When Spring doesn't look like Spring and Slavery doesn't look like Slavery

Well here it is a few days after the official day of spring and we are shoveling ice and snow.  Pretty typical for Colorado actually.  It's a case of Spring not really looking like our definition of Spring. That is the same as it is with slavery.  Our definition is typically people in chains or behind fences being forced to do hard labor. However, there is so many other kinds of slavery, ones that don't even look like slavery from the outside.  Bonded labor is one of those situations.  The men, women and children that are working look like they are in a normal working environment.  It can be anything from cleaning rooms, building fences, sewing, dyeing silk or a brothel.  They sometimes get paid but not enough to ever get on their own feet, or they are told they have to work till their debt is paid which never happens.  Here is another organization that is helping.  It is called Restore International and they work all over the world to get people out of these situations. They get them healed, trained and back on their feet.  Check it out on this link http://restoreinternational.org/ and join them or us at HOPE.  What ever you do, keep fighting for freedom for those who cannot fight for themselves!

One day after the Shine a Light on Slavery Day and I am tired!  A good tired for sure.  Thank you to Lora Mascarenas, Luz Stella Diaz-Porter, Lisa Woolmington, Sue Greiner, Lisa Webb, Diana Griffin, Kirsten, Mackey and Adelynn Campbell, and Gina Lee for making it all happen.  Thank you to the  Brown Dog, The View, The Roastery, Cool Beans and The Lettuce Head for letting us use your business to spread the word about slavery in our world.  We made a difference in our community, THANK YOU! I also wanted to let you know about a new organization I found out about. Fair Trade Friday Club.  Check it our on their website http://fairtradefriday.club/eotm/.  They have a truly original idea.

Valentines Day Chocolate

Well, it's that time again... time to buy the one you love chocolate, right?! I heard yesterday it is the most given gift at Valentines day with flowers and jewelry close runners up.  But here's the real news. Most chocolate is grown and harvested by slaves. Many of which are children.  The documentary "The Dark side of Chocolate" reveals it all. Here is the link to the you tube film.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vfbv6hNeng
One way we can make a difference is to make an educated choice when we buy chocolate.  There are so many now to choose from! Check out the list on the Fair trade USA website http://fairtradeusa.org/products-partners/cocoa.  Happy Valentines day and may your chocolate be Fair Trade!

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month

So many governments are speaking out against human trafficking!  It's encouraging to see and raises hope that soon we will see a decrease in the number of people in slavery.  The USA has made January national Human Trafficking Prevention month. Follow this link to see what congress is voting on this month related to human trafficking.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachna-choudhry/slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevention_b_6543924.html?,congress.  This month I want to highlight an organization I found out about through my sister.  It is called Streetlight USA.  They have a three pronged approach of direct care in homes for trafficked girls, prevention of more girls ending up as victims and awareness of the public to these problems.  Check out their website  www.streetlightusa.org for more information.  Again I invite you to contact us and let us know about organizations that support fair trade, fight human trafficking or increase awareness of slavery.  I would love to put them on our blog.  Do something this month to make a difference!  Check out our website www.bvhope.org for ideas.

As 2014 comes to an end we look back and see what we have done this year.  It has been the birth year for HOPE.  We have started the local organization for the A21 campaign to join in the fight against human trafficking.  A small but awesome group has formed around the cause and has done many things.  We have a website www.bvhope.org, and email buenavistahope@gmail.com, instagram BV_A21_HOPE, and of course this blog.  We have joined the chamber of commerce for Buena Vista, CO and have our flyers and business cards there. We now have our own HOPE letterhead. We had a Freedom Walk in October and had 100 people attend!   We have had the opportunity to talk to two of our local schools about human trafficking and how to be safer.  We have presented the A21 curriculum to the local schools and some of them will be using parts of it to teach students about human trafficking.  We have talked to the Buena Vista town council about the increasing threat of human trafficking and the need to increase awareness in our area and had great support.  We had a booth at the Christmas Fair and talked to many people about human trafficking and handed out informational flyers. 2014 has been a huge success for HOPE.  We are looking forward to 2015 and many more awareness and fundraising events.  Please join us!  Check out our website and calendar to see where you can plug in and make a difference in the fight against human trafficking. If you don't have time to join us make an end of year donation to enable us to continue the work of HOPE.

We are amazed how many Fair Trade and Anti-Human trafficking organizations there are!  Our core group learns of a new one almost daily!  So instead of overwhelming our website (bvhope.org) with all of them we are going to blog about the new ones we learn about instead.  So here is the first organization I want you to know about.  What is amazing is it has been around since 1946.  They were way ahead of their time and now on the cutting edge of Fair Trade retail.  It is Ten Thousand Villages.  Their website is www.tenthousandvillages.com.  Here is the first paragraph of their story, go to the website to see the rest and shop. 
 "The global fair trade movement began with the founding of Ten Thousand Villages more than 60 years ago through the visionary work of Edna Ruth Byler, a pioneering businesswoman. Byler was struck by the overwhelming poverty she witnessed during a trip to Puerto Rico in 1946, where she was moved to take action. The seminal contribution of Byler ignited a global movement to eradicate poverty through market-based solutions."
 Ten Thousand Villages has been named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute and Forbes Magazine.2008-2013

Let us know if there is an organization you want us to let others know about.Our email address is buenavistahope@gmail.com.

Fair Trade for the Holidays

Well the Holiday season is really almost here! We all become so much busier and many are still trying to buy the last few gifts they need.  Remember those who are in slavery.... they won't have a celebration.  Even though we cannot help them directly at this time we can do things that will work toward a better world without slavery!  When you purchase gifts, look for Fair Trade options. The A21 Campaign has a store online and there are many stores listed on our website, bvhope.org, that you can get beautiful fair trade gifts from.  Also, ask at  your local store if they have any fair trade items.  Many stores now do and if not, you can educate them on why they should!