Resources Related to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

This was passed along to me and is a great resource list of how to get involved in Oregon. There's also a few nationwide ideas as well.

Resources Related to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Book titles

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide - written by Nicholas D. Kristof and

Sheryl WuDunn

Renting Lacy: A Story of America’s Prostituted Children - written by Linda Smith with Cindy Coloma

The Road of Lost innocence: The Story of a Cambodian Heroine – written by Somaly Mam

Prostitution, Trafficking and Traumatic Stress - written by Melissa Farley

Films

Very Young Girls – documentary based on the work of the GEMS program. Available at Netflix

Dan Rather Reports’ Dan Rather Reports, Season 5 – Pornland, Oregon. Available on ITunes

Taken (2008) - Available at Netflix

National Resources

GEMS (Girls Educational & Mentoring Services) www.gems-girls.org

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children – www.missingkids.com

OATH (Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans) www.oregonoath.org

Polaris Project – a world without slavery www.Polarisproject.org

Shared Hope International – www.sharedhope.org

Support local efforts

SARC (Sexual Assault Resource Center) providing advocacy and support through programs

specially designed for sexually exploited youth. Volunteer or make a donation. For more information

contact the volunteer manager at 503-626-9100 or volunteer@sarcoregon.org or visit their website at

www.SARCoregon.org

Janus Youth Programs (JYP) contracts with the City of Portland to provide shelter beds for

CSEC victims at its emergency shelter facility. JYP is responsible for the community-wide collaborative

process to develop a comprehensive system of care for victims of child sex trafficking. To make a donation or

learn more go to http://www.jyp.org/, or call 503-233-6090.

Lifeworks NW supporting people who are working towards a better life, through recognized, culturally

responsive prevention, mental health and addiction services and delivering high quality individual and group

treatment. Contact us at 503-710-1513 to get help for yourself or a friend, you may also visit their website at

www.lifeworksnw.org for more information or to make a donation.

More information and training - visit our website at http://web.multco.us/dcj-juvenile/csec

If you or someone you know needs or wants support please contact:

National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888 for help 24 hours a day in six languages

SARC hotline 1-800-640-5311 for emergency support 24 hours a day

Lifeworks NW 503-710-1513 for counseling and long term support

This project is supported by Grant #2009-MC-CX-K057 awarded by OJJDP

Steps citizens can take to end Human Trafficking:

•Work to eliminate backpage and similar websites that promote CSEC.

•Support federal and state laws to combat Human Trafficking – contact your representatives

•Support the re-authorization of the TVPA (trafficking victims protection act) in 2011

•Support state laws that address the age mistake defense and those that create safe harbors for victims of CSEC.

•Work to end pimp glorification and the sexualization of children – contact the company responsible for this type of advertising when you see it and share your feelings.

•Challenge inappropriate language on the topic of sexual exploitation.

•Support efforts to cease the practice of arresting youth and women who are prostituted.

•Supports aggressive prosecution and stiffer penalties for people who buy and exploit others sexually.

•Develop creative ways to post the NHTRC hotline (national human trafficking resource center) stickers in your community.

•Financially support programs on the local and national level that support victims of sexual exploitation. Every little bit helps. Everyday staff at Lifeworks NW, Janus youth Programs and SARC (Sexual Assault Resource Center) work to support victims of CSEC. Donations of gift cards to stores or fast food vendors are deeply appreciated. Call these programs directly to find out what additional support they need.

The Things They Carried

I first read this book in my sophomore English class eight years ago. I picked it up recently because me and a friend of mine decided to start our own book club and this was the first book we chose to read. Needless to say eight years has made quite the difference, and I know I didn't react this way the first time I read this book.

When I suggested this book I forgot that it was about the Vietnam War. I just vaguely remembered reading it in high school and didn't recall much about it. In fact, I couldn't even recall if I had liked it. When I found that it was about war I was certain that I had hated it, but I still don't remember. Now I think it's the greatest book about war I have ever read (but that could be because it may be the only).

