First, it’s a story of profits.  Growers want to minimize bruising and maximize shelf life.  Frankly, their big concern ISN’T flavor.

But toxic?  Oh yeah.  Most of our “winter” tomatoes come from southwest Florida where, as you probably know, the land is essentially sand.  So how can so many tomatoes be grown in a medium so lacking in basic nutrients?  The answer is chemicals.  LOTS of chemicals — as in chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.  The list used by Florida growers includes more than 100 of them.  So not only do these tomatoes have no flavor, they are chemical cocktails containing significantly less vitamin C, thiamin, niacin, and calcium than “healthy” tomatoes, and containing 14 times as much sodium as a tomato grown in the 1960s.

Even if you are not dissuaded by any of the above (How can that be?), we simply cannot ignore the human slavery factor.  Barry Estabrook, an investigative food journalist and author of the book Tomatoland puts it this way: “If you have ever eaten a tomato during the winter months, you have eaten a fruit picked by a slave.”  Yes, slaves – people who are bought and sold, retained against their will, beaten if they don’t work hard enough, and who are continually sprayed by highly toxic pesticides.  In Florida.  In America.  Come on, folks.  Do you really need to eat winter tomatoes THIS badly?  

But there is some good news here.  If you absolutely can’t live without tomatoes in the winter, stores like Whole Foods and, as of February 9, 2012, Trader Joes (supermarket chains participating in the “Fair Food Campaign”) sell organic tomatoes.  You can rest easy knowing that chemicals were NOT used – on the tomatoes or on the people picking them.  In warmer climes like North Carolina, some of our local growers can even supply us with these red beauties that have been sustainably grown in greenhouses.  Do they have the same great flavor as outdoor-grown, in-season tomatoes?  No, they do not.  But they are certainly a far more agreeable alternative to those tainted by slavery and chemicals.

While researching this topic, it occurred to me that chefs are in a unique position to influence our food choices and to effect real, positive change in the food industry.  Those with sufficient personal conviction to do so can use their status, celebrity, authority and influence to publicly state their commitment to and preference for organic produce, dolphin-free tuna, fair trade chocolate, and the like.  Seemed like a reasonable assumption on my part, so I decided to ask a chef!

I spoke with Chris Oliveri, a personal chef in Rhode Island, who operates under the name of Worlds Fare Chef (www.worldsfarechef.com).  Many of his clients are on special diets; others simply enjoy the convenience of coming home to healthy, creative and well prepared foods.  He also caters to both businesses and individuals.  Chris’ extensive background includes more than 20 years in the food service industry.  He trained with some the country’s top chefs, and also owned his own restaurant.  He has been a guest lecturer at Johnson & Wales University; is a member of the U.S. Personal Chef Association; and is a graduate of the Culinary Business Academy.  In 2010, he participated at the White House in Michelle Obama’s launch of her “Chefs Go To School” program.  He is also affiliated with Holistic Health Rhode Island (www.holistichealthri.com).  You can read more about him on either website.

I asked Chef Chris to what extent he incorporates seasonal foods into his menus, and whether he discourages his clients from eating out-of-season produce.  He responded that “It’s a subtle process.  I try to create menus based on local and seasonal foods.  In the case of dinner parties and catering, which are often booked several weeks or months in advance, I use calendars to create menus that are based on seasonally available local foods, and I include a disclaimer stating that the ingredients are based on seasonal availability, and that substitutions may be necessary.”  To ensure that he is offering creative and healthy foods while, at the same time, using organic and/or sustainably grown products, Chris says that he “starts with the date of the event and then determines seasonal availability, color, texture, and flavors.”  He says he chooses organic products whenever possible.  The process of sourcing his ingredients includes asking lots of questions of growers/vendors at markets and farms and, to a lesser degree, relying on published information, labeling, and the GoodGuide mobile app.

To ensure that his ingredients don’t include slave labor, he buys fair trade and local products whenever possible.  “In essence,” he says, “it’s a lot of label reading and referencing fair trade websites to find the best fair trade brands.  When possible, I try not to buy produce that is not in season locally and is not certified.”

Do his clients with different “food values” ever push back?  Sometimes.  He commented that “some clients simply don’t care, and feel that this “new” information is too much to handle.  But, with the more conscientious and open clients, the educational process is simple, as the client is already aware of the benefits of organic, local, and seasonal foods.”

