Sex Slave Changes Activist's Life - Kevin Bales

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/09/09/RIGHTS_Kevin_Bales_on_Ending_Slavery_and_Human_Traf...

Kevin Bales, author of the Slave Next Door, recalls a life-changing epiphany that occurred over a meal of "jumping shrimp" with a young Thai sex worker. "She opened up a window on horror and terror and torture and serial rape that, I have to say, changed my heart."

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Bales discusses the definition of slavery, how the population explosion has transformed slavery in the modern age, and how changing the patterns of global demand can effectively increase the value of human beings.

Bales' momentum: "We can end slavery, the laws are in place, the economics work, there is no debate -- everyone agrees it should end. All it takes is a good hard shove and it goes over the brink of its own extinction. Imagine being able to give our kids a world without slavery." - Momentum Conference

Going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders, Kevin Bales exposed how modern slavery penetrates the global economy and flows into the things we buy. Named by Utne Reader as a "visionary who is changing your world;" and the originator of one of "100 World-Changing Discoveries" by the Association of British Universities, he is a leading abolitionist in the anti-slavery movement. In 2001 he founded Free the Slaves, the American sister organization of the UKs Anti-Slavery International, the worlds oldest human rights group. In eight years it has helped to liberate thousands of slaves in India, Nepal, Haiti, Ghana, Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Bangladesh, and worked with them to build new lives of dignity.

After reading Bales' book Ending Slavery, President Clinton told the plenary of the Clinton Global Initiative: "It tells you that it is a problem we can solve and heres how to do it." This year, with Ron Soodalter, he published The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today, an expose and plan to make America slave-free at last.

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[shoogie06]

Umm, it takes quite a bit to say somebody would be better off as a 15 year old sex slave. Something like having large sections of skin removed and salt poured on the wound with lemon juice on a daily basis and having a finger nail pulled out slowly once a week. Then somebody might think "Hey, this sex slavery thing might be for me." It's only through the pity of foreigner will they get any protection from STD. Plus, get it through your thick skull. Slavery is always bad.

[jblackmel]

This is a horrible idea. If you look at history, then you should know that most of the times when the U.S. finds imperial interest in an area, they will do exactly what you are suggesting. Publicize all over the news the so-called "injustices, that are suffered in Thailand and, therefore, with our American hearts of gold, we must go down and help "those people." This has ALWAYS be the justification for intervention, occupation, and support for right-wing dictators.

[joroma77]

Now I know the foundation of an evolutionist: Raw shrimp!!!

[stamstuff]

I think that everyone better watch the movie 'Zeitgeist moving forward' here on youtube. It's a 2 hours and 40 minutes documentary movie that tells what's causing to human problems all over the planet, and it suggests a really good solution. Just type the name of the movie in the search bar and you'll get it.

[Janusha]

Is sex really as bad as torture?? 99% of prostitutes in the world do it of their own free will youknow. Dont even tell me that most whores couldnt get a job at Mcdonalds if they really wanted to. They are attracted to the free drugs and occasional glamour and fancy hotel rooms. Nobody keeps them from simply walking away. A busride across the country to a whole new city and a whole new start costs nearly nothing.

[maymarianna]

there are plenty of people prostituting their babies in America, so please stop with the wrath of god / karma arguments

[NewMillionaire]

Funny how Tsunami Karma, earthquakes, etc tear up-wash up lands/ areas that condone harm to it's children...Yeah. tragedy happens and harms all-but so does prostituting your babies!! EVERYONE WAKE UP!

[Mrmoc7]

My post wasn't about right or wrong; I was merely stating what was practical. Morally, I think Child rapists deserve the death penalty.

[desdavis]

thats exactly whats wrong with our world, people can get away with stuff that we all inherently know is wrong. all because paper work defines our laws.

utter rubbish you dont stop becoming a child rapist just because you flew over a border and the paper work changed.

we all need to start using our brains not our pens.

take the power back!!

[Mrmoc7]

The issue at hand was whether the U.S. should prosecute Americans for sexual crimes (as defined by our own law) they committed in Thailand. Unless the Thailand government codifies these acts as crimes (which they don't because sex tourism is clearly a large arm of their economy), we cannot arrest Americans for breaking American law in Thailand because Thailand is *NOT* our colony.

[Mrmoc7]

Well, since thailand is not a colony of the U..S., American law cannot apply to things done in thailand. Thailand on the other hand, if it so chooses, may ask for our help in prosecuting citizens of this country that are wanted for committing such acts in their's.