I think the author, Tim O'Brien, paints a reality of war that may be unheard of to those who have never participated in or have never studied war in much detail. I can give you dates and names of famous battles, but I have never studied any war in depth, and as I read the book I was accompanied with intense, real-life war dreams. I've never been a fan of war, let alone have ever participated in one, but I can only imagine what war may be like by the quality of my dreams. It was quite the trip.

The book touched on the turmoil behind the young men who went off to fight, barely in or out of college, barely on their own and barely adults. I can't imagine what it would be like to be drafted and I probably won't ever get the chance to know given current laws, but it made me feel bad that this was something only young men have to face. I'm not concerned about the sexism in the law, but rather the mentality of either having to flee the country to not participate in something of which you don't believe or giving into your embarrassment going to fight in the war (read page 59 for more details). I don't really want the responsibility of making that decision, but I do think it's a little unfair to give it to only one party. I think I would end up reacting like this character:

I remember Mitchell Sanders sitting quietly in the shade of an old banyan tree, He was using a thumbnail to pry off the body lice, working slowly, carefully depositing the lice in a blue USO envelope. His eyes were tired. It had been a long two weeks in the bush. After an hour or so he sealed up the envelope, wrote FREE in the upper right-hand corner, and addressed it to his draft board in Ohio. (31)

I don't know for sure, but I think I'm bratty enough to do that.

In all, I definitely recommend this book. It's well-written and engages you. I'll leave you with this philosophical passage that I've enjoyed pondering.

To generalize about war is like generalizing about peace. Almost everything is true. Almost nothing is true. At its core, perhaps, war is just another name for death, and yet any soldier will tell you, if he tells the truth, that proximity to death brings with it a corresponding proximity to life. After a firefight, there is always the immense pleasure of aliveness. The trees are alive. The grass, the soil-- everything. All around you things are purely living, and you among them, and the aliveness makes you tremble. You feel an intense, out-of-the-skin awareness of your living self--your truest self, the human being you want to be and then become by the force of wanting it. In the midst of evil you want to be a good man. You want decency. You want justice and courtesy and human concord, things you never knew you wanted. There is kind of largeness to it, a kind of godliness. Though it's odd, you're never more alive than when you're almost dead. You recognize what's valuable. Freshly, as if for the first time, you love what's best in yourself and in the world, all that might be lost. (81)

From one of my favorite political blogs

Since I've been studying a lot about poverty, I found this post from one of my favorite political blogs interesting.

While in Colorado I remember this guy who was originally from Colorado, but lived in Kansas coming into our campaign office to get some chum telling me that Kansas is the only place in the States that people with less than nothing living in old-worn out trailers would vote Republican. Apparently he wasn't kidding...

A small break for recycling

I'm not going to lie, I'm more than a little excited about the Oregon E-Cycles program.

Check out Free Geek's page for other cool electronic recycling ideas/advocates.

(Lack of) Food for Thought

"Propaganda, stereotypes, and myth govern our thinking about poverty and poor relief much more than the facts do. By current, official measures, for example, more than one-third of poor Americans are children under eighteen years old, more than 10 percent are over age sixty-five, and nearly 40 percent of the adult poor are disabled-- that is, most poor people are 'deserving' or 'involuntarily' poor due to old age, youth, or infirmity."

A lot of us hold the view that poor people are there because they did something wrong. Because we are capable it's hard to find others as not. This is where we first gained our "common" view of those who live in poverty.

"According to the United Nations, slum dwellers were 30 percent of the world's urban population in 2005. By a slum we tend to mean deeply poor and often squalid cityscapes, and while we may overestimate how many poor Americans live in the city, in 2000 there were nonetheless 2,510 neighborhoods in the United States in which 40 percent or more of the populations was poor; 8 million lived in modern ghettoes. Since the 1970s, the number of Americans in areas of concentrated urban poverty had doubled."

What is the true definition of "poor"? How does this compare to the rest of the world and is the American citizen's definition of poor the same as those worldwide?

"'What is to be said of the character of people who, having the power to end all this, permit it to continue?'"

I challenge you to answer that question for yourself. What, if anything, are you doing to help?