According to Chef Chris, “apathy and frugality are usually the stumbling blocks that prevent a client from making the shift to sustainable and fairly traded ingredients.  But, in today’s ‘locavore’ environment, a lot of my clients have already begun to shift to a sustainability mentality.”

Finally, I asked Chef Chris how he would respond if one of his clients requested, in January, a menu that included salads with fresh tomatoes.  He said, “I would explain that tomatoes are not in season locally, and I will most likely not use them until the first local, organic crop comes to market.”

I’d say that qualifies as using one’s influence and personal conviction to state a commitment to healthy eating and slave-free foods.  Congratulations, Chef Chris!

Hooray for those fighting for farm workers’ rights (and some progress IS being made, thanks to groups like the Coalition of Immolakee Workers — www.ciw-online.org), and for those who are organically farming and paying their workers living wages.  Please support your local farmers’ markets if you can’t grow your own tomatoes.  Our local farmers are improving our lives by providing us healthy, lovingly cared for fruits and vegetables, and also by ensuring environmental sustainability.  We all win with delicious, nutritious foods grown and harvested with respect for the environment and for people.

Because NO ONE SHOULD BE FOR SALE.

 In my next blog — more on this topic from Dr. Jewel Sommerville, founder of Holistic Health Rhode Island (www.holistichealthri.com).

“Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor.”  Ginetta Sagan

Eleven years later, children are being trafficked, beaten, nearly starved, kept out of school, not paid, and generally being deprived of their human rights.  Somehow, chocolate doesn’t seem so sweet or appealing against this backdrop.  

So who cares?  Well, apparently not the folks at companies like Hershey’s, Nestlé, Kraft Foods, Godiva, etc., etc. – you know the names.

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”  M. L. King

But there are companies that DO care – companies that ensure the integrity of their supply chains.  I’ve mentioned a couple of them in earlier blogs: Theo Chocolate (which also happens to be the only organic, fair trade bean-to-bar factory in the U.S.) and Divine Chocolate.  Thank goodness, they aren’t the only ones .  Equal Exchange, Shaman Chocolates, Green & Black’s, Taza Chocolates, and Alter Eco Chocolates are just part of the growing list of companies putting people over profits.  I am grateful for their ethical business practices, and hope that one day ALL chocolate companies will follow suit.

Meanwhile, when you’re shopping for Valentine’s Day treats, please look for the fair trade certification symbol on the packages.  It matters a lot.  What if it were your child – kidnapped, trafficked, beaten, and forced to work for nothing but subsistence-level food and shelter?  Well, these kids are all someone’s children.  And if flowers are included in your Valentine’s Day gift-giving plans, please don’t forget to look for – and ask for — fair trade flowers.  Oh, and here’s Fair Trade USA’s new logo, which you will begin to see soon.

Will you spend a bit more on organic, fair trade chocolate?  Sure, but these are children’s lives we’re talking about.  And they’re worth a few extra dollars, aren’t they?

When you purchase chocolate that is not fairly traded, you are voting for child slavery. 

And that’s just not okay…

                 BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD BE FOR SALE.

What can we do to “be the change we wish to see?”  

•  Stay informed – sign up to receive updates from an anti-trafficking organization, such as the Polaris Project – www.polarisproject.org

• Encourage lawmakers to enact and enforce anti-trafficking legislation.  (And kudos to the state of California for its recently enacted California Transparency Supply Chain Act, aimed at eliminating global forced labor.  Companies with $100 million or more per year in sales must describe the extent to which they verify risks of human trafficking and conduct independent and surprise audits of their suppliers.  They must also disclose whether they require suppliers to certify that the materials they use comply with laws regarding human trafficking and slavery, and whether employees receive training to reduce the risk of slavery.  The new law directly affects about 3,200 companies doing business or headquartered in California, but impacts a very large number of supplier companies.)

• Buy fair trade products

• Be an informed consumer by finding out where products come from and the conditions of those who make them before you buy.

• Volunteer with an anti-trafficking group or organization

• Donate to an anti-trafficking organization

• Fund raise

• Attend an event

• Report suspected human trafficking

• Spread the word to get more people involved

   Working together, we can and must eliminate human trafficking –

                  BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD BE FOR SALE.

