A
couple of years ago I stumbled across a website that I found intriguing. It
linked to an internet radio station and had fascinating shows lined up that
informed us, entertained us, and helped nurture the strength and confidence
inside us. Of course, I was hooked immediately. There was an added benefit- we
got to have blog pages of our own right on the site!
This
website is herewomentalksocial.com. I met Kay
Van Hoesen, a fabulously talented woman who created the place, and others who
had joined, needing to find their footing again. I shared some empowering
poetry I'd written and found it had been appreciated. Over the past couple of
years, I've thoroughly enjoyed my attachment to the site. I don't get there
nearly as much as I used to, given the time constraints in my life, but I do
always return, like a baby bird returns to her nest.
This
is where I met Dottie Laster, as well. And this is where my blinders came off
to an insidious crime against humanity. Not too long after I joined I found and
listened to Dottie's radio show, TRAFFICKED. She
exposes and explains the underworld of human trafficking of all kinds- slavery,
sex. She reports on the ongoing efforts to prosecute those guilty of
trafficking. And to this very day, she fights for the victims. Her company, lasterglobal.com seeks
to bring awareness to companies about how to keep from hiring people who are
being trafficked.
Breaking
news came across the HWTS wire one day. A young woman had reached out to this
very site and Dottie in an attempt to be rescued. After much machinations,
terrifying moments, and a team of angels, she succeeded. She was brought to a
facility specializing in helping those who have suffered long-term abuse and
needed long-term care. It has been a long bumpy road, but she is healing and
growing and learning what it is to be free and responsible for her own life.
Kay
asked if I would write a short story celebrating this young woman's freedom as
well as bring awareness to the plight of so many. I agreed readily, and FREEDOM IN CHAINS is the result. I initially
released it here, on my website, and simul-posted it on others' sites who
agreed to do so, on the anniversary of her rescue. But now, I feel like it
needs a permanent place to live. A place where people can see it, purchase it,
and know that by doing so, they've taken their BLINDERS OFF to this worldwide
crime against humanity.
‘FREEDOM IN CHAINS’ releases today, and it is a
bittersweet moment. I wish I didn't have to write it. I wish there was no such
depraved act such as human trafficking. But there is, and I refuse to put my
head in the sand. Whenever I write something regarding trafficking, I use the
phrase, BLINDERS OFF. This is to bring to our attention how so often we put
them on to deny what's going on around us, and trafficking is as close as our
next door neighbor in many cases.
Proceeds from the sale of this short
story will benefit http://www.millionkids.org/
Straight from their website, this is
who they are and what they do:
Million
Kids is the creator of the “Not In My Backyard”® anti-human trafficking
campaign.
Million
Kids is a 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit (EIN# 26-3174662) that combats
human trafficking. Locally, we serve on the Riverside County Anti-Trafficking
Task Force (RCAHT). We help activists and communities develop effective
anti-trafficking programs in their locales.
At
Million Kids, we…
§
provide
educational, medical, and legal aid to survivors of trafficking and
exploitation;
§
offer
prevention programs that help children, youth and adults to stay free and to
recognize how traffickers work;
§
equip
activists and provide strategic support to assist law enforcement.
RESTORE
• PROTECT • EMPOWER
Million
Kids serves on the Riverside County Anti-Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT). We
educate and engage individuals, organizations and corporations about human
trafficking.
Buy links:
http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Chains-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B008E4BM8S
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174800
Organizations:
http://www.millionkids.org/
http://www.lasterglobal.com/
http://www.herewomentalksocial.com/
Thank you so much, Kristina, for helping spread the word. <3
ReplyDeleteAwesome, yet, horrifying read. Thank you for shining a little light on a very dark and troubling topic.
ReplyDelete