"'Everybody knows that money, fame, and success don't necessarily bring happiness. But the other side of that equation is also true: poverty, obscurity, and failure don't necessarily bring unhappiness.'"

I will no where, no how compare myself to those in poverty, but from recent endeavors and finding myself jobless, I've learned more about what is really important to me. I can have fun and find joy without much discretionary income.

"'A very dear friend of mine and I were talking about work and she remarked to me that her husband was angry when she got home at 12 midnight the day before from work. I asked why she worked so late and she to me, "'Janie, don't you know that just before the first of the month we work late upping the prices. . . . this is the time business is good, when the welfare checks come out and food stamps are most used.'"'"

This quote was from 1967. I wonder if the same still applies today? I want to do a study of the cost of the "basic necessities" over a few months time. Maybe I will write one and conduct the research myself. I foresee a lot of challenges such as defining "basic necessities," determining which grocery stores to evaluate, and so forth. I am open to suggestions.


quotes from A People's History of Poverty in America by Stephen Pimpare.

How's your IQ?

If IQ tests measure acquired information are they realistic of our intelligence?

1. What is gray tape and what is it used for?
2. What does dissed mean?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of moving often?
4. What is the main kind of work that a bondsman does?
5. What is a roach?
6. How are a pawnshop and a convenience store alike? How are they different?
7. Why is it important for a non-U.S. citizen to have a green card?
8. You go to the bakery store. You can buy five loaves of day-old bread for 39 cents each or seven loaves of three-day-old bread for 28 cents each. Which choice will cost lest?
9. What does deportation mean?
10. What is the difference between marriage and a common law relationship?

From A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D

Could you survive in poverty?

In my recent public policy readings I came across this test of being able to survive in poverty:

Can you agree with these statements?:

1. I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
2. I know which rummage sales have "bag sales" and when.
3. I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
4. I know how to get someone out of jail.
5. I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically.
6. I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
7. I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
8. I know what problems to look for in a used car.
9. I know how to live without a checking account.
10. I know how to live without electricity and a phone.
11. I know how to use a knife as scissors.
12. I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
13. I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
14. I know how to move in half a day.
15. I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
16. I know where the free medical clinics are.
17. I am very good at trading and bartering.
18. I can get by without a car.

From A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D

Embracing My Nerdiness

Who, when faced with a question about the 25th Amendment, runs to his or her room to pull from his or hers cluttered bookshelf a copy of the Constitution?

Me.

I do it. I mean, I would do it. I did it.

Last night on The West Wing (well really it was the last episode of season 4) the President was enacting the 25th Amendment. Tiffany and I were trying to remember what exactly the 25th Amendment said, so what did I do? I paused the DVD, ran back to my room and pulled out my very own copy of the United States' Constitution. It's complete with various editions of the Constitution, The Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence and various court cases leading to extremely important changes to the US. Apparently this isn't a pretty normal thing to have on your bookshelf... But I have it.

Everyone has a little nerdiness in them, right? Some people love video games, others computer games. Many people geek out over Star Wars, technology or even the latest fashion and boots. I fall for nearly all things political-- and I like it. I don't let this out to just anyone. I mean if you know me well you know I have an opinion and I usually share it carelessly, but if you don't know me well I tend to stay quiet until an invite is secured. You have to really want it otherwise I won't waste a sentence on a conversation that will die quickly. I may not be good at organizing or rallying, but I can read, think and speak. When done properly, those three things are dangerous. I think I'm going to embrace this.

We did it!

I honestly cannot believe it is over, although at the same time, I am happy that it is. I don't think I could have survived much more of this crazy lifestyle. I have learned so much from being here: about myself, about others and about how I relate. I know now, more than ever, that I don't want to be defined as any one thing, or to be put in a box. I don't think I am capable of aligning completely. Even more so, I don't think I want to completely align with any one thing. I'm not sure where this new road will lead, or what, if any, changes will actually take place in the US, but as long as I keep an open mind to perspective I'll be able to see the good in it all.

I made the list!

