there are some stories that get ignored because they do not catch the public’s fancy. perhaps we want them to stay hidden so we can go about our lives.

and the new cycle is so short that after a few hours, stories can become old news. as jay said, we can go from swine flu one minute, forget that and talk about topless photos of miss california.

here’s one story that i hope to keep in our psyche for a longer cycle.

More than 1M child prostitutes in India

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) — Around 1.2 million children are believed to be involved in prostitution in India, the country’s federal police said Monday.

Ashwani Kumar, who heads the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), told a seminar on human trafficking, that India occupied a “unique position” as what he called a source, transit nation and destination of this trade.

India’s home secretary Madhukar Gupta remarked that at least 100 million people were involved in human trafficking in India.

“The number of trafficked persons is difficult to determine due to the secrecy and clandestine nature of the crime.

“However, studies and surveys sponsored by the ministry of women and child development estimate that there are about three million prostitutes in the country, of which an estimated 40 percent are children,” a CBI statement said.

Prostitution in pilgrim towns, exploitation through sex tourism and pedophilia are some of some of the “alarming trends” that have emerged in recent years in India, it noted.

Authorities believe 90 percent of human trafficking in India is “intra-country.”

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i’ve been pausing and blogging about child slavery as i have been meditating on the imminent birth of my baby girl and the world that i am bringing her into.

in my faith, we give thanksgiving offerings as a sign of gratitude for such gifts of life and joy. such grace. i’ve decided to give to speak up, an international human rights organization committed to the eradication of modern slavery and human trafficking. this is a gift for a better world for my girl…and a lot of other baby girls.

if you are interested in joining me in giving…..

1) Send checks payable to SPEAK UP

Speak Up
PO Box 5595
Pasadena, CA 91117

2) If you’re on Facebook, go to http://apps.facebook.com/causes/252674 and donate through
Speak Up’s Causes page. Again, by April 14th if possible.

Speak Up is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, making your donation tax-deductible.

i am interested in matching your donation to double your giving power. please touch bases with me on that.