The Final Draw

I don't know how much of the 2010 Fifa World Cup being held in South Africa has made the news, but obviously it's big news around these parts. Today is the big announcement of the final draw of teams - who will play against who. Cape Town is buzzing with excitement - streets are closed (Long Street shown below with the stage being set up), celebrities like David Beckham have arrived, and the news crews are ready.

The World Cup has also put South Africa into the spotlight regarding human trafficking, as any such large event does these days. It is such an overwhelming problem and it feels like there are no solutions, but there are! Human trafficking is just the movement of people - the real issue comes in WHY those people are moved. It may be forced labor, prostitution, pornography and the list continues. If the demand for these issues is cut, then the supply too must be cut, thereby directly affecting the trafficking of people (modern day slavery, which globally generates the same or more money than the drug trade does currently). As I challenged the group of pastors I spoke to yesterday: NOW is the time to make a personal pledge not to COMMIT, CONDONE or REMAIN SILENT about these matters.