February 2, 2012

Aloha Friday/2 Question Thursday

Every once and a while I participate in Aloha Friday, where I ask a simple question for you to answer (nothing that requires a lengthy response) and Two Question Thursday (same idea...only TWO questions).   My questions for you today (which you can answer in the comments if you like ) are:

  • There are many problem in the world, and many good causes we can support.  Is there a particular cause which is on your heart? 
  •  What have you done about it...or what do you plan to do?

There are various causes which I care about.  If you've been following my blog at all the last couple weeks you can probably guess which one "gets to me" the most.  When I first learned that slavery still existed I was horrified...but it was something "far away" and I was a poor college student and didn't see what I could do.  Surprisingly I didn't hear more about this issue for several years...but then I started to stumble on articles here and there.  I learned that it was very widespread...and that it didn't just happen across the world but that it happened here.  I learned that men in Florida had been beaten and locked in a truck and forced to pick tomatoes for nothing, that women and young girls are forced to prostitute themselves by violent pimps on US streets daily, that 1,000s are trafficked into the US every year for forced work of one sort or another.  I learned that forced labor (here and abroad) contributes  to almost every product we buy.  And I learned about the horrors of child sex trafficking, and how American pediphiles helped fuel the "sex tourism" industry in Asia.

I thought of what I could do, and I came up with an idea to use giveaways to spread awareness.  In stead of asking someone to go check out a product to enter, I'd ask them to check out some info on human trafficking.   I put this idea into practice this month in the Hearts Should Be Free Giveaway Event.  And the response I've gotten is so encouraging.  More people have entered these giveaways than any I've held here before, and the comments let me know people are really hearing.

So, whatever it is that's the cause of your heart....I want to encourage you that you can do something about it.  Being part of the solution is not out of reach. 

7 comments:

  1. I have been reading a lot about human trafficking lately, I don't think people realize how much of a problem this is in our country.

    While my cause is not as noble it is still something that needs attention. I volunteer with an organization that is working to reduce the feral cat population in our local area through a program of trap/neuter/return. Besides trying to reduce the population we also would like to make life better for as many cats as possible by finding homes for them through the local humane society. In the past three years the organization has spayed/neutered over 2000 cats. That may not sound like a large number until you consider how many cats there would be if those had been able to breed.

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    1. Sometimes it's all about doing what's needed nearby. Helping with those "minor" problems can make a big difference in a community.

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  2. I recenlty read in our local paper they plan to open a safe house for victims of domestic abuse nearby. I'd love to work there - I feel for those who suffer from abuse.

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  3. Having been in a prior abusive relationship, I'm all about the causes for Domestic Violence. And any causes for kids - I usually donate and/or volunteer my time when there's something going on in my area. :)

    Falling Asleep

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  4. I actually wrote about something that I hope to do to help cancer patients. The recent drama with a certain organization made me realized that I just need to do things on a smaller level with our local places.

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  5. My cause is for children. I want to see them in safe homes and being able to be children.

    I work with them now, but these are kids that are already alright with good families.

    So now I have to go back to school to do the social work I want to do with these children who needs help.

    That's separate from the things we do for our church missions.

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  6. I have always been a big supporter of the Humane Society and the Children's Miracle Center at Kapiolani Medical Center. I've donated money, items, and time to these great causes.

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