HALPERIN'S TAKE:
The Five Most Important People in American Politics Not Running for President

1. Obama secret weapon Pete Rouse.

2. McCain strategist Mike DuHaime.

3. Obama national field director Jon Carson.

4. Obama battleground state chief Jennifer O'Malley.

5. Every member of Jon Carson's field team (tie). <---- I'm part of this team :)

A day of firsts

With 9 days left before the election, Obama followed suit and came for the last time (or so we think) before 4 Nov. to Colorado. Our office, which is located northeast of Denver, was given the opportunity to attend.

I had never been to a political rally, which is odd, I know, given that I love politics, but this was an unique experience. Since I am staff I didn't have to wait in line, which was awesome given this crowd:

I was feeling slightly guilty for being there. I was extremely tired, cold, and thinking that this wasn't going to help win the election in Colorado, especially in Brighton where my office is located, but I thought it would be a nice change of pace. Hey, we might even get some volunteers out of the deal.

When he began speaking I got really excited. I was about 100-200 feet away from him, and it finally dawned on me that we, as in everyone in that crowd and I, were making history. His speech, even though the same information with little twists we have been hearing via the media, lifted spirits and was received with tons of enthusiasm. I heard older women screaming like they would have at a Beatles concert in "their day," and bragging that this was the 9th time they had seen him speak and that they would follow him all over the country. I left the rally feeling great, energized and ready to hit the doors.

Then the unthinkable happened. I got back to the office and was the first one there. Good thing, too, because I am the key holder. I had been waiting around for my Field Organizer, Stephen, for about an hour, so that I could go out and knock on some doors, when I received a call from my regional director, Nick, looking for Stephen. He said that he really needed to get a hold of him immediately, and that he would call me right back. I was a bit nervous because I didn't know what was going on. Did we not meet our goal? Should we have been doing something more? No, in fact completely different, Barack Obama was on his way to our office and he would be there in 30 minutes.

At that point, I didn't really know what to think. I wasn't freaked out or worried, I just listened intently as Nick rattled of instructions of cleaning the office and getting on the phones to get as many people there as I could and said he was on his way.

Thank God Vicki and Sarah showed up when they did with a handful of other volunteers. I tried to print call lists from our database, but I couldn't find them, so luckily they had the volunteer lists to call from. We were actually able to get 60+ people here before he arrived.

We (Nick, Stephen and I) along with our core Brighton volunteers lined up in the foyer to our office as sort of a "greeting team" for BO. He walked in the door and started shaking hands and greeting people down the line. I was last and got skipped over. I really didn't mind because at this point I wanted to be anywhere, but in the office. I got a little shy and wanted to be as far away from him as possible. (Yes, I think this is silly too, he is after all, just a person. An incredibly intelligent person running for president of the US, but still just a person).

Needless to say, I did get to meet him. I'll post the rest of the story after the election. But here's a picture for the time being:

Party realignment?

I was told in college, and history has proven, that nearly every 30 years there is a major party realignment. Could this be it for the GOP?

Economic Policy

This news post has to be on its own because I have a lot to say about it.

Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee, plans to unveil a new 'pension and
family security' plan while campaigning in the Pennsylvania on Tuesday. According to an outline of his proposal released by the McCain campaign, it is aimed at seniors, workers and homeowners – 'those who are currently hurting the most' due to the ongoing fiscal crisis.

I'm curious as to how "seniors, workers, and homeowners" are the groups of people who are "currently hurting the most". I'm appalled that there hasn't been much talk of anyone living at or below the poverty line. Do politicians honestly believe that this downward turn in the economy doesn't effect them adversly as well? Or do you have to have money to be effected?

They may not be politically active in the sense of engaging in politics as most Americans see fit, but they will engage in their own form of politics if things go completely against them. I'm not too sure I would like to see a recap of the Watts Riots of '65 or the LA Riots of '92... History repeats itself when we don't learn from it.... And hey, that was only California.

Fashion Police

You may expect something like this to happen in a third world country where modesty reigns supreme, but what do you think when something similar takes place in Florida?