Admit it. You love cheap clothes. And you don't care about child slave labour

My friend Teresa comes through again - check out this article:  Admit it. You love cheap clothes. And you don't care about child slave labour

www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/28/india-sweated-labour

continuing from yesterday's post ~ CNN coverage

 

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com

FBI Rescues 105 Kids Forced into Sex Trade After Raids in 76 Cities

Please check out the article and video on CTV about the FBI rescuing 105 kids forced into the sex trade after raids in 76 cities:

www.ctvnews.ca/world/fbi-rescues-105-kids-forced-into-sex-trade-after-raids-in-76-cities-1.1388990

and from the Winnipeg Free Press:

www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/fbi-kids-rescued-alleged-pimps-arrested--in-sweeping-child-prostitution-raids-across-the-us-217461921.html

Protecting Children from Exposure to Adult Content Online

Press Release

7/23/2013

On Monday, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced new measures that their government was taking to protect children. Prime Minister Cameron emphasized the two primary aims of these measures: to protect children from exposure to adult pornography through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) based filter and to tackle the magnitude of child sex abuse images online.

I applaud Prime Minister Cameron for his bold approach to work with Internet Service Providers to develop solutions to protect children. In this massive fight against child exploitation and the sexualisation of our children, every step we take makes a difference.

Harmful impact of pornography on children

Eliminating the easy access to pornography by children should be a common sense approach. There is much research that reveals the harmful implications of youth who are exposed to pornography. (It is shocking that the average age of first exposure to pornography is 12 years old.) For example, viewing of pornography is seen as a causative factor in child on child sexual abuse. Additionally, recent studies reveal that regular viewing of pornography can actually rewire the brain. For children, who are in a critical stage of physical development, this is alarming and can carry long term negative consequences.

Addressing Censorship

However, since expressing my support for Britain’s plan, I have been astounded at the immediate, uniformed accusations of censorship, anti-freedom, government surveillance made by people who have not taken time to actually understand the issues being addressed and the solutions being proposed.

The purpose of the ISP based filter on adult pornography is not to block or censor pornography from adults, but to block it from children. Accusations of censorship are as ludicrous as suggesting that prohibiting the sale of adult videos to children is censorship.

Anyone over 18 in the UK would still have full control or their access to legal pornography. British ISPs have developed a filter to block legal adult pornography and this will be applied to all customers unless they choose to turn it off. And turning it off will be as simple as logging into your ISP account and unchecking a box.

Some have also pointed out that home based filters are available. Indeed they are, but the software is only effective on the computers they are installed on. In an age of wireless home networks, when many children have smartphones, and friends with smartphones, having an anti-pornography filter installed on your home computer is useless.

Government Partnership - Not Regulation

The UK’s plan has also been characterized as an example of big government intruding on industry. Rather than imposing regulations on the ISP’s, the filter was a product of consultation and partnership between the government and UK’s biggest ISPs to develop a means of protecting children from being exposed to adult content on line. That is what I would like to see in Canada: partnership and consultation between the federal government, internet service providers, and stakeholders. It is a conversation truly worth having.

I firmly believe in protecting rights and freedoms, democracy and open internet. As Prime Minister David Cameron rightly pointed out, “A free and open internet is vital …But when it comes to the internet in the balance between freedom and responsibility, we have neglected our responsibility to our children.”

Surely, unchecking a box cannot be too much of a price to pay when it comes to protecting and nurturing our children.

Joy Smith, B.Ed., M.Ed.

Member of Parliament

Kildonan - St. Paul

Joseph ~ Invisible People

invisiblepeople.tv/blog/2013/07/joesph-homeless-blind-san-diego/?autoplay=1

CNN: Cyber-Sex Trafficking: A 21st Century Scourge

Please take the time to read the CNN article Cyber-Sex Trafficking:  A 21st Century Scourge and view the videos included on the page:

us.cnn.com/2013/07/17/world/asia/philippines-cybersex-trafficking/index.html

Redeemed ~ Big Daddy Weave

Seems like all I could see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me "son
Stop fighting a fight it's already been won"

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be
I am redeemed, I'm redeemed

All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, "Child lift up your head"
I remember, oh God, You're not done with me yet

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, now I'm not who I used to be

Because I don't have to be the old man inside of me
'Cause his day is long dead and gone
Because I've got a new name, a new life, I'm not the same
And a hope that will carry me home

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, 'cause I'm not who I used to be

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I'll shake off these heavy chains
Wipe away every stain, yeah, I'm not who I used to be
Oh, God, I'm not who I used to be
Jesus, I'm not who I used to be
'Cause I am redeemed
Thank God, redeemed

Mandela Day

www.facebook.com/TESConnect

CNN: Fighting Forced Labor Helps Women Beat Poverty

Check out the following CNN article Fighting Forced Labor Helps Women Beat Poverty:

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/15/fighting-forced-labor-helps-women-beat-poverty

Bono at NAACP Awards 2007

www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6P6v4bNxJQ

Tesh & Brae Day

teshandbraeday.blogspot.ca

Malala Day at the U.N.