In the Talmud, Akiba is admonished by his rabbi for worrying that he will die a failure; for not having lived a life like Moses.  But his rabbi reminds him that God will not judge him for not being like Moses; rather, God will judge him for not being Akiba.  Brilliant.  And isn’t this what living with integrity really is?   It’s about being ourselves; about bringing to the world the gifts within us – love, compassion, joy, and our own unique talents.  It’s about accepting and respecting ourselves, warts and all, and about extending that same acceptance and respect to others.

Stacy Charter says it this way: “There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout: This is me damn it!  I look the way I look; think the way I think; feel the way I feel; love the way I love.  I am a whole complex package.  Take me or leave me.   Accept me or walk away.  Do not try to make me feel like less of a person just because I don’t fit your idea of who I should be, and don’t try to change me to fit your mold.  If I need to change, I alone will make that decision.”   

Wow – not easy to do in a society that rewards compliance.  And this is not about going through life like a bull in a china shop.  Rather, it is about not pretending to be people we aren’t (usually to please someone else).  It is about really accepting ourselves as we are, knowing that we are works in progress; knowing that the work is never done; knowing that we must follow our own paths – our own moral compasses, regardless of what others may think.  It’s a tall order, but absolutely worth the effort because, until we fully love ourselves, accept ourselves, and feel compassion for ourselves, we cannot extend these attitudes toward others.  A half-filled cup cannot runneth over.  And surely, without self-love and self-acceptance, we cannot live lives of integrity – lives in which our beliefs, words and actions all line up, making it possible for us to do what we believe is “right,” regardless of the consequences.

If you – or someone you know – has spent a lot of time attempting to live up to others’ expectations, you know how that approach to life drains us, to the point that we may actually forget who we really are.  Repeatedly saying “yes” when we really want to say “no” is exhausting in its insidious erosion of our true essence.  Neither should we be always saying “no” when we really want to say “yes” to those activities that stir our souls.  Both are denials of our true nature and compromises of our integrity.

 “Be yourself.  Then you are going to be really unique and exciting.  People are going to beat a path to your door if you polish your inner self.”       —–Robert D. Ballard

And wouldn’t our relationships be so much more enjoyable – so much less WORK – if we could all relate to one another from this place of personal authority?  I am blessed to know people who really live this philosophy, and it is a joy to be around them.  No second-guessing what they really want; what they really mean; who they really are.  And it doesn’t matter if they are at work, at home with their families, or socializing with friends.  They simply are who they are.

  “This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”    —–William Shakespeare

So many people are afraid to express their true natures – afraid they won’t be accepted; afraid they don’t measure up; afraid to really live, despite the fact that those who really love us would never expect or ask us to be anyone but who we really are.  With compassion, let’s embrace the uniqueness and the beauty that lies within each and every one of us, and remind one another – over and over — that we are enough, just as we are.  Do it for someone else.  Do it for you.

   Because the world really needs people of integrity.

Metanoia. I stumbled across the word several years ago, and fell in love with the sound and the “feel” of it. Derived from the Greek word metanoiein, it means to change one’s mind; to repent; to transform. The transformation referred to is an inner transformation; a change of consciousness. Viewing this change of consciousness from a global perspective, it appears that our time – our metanoia – may be on the horizon.

Much has been written about the changes predicted for our world in 2012. While some of these predictions might be considered “dire,” others are more in line with a positive view of the world and of the inherent good of people. As someone who believes that we manifest that on which we focus, I choose to rely on the latter type of prediction, knowing that transforming our world will only require that sufficient numbers of us choose peace over violence; love over hate and greed; freedom over slavery; and the common good over individual gain.

Seeds have been planted in 2010. Individuals and groups are taking stands and taking action. Groups like Anonymous; Occupy Wall Street; and Change.org are but a few of 2011’s standouts. While you may not always agree with their methods, there is no question that they (we) are having an impact. Movements such as these have not been seen for decades. Clearly, their time has come, and the momentum is building. We are fed up with the status quo; we are taking action; and our actions are producing results.

“We must not wish for the disappearance of our troubles but for the grace to transform them.”
—–Simone Weil

Each of us has a standing invitation to participate in this transformation. Individually and collectively, we are being called to “be the change we wish to see.” So choose your cause; follow your heart; and take a stand. Let’s make 2012 the year when, finally, great numbers of us act together to effect the metanoia needed for a world that will be a joy to live in now and to leave to future generations.

