky as domestic workers are given the opportunity to earn money, provide for their families and even return home to never have to come back.
A book that I would recommend on this topic is Global Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy.
The Human Rights Watch has a report on protecting migrant domestic worker’s rights that was written by Nisha Varia. There’s a photo essay that brings the issue very close to home by illustrating the lives of women who have been domestic workers.
http://hrw.org/campaigns/women/2006/domestic_workers/photos.htm#nolink
Eradicating what ails the poor
I read bits and pieces of articles throughout Vanity Fair’s July issue focusing on Africa’s devastating crisis on health and poverty. As I started reading an article about economist Jeffrey Sachs and his vision of eradicating extreme poverty in Africa, I was intrigued and once again filled with excitement to read about an individual who is working selflessly to make a difference in other people’s lives. The question that may sometimes turn into an argument of whether extreme poverty can come to an end at times seems endless. There are always programs, concerts, specials and presentations showcasing the fight to eradicate something in some country. Looking at Africa, there are numerous avenues in which the fight to help save lives take place. There is a focus on these issues and they are very apparent in the media. It only makes sense that the fight continues until the plight of the most simplist illnesses and harsh conditions of living are erased from the face of the earth. The only sad truth is that the problems seem to constantly persist, that those nations that are in the poorest of conditions and cannot provide for its people remain in constant strain. Those people who need the most basic needs are still in dire situations that continue to perpetuate into worse conditions of civil war, corruption and chaos; Therefore, when you have nothing, you have to fight to protect what little you may have. I’m not saying that there aren’t agencies and organizations that haven’t achieved or met some type of goal or progressed into helping multitudes of people. There need to be concrete solutions to once and for all end what may be threatening the lives of millions of people; whether it be hunger, poverty, disease, or some other injustice. But even more importantly, steps to those solutions need to be acted upon. As many would agree, starting at the foundation of the system to meet the basic needs of people with shelter, food, water, simple medication and education is a good place to begin. Providing people with the most simplist of needed resources is what helps. In return, a solution such as this can only mean that a country will be strengthened to nurture its citizens and perpetuate into a growing cycle of solutions to eradicate what most ails a nation and its people.
Three arrested on slave labor charges in Las Vegas
I came across another article in the Washington Post that caught my attention today. Three individuals were charged with enslaving more than 20 members of a Chinese acrobat team in Las Vegas. Individuals were held captive against their will, while working for little or no pay, having their passports and identification confiscated, and living under harsh conditions. This story, although independent in itself from other stories of human trafficking and forced labor, is not different in the subject of human rights. Some cannot fathom or even begin to believe how individuals could take it upon themselves to intentionally exploit and coerce others for their own gain and benefit. In this case, the members were forced to work as a legitimate show acrobat team, but also as maids and gardners. The individuals who worked in charge of them were basically pimps, who allotted the members small portions of income each month; money that was not sustainable for anyone to live off of, but it is not as if these individuals had a choice to live the way that they might have wanted to. It’s a frustrating and sad truth to realize and be aware that these types of occurrances do happen around the globe and that as long as there are such demands for individuals, there will always be the coercion, force, and expliotation of those in the most vulnurable situations to be trafficked into some type of slave labor.
Bush commutes Libby’s sentence
Does this really surprise anyone? The fact that Bush took an executive order such as this doesn’t seem to be a shock to many people. The Democrats argue that this decision illustrated an example of Bush acting above the law and not holding accountable members of his administration for their actions. The Republicans on the other hand aren’t thrilled about having Libby’s sentence commuted because it only reduces the legal penalties, or in this case, his 30 month prison sentence. Republicans would have favored an entire pardon, because then all charges would be dropped, including the hefty $250,000 fine that must still be paid. Therefore, Libby’s legal battles are far from over because if his conviction is not overturned on appeal, he won’t be able to practice law either. Sad situation for Libby? Not at all. His conviction of perjury, obstruction of justice in a grand jury investigation, and making false statements to federal investigators has bascially been erased by Bush’s executive power of clemency. Should the sentence have been commuted, especially in such an alone decision-making process that Bush pursude without going through lawyers at the Justice Department? Some will argue that all of this is within constitutional grounds and not overriding any executive powers, therefore not unconstitutional, but still, what does this situation really illustrate? Nothing more than political bureacratic favoritism; You scratch my back and I’ll scratch your’s. As former senator Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.) was quoted in the Washington Post, saying, “Libby’s 30-month sentence was “wretched excess” and that Bush did the right thing, no matter what the political consequences are. “Why should anyone worry about that? He gets hammered every day. They don’t think George is doing anything right, so what do you lose?” But really, if Paris Hilton could handle a few weeks behind bars, then I’m sure it wouldn’t have hurt Scooter Libby either.
“Sicko” is definitely something to see
I saw Michael Moore’s “Sicko” and in order to sum up my impression and overall opinion of the film, I would have to say that it brilliantly illustrated the realization about the depleting state of the health care system in the United States. I haven’t seen any of Moore’s other films and I know that there is always an uproar about whether the films are too biased or one-sided, etc. (Ok, the film did start off with a clip of Bush saying something entrely stupid, even though he was attempting to make a point). But in all seriousness, I think that in this film, the focus, although creatively depicted in a Moore way, illustrated what millions of individuals in this country already know and have to live with everyday; especially if they are part of the population without health insurance. This film, didn’t challenge or question whether the health care crisis could be blamed on the decisions of Republicans or Democratics. This film was a comparative insight into how other countries; Canada, England, France, even Cuba have implemented universal health care, that is not only of a quality level, but preventative in nature, so that ALL citizens may have the opportunity to live healthy and happy lives; Not only the ones that can afford it. For such an incredibly rich and westernized country as ours, you would think that the same types of opportunities could be afforded and provided, especially to the individuals who need it most. But as can clearly be seen, that is simply not the case. For anyone who may think that I am complaining or bashing the United States and whose answer to this may be, “If you don’t like it, then leave it,” I have nothing more of a response then to say: Watch this movie, focus on how other countrie’s health care systems work and tell me then, if you wouldn’t want the same to be offered to you here.