Malala Day was celebrated today at the U.N. on Malala's 16th birthday.  Grab some kleenex and listen to her powerful words.  It may just be me, but I think we're going to see more of this young woman in years to come.  Thank you for using your voice and breaking the silence Malala!

winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=964103&playlistId=1.1364324&binId=1.1164782&playlistPageNum=1

In the name of God, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful.

Honourable UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon, Respected President General Assembly Vuk Jeremic, Honourable UN envoy for Global education Mr Gordon Brown, Respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters; Today, it is an honour for me to be speaking again after a long time.

Being here with such honourable people is a great moment in my life and it is an honour for me because today I am wearing a shawl of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.

I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people would be expecting me to say. But first of all, thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and a new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me.

I would like to thank my nurses, doctors and all of the staff of the hospitals in Pakistan and the UK and the UAE government who have helped me get better and recover my strength. I fully support Mr Ban Ki-moon the Secretary-General in his Global Education First Initiative and the work of the UN Special Envoy Mr Gordon Brown. And the respected President of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremic. I thank all of them for the leadership they continue to give. They continue to inspire all of us to action.

Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing.

Malala Day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights. There are hundreds of human rights activists and social workers who are not only speaking for their rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goal of peace, education, and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them.

So here I stand... one girl among many. I speak - not for myself, but so those without voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights: Their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated.

Dear friends, on the 9th of October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends too. They thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed. And out of that silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this - weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born.

I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same and my dreams are the same.

Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. I am here to speak up for the right of education of every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists.

I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me, I would not shoot him. This is the compassion that I have learnt from Muhammad, the prophet of mercy and Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy of change that I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This is the philosophy of non-violence that I have learnt from Gandhi Jee, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learnt from my father and from my mother. This is what my soul is telling me - be peaceful and love everyone.

Dear sisters and brothers, we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. We realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, in the north of Pakistan, we realised the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns.

The wise saying, 'The pen is mightier than sword' was true. The extremists were and they are afraid of books and pens. The power of education... frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. And that is why they killed 14 innocent students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they killed female teachers and polio workers in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa. That is why they are blasting schools every day. Because they were and they are afraid of change, afraid of the equality that we will bring into our society.

I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist, 'Why are the Taliban against education?' He answered very simply, by pointing to his book, he said: 'A Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book'. They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would send girls to the hell just because of going to school. The terrorists are mis-using the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal benefits.

Pakistan is peace-loving democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. And Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. Islam says it's not only each child's right to get education, rather it is their duty and responsibility.

Honourable Secretary-General, peace is necessary for education. In many parts of the world, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan, terrorism, wars and conflicts stop children to go to their schools. We are really tired of these wars. Women and children are suffering in many parts of the world in many ways. In India, innocent and poor children are victims of child labour. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in Afghanistan have been affected by the hurdles of extremism for decades. Young girls have to do domestic child labour and are forced to get married at early age. Poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism and the deprivation of basic rights are the main problems faced by both men and women.

Dear fellows, today I am focusing on women's rights and girls' education because they are suffering the most. There was a time when women social activists asked men to stand up for their rights. But, this time, we will do it by ourselves. I am not telling men to step away from speaking for women's rights, rather I am focusing on women to be independent to fight for themselves.

Dear sisters and brothers, now it's time to speak up.

So today, we call upon the world leaders to change their strategic policies in favour of peace and prosperity.

We call upon the world leaders that all the peace deals must protect women and children's rights. A deal that goes against the rights of women is unacceptable.

We call upon all the governments to ensure free, compulsory education all over the world for every child.

We call upon all the governments to fight against terrorism and violence, to protect children from brutality and harm.

We call upon the developed nations to support the expansion of educational opportunities for girls in the developing world.

We call upon all the communities to be tolerant - to reject prejudice based on cast, creed, sect, colour, religion or gender. To ensure freedom and equality for women so that they can flourish. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.

We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave - to embrace the strength within themselves and realise their full potential.

Dear brothers and sisters, we want schools and education for every child's bright future. We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education. No one can stop us. We will speak for our rights and we will bring change through our voice. We believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the world.

Because we are all together, united for the cause of education. And if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness.

Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty, injustice and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright peaceful future.

So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons.

One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world.

Education is the only solution. Education first.

www.asianimage.co.uk/news/world/10546106.Malala_s_full_speech_to_the_UN

Rights Around Us

I highly recommend that you check out the 'Rights Around Us' tour through the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.  It's free and it happens Wednesdays to Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., until August 31.  The tour runs for about 1 hour and begins as the Via Rail Union Station in Winnipeg, as the museum is still being built.  There is a little walking involved as you make your way from the train station past the museum to the Provencher Bridge and back.  The guides, Brigitte and Javier, did a tremendous job, discussing human rights in a local context while talking about the museum's construction and meaning.  More information at:

museumforhumanrights.ca/programs-and-events/programs/2013-summer-tours