“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution toward introducing justice straightaway. . . . And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!”
—– Anne Frank

     HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

But it’s a roller coaster ride at times. Reliable statistics on human trafficking are hard to come by since so much activity occurs “off the radar screen,” but most reports indicate a rise in this crime. A friend recently handed me a copy of a local newspaper and, on the front page, was an article titled “Human Trafficking Is Growing In North Carolina.” Ugh… While I know this is true, it’s really difficult at times to accept that, despite the thousands of people around the world working so diligently to eliminate this crime, it just keeps on growing.

It feels like failure. And it is at those times when I am feeling discouraged, angry, frustrated – like a failure – that I head to my well of inspiration. There, I find a way to re-focus; to appreciate the progress that’s being made; and to be awed and humbled by the work of so many dedicated and amazing people.

My well is pretty deep. Here are only some of the books, films, blogs, and people who inspired me in 2011 – and continue to do so. I return to many of them time and again, and I am pleased to share them, and to recommend them for those times when things feel just too overwhelming.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.
What the world needs is people who have come alive.”
— Howard Thurman

BOOKS
The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs – a brilliant economist shares his plan for eliminating poverty throughout the world. And, yes, it’s possible. A book I return to frequently.

The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam – Ms. Mam’s autobiography is a riveting account of her years as a sex slave; her escape; and her ultimate role as a leader in the fight against human trafficking. Difficult to read at times, but ultimately hopeful. She is truly a modern-day hero.

Not For Sale by David Batstone – an award-winning journalist, Mr. Batstone’s book is another heartbreaking yet hopeful call for us to become involved in the abolitionist movement. It is filled with case studies and resources that should leave no one wondering what they can do to support abolition.

Half The Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn – winners of a Pulitzer Prize for journalism, the authors have crafted a brilliant and compelling wake-up call – a call to rid the world of poverty by unleashing the potential of women. This book is loaded with resources. You will have no excuse after reading this amazing piece of work.

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer – a delightfully philosophical exploration of meat-eating traditions and, despite its empathy for both vegetarians and meat-eaters, it delivers a most compelling and powerful message. For me, it is a great reminder of the interconnectedness of all beings. Compassion – it’s no small thing.

The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo – a gifted poet and writer, I begin each day with a reading from this book. Mark’s words inspire me, humble me, and remind me of the beauty all around me. Soul food to be savored.

FILMS
If you are interested in eliminating human trafficking, please watch any or all of the following films. They are not always easy to watch, but that’s the point, isn’t it?

Trade; Human Trafficking; Sex & Money; Taken; Born Into Brothels; Bought and Sold; Holly; Gardens of the Night  Each of these films is a powerful call to get involved.

BLOGS
There are so many, but for inspiration – for supporting me in following my heart – I love:
• Chris Guillebeau – http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/
• Seth Godin – http://sethgodin.typepad.com/
• Michelle Woodward – http://lifeframeworks.com/blog
• Jonathan Fields - http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/
• Natalie Sisson – http://suitcaseentrepreneur.com/
• Mark Silver – http://www.heartofbusiness.com/blog/

“Only love, with no thought of return, can soften the point of suffering.”
— Mark Nepo

PEOPLE – and their work
I could never list them all but, in addition to those mentioned in BLOGS, certainly Somaly Mam, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rumi, Mark Nepo, Howard Thurman, Molly Katchpole and everyone at www.change.org, and so many more. I am most grateful for their courage and wisdom.

OTHER
Other ways I refresh myself and my outlook? Spending time with family, friends, and pets. Listening to great music. Pondering great quotes. Looking at fantastic photos. Spending time outdoors with Mother Nature – walking, gardening, just being. Meditating. Self-care.

And never underestimate the power of a good laugh – or of something “light” – to restore your equilibrium. In 2011, I have watched the film Eat, Pray, Love several times. Why? Because I love Elizabeth Gilbert’s brand of humor, and because the thought of a year-long journey of self-discovery in three magnificent locales makes my heart sing. Restorative power indeed.

How about you? What fills you when you are feeling empty? What lifts your spirits? What motivates you to be compassionate and generous to others? Remember that no loving gesture fails to leave its mark on the world. Each spreads like the ripples from a pebble in a pond.

“When we focus our energy towards constructing a passionate, meaningful life, we are tossing a pebble into the world, creating a beautiful ripple effect of inspiration. When one person follows a dream, tries something new or takes a daring leap, everyone nearby feels that energy, and before too long they are making their own daring leaps and inspiring yet another circle.”
— Christine Mason Miller

          And thanks for being with me in 2011!

But there’s chocolate and there’s chocolate.

Photo Credit: Henrik Ipsen and Robin Romano

The cocoa farming industry is, sadly, well known for its human rights abuses, especially forced child labor. If this horrible practice is to be eliminated, we must become more discriminating when it comes to our chocolate purchases. One easy way to ensure that the chocolate you’re enjoying wasn’t harvested by slave laborers is to choose only fair trade chocolate.

Fair trade chocolate was not always readily available, found primarily in specialty shops and upscale food markets. But this is changing. Sure, the “conventional” alternatives still outweigh the fair trade options, but shelf space for fair trade chocolate – as well as for other fair trade products – is consistently increasing to meet the growing demand.

Credit is due all the chocolate companies working to make a difference in the world by ethically sourcing their cocoa products. But there are two companies that, in my opinion, are real stand-outs: Divine Chocolate and Theo Chocolate. These companies are pioneers in the industry, leading the way for other companies by setting a beautifully high standard.

Divine Chocolate is the world’s only fair trade chocolate company that is at least partially owned by the farmers – 45% ownership in the case of Divine. So farmers not only get a fair price for their cocoa, but they also have a say in how the business is run. They receive a piece of the profits, and receive additional income for community improvement projects. Who wouldn’t support a company with these values?

And the products? Simply “divine.” The company offers a range of chocolate goodies, from the tried-and-true to the more innovative ingredient combinations, as well as seasonal specialties. Try the dark chocolate covered salted caramels, or the limited edition dark chocolate bar with hazelnuts and cranberries. I have never been disappointed in any of their products. Divine is certified Fair Trade by Transfair USA, the largest fair trade certifying organization in the United States. And Divine is growing. Beyond the United States, their products are available in Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, and across Scandinavia.

Enter Theo Chocolate. The name comes from the Greek name for the cocoa tree, theobroma cacao, aka “food of the gods.” Theo is a growing enterprise, headquartered in Seattle, Washington. And talk about raising the bar! Theo has changed their certification from Transfair to IMO Fair For Life, so not only is Theo an organic, fair trade chocolate company, but a certified socially responsible one as well, ensuring compliance with all labor rights issues throughout their supply chain, and including their own business practices. This makes Theo the first fair trade certified factory in the United States – in addition to being the first fair trade chocolate maker in the United States. Wow…we are duly impressed.

(Hershey, are you listening?)

Theo offers an incredible – and delicious – array of products. Traditionalists will find no shortage of those chocolate indulgences we all know and love. But, in addition, Theo offers products with mouthwatering and creative flavor combinations, such as a Coconut Curry milk chocolate bar or a Fig, Fennel and Almond dark chocolate bar. Making a choice is no easy task with so many yummy options.

         Theo…food of the gods.       Divine…need we say more?

       So go ahead. Make it chocolate and make it fair.

             Doing the right thing has never been so easy or so delicious.

Change – it just isn’t easy.  So if you are struggling a bit (or a lot) with making the change from “everyday brands” to fair trade products, I’d like to offer some motivation.  And, with the holidays approaching, there couldn’t be a better time to support a more ethical system of trade.

 “Don’t tell me what your priorities are.  Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.”       James W. Frick

We need a world that includes social justice for all; where people come before profits; where consumers can purchase products without sacrificing their values; where businesses operate with compassion and integrity — and that’s what fair trade is all about.    Fair trade’s principles include:

• Fairness — helping level the playing field between producers from poor, remote regions of the world and big corporations from wealthy countries
• Opposing cruel working conditions
• Promoting democratic principles
• Protecting children
• Supporting women’s rights
• Good stewardship of resources and the environment

Many of the products we know and love – coffee, tea, chocolate, body care products – products that are often given and received during the holidays — exploit people and the environment.  The United States is the world’s largest consumer of both coffee and chocolate.  And top executives in the largest coffee and chocolate companies in the U.S. earn huge sums of money – often at the expense of the coffee and cocoa farmers from whom their ingredients are purchased, and who are often among the poorest people in the world.  Sadly, slave labor is alive and well in these industries.

Most consumers would gladly avoid slave-made products if they could identify them.  But this isn’t easy to do with conventional products.  To help ensure that our purchases are not supporting slavery, we can ask ourselves why some prices are so low.  Often these “bargains” come through supply chains that are human rights nightmares.

Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, encourages Americans to “spend more and eat less” – to give up our addiction to cheap food – to reach for quality over quantity.  I see no reason why we shouldn’t extend this approach to all of our purchasing decisions.         

Fair trade products provide us the opportunity to shop ethically – to vote with our dollars for freedom, environmental sustainability, and the right to earn a living wage.  By shopping fair trade, we can accomplish so much for so many and, in the process, enjoy high-quality products that support people and the planet.

  I can’t imagine a better bargain.

]]> http://www.heartsilks.com/holiday-priorities/feed/ 1 http://www.heartsilks.com/the-power-of-one/ http://www.heartsilks.com/the-power-of-one/#comments Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:17:47 +0000 admin http://www.heartsilks.com/?p=361 By now, you’ve probably all heard of Molly Katchpole.  If not, she is the 22-year-old woman from Washington, D.C. – originally from Cumberland, Rhode Island – who took on Bank of America.  As the story goes, she sent a letter of protest to B of A’s president when the bank announced it would begin to charge a $5-per-month fee for a debit card.  Molly called the fee “despicable.”  Meanwhile, many other banks, of course, had followed in B of A’s footsteps, announcing their own debit card fees.

And then Molly went a step further.  She went to www.change.org and launched an online petition which, at the time of this writing, has more than 306,000 signatures.  And she won – not just for herself, but for all consumers.  Bank of America, despite earlier comments to the contrary, agreed to retract the fee for all customers.  Competitor banks have now done the same.  Molly’s actions played a major role in banks’ decisions to revoke their fees.  She took on a giant institution; managed to create intense pressure; and demonstrated in no uncertain terms that each of us has a voice that can be used to effect great change, despite the seeming odds.

photo courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net

 How can you use your voice — your power?

 As Martin Luther King said in 1963: “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.  He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”   Speaking – and acting – on behalf of human trafficking victims is one way to use your voice.  Victims of human trafficking need your voices because, for the time being,  theirs have been silenced.

The Polaris Project — www.polarisproject.org — states that the average age of entry into the sex trafficking industry in the U.S. is between 12 and 14 years old.  And an FBI investigator recently commented that young girls have a life expectancy of just seven years after being forced into prostitution, due to drugs, STDs or violent pimps.

Won’t you speak out for them?  Won’t you act on their behalf?

Please help to raise awareness about human trafficking – and let us know if you need assistance in how to do this.  And, if you suspect that someone may be a victim, please contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888.  Someone there will assist you in determining if you have encountered a victim and, if so, what the next steps should be.  If it’s an emergency situation, you should, of course, contact your local police. Perhaps one day, when sufficient numbers of people have said “enough,” this atrocity will come to an end.  Each of us can be a powerful force for change.  And when we join together, we can have tremendous impact.

     And if you don’t believe me, just ask Molly Katchpole.

On Tuesday evening, I went to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill to watch the film, Sex + Money, sponsored by Carolina Against Slavery and Trafficking (http://yleads.unc.edu/cast).  The documentary film was created and produced by a group of five young photojournalists, and it follows them across the United States as they conducted interviews and researched the sexual exploitation of children in this country.  The enormity of the problem is overwhelming, the facts heartbreaking.

But Mother Teresa reminds us: “There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering, too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.”

And so there is hope – because there are people like these film makers who are dedicated to making the world a better place.  Because there are organizations like Streetlight USA — www.streetlightusa.org —   in Phoenix, who will soon open a new facility and increase the number of available beds for rescued children to 148.

And you can help support this worthy project by purchasing items from the Sex + Money store at www.sexandmoneystore.com.   The crew of Sex + Money is donating to Streetlight USA 75% of the proceeds of the first 100,000 sales of Sex + Money merchandise – with the goal of raising $1.1 million for Streetlight.

 The film is currently on a 50-state tour. It’s an important piece of work, and I urge you to get out and see it.  If you can’t make it to a stop on the tour, please visit the Sex + Money online store and buy a copy of the film.  And perhaps a T-shirt, sweatshirt, or book.  In doing so, you just might be helping to restore a child to a life of freedom.

I am increasingly convinced that it will be the efforts of individuals and grass-roots organizations like Streetlight USA that will ultimately put an end to this horrific crime.  It’s up to us – each one of us – to do whatever we can to eradicate slavery and trafficking.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”  Well said, Margaret Mead.