June – 2009 – Not For Sale: End Human Trafficking and Slavery

Archive for June, 2009

[Press Release] SF Legislation Passed

June 30, 2009 Posted by Allison Trowbridge

Not For Sale Sees Long-Awaited Legislation Passed in San Francisco

Crackdowns on Massage Parlors Means Help for the Fight Against Sex Trafficking in the City

San Francisco, CA (June 29, 2009) – Legislation to increase regulation of the massage parlor industry, introduced by San Francisco Supervisor Carmen Chu and Mayor Gavin Newsom, has been passed with a near unanimous vote. The Not For Sale Campaign began investigating modern-day slavery in San Francisco for over three years, identifying gaps in legislation that impeded city efforts to regulate and monitor the massage parlor industry (an extremely high-probability industry for sex trafficking).

http://links.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?blogid=55&entry_id=42298

The new legislation will increase transparency and provide additional regulation over the massage industry. Not For Sale Campaign President, David Batstone, provided testimony in support of both pieces of legislation. This new legislation enhances the ability of the city to revoke licenses from high-probability industries and increases cooperation and dialogue between various regulating agencies, needed changes Batstone has advocated for since the inception of the Not For Sale Campaign.

http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=7976&meta_id=156853

About the San Francisco Legislation

Penalties for violation of Massage Practitioner Licensing and Regulation Ordinance:

This legislation, introduced by Mayor Gavin Newsom, will amend Health Code Sections 1918 and 1928 to increase the amount of control and regulation that exists over businesses within the massage parlor industry. Section 1918 will be amended to require operating permits to be displayed in plane view to patrons and limit hours of operation for massage establishments to 7am-10pm, previously 7am-12am. Section 1928 will be amended to increase fines for each violation of the health code and will extend the timeframe from 12 months to 24 months in which a massage establishment can have their license revoked if they are sited for three violations during this period.

Zoning-New Controls for Massage Establishments:

The legislation introduced by Supervisor Carmen Chu’s will amend Planning Code Sections 790.6, 890.6, and 218.1 to increase transparency and regulation over businesses selling massage services. The legislation will amend the definition of massage establishments to include previously viewed “conditional use massage establishments” within the industry. The planning code will be amended to require massages, other than chair massages, to be in plain view of the public and requires the Planning Commission to list criteria used to analyze conditional use permits for massages.

For more information, contact Allison hailing from notforsalecampaign from the TLD of org or visit www.notforsalecampaign.org.

Investigator Academy Grad Makes Rescues in Ghana!

June 25, 2009 Posted by Allison Trowbridge

Tini Hebets, a graduate of the first Investigator Academy, has just returned from Ghana with an amazing report to NFS staff. Tini used her certification from the Academy to map and investigate slavery in the Lake Volta region – where fisherman keep childeren enslaved – and took part in the rescue of 5 children with Not For Sale Ghana!

Tini’s report…

Dear NFS:

First of all- Thank you! This is all amazing! We spent a week in Kete Krachi and “rescued” 5 children who all came back down to Tema with us. Well, I like to think of it as an agreement or release because it really isn’t as epic or demeaning for that matter as a “rescue” sounds. I saw the three room school house built by NFS at the Village of Life shelter for 23+ kids in Kete Krachi. It looks amazing, and is so close to being done. They have already applied to be recognized as an official school by the government and while they wait for the funds to finish it have turned all the land around it into a farm (maybe this is something Thailand should learn from). In Krachi we stayed with George from PACODEP who has a personality that could persuade the devil to end poverty. I also talked a lot with him about the micro-credit program for the fisherman- and have to say I like where it is going. Not to mention the mapping is looking great. I haven’t played a strong hand in it to tell you the truth because I do not carry around my GPS system or a computer for that matter, but we are working on plugging in all the points mapped on Lake Volta into Google maps. Each point is complete with a photo, possibly video, and a short biography of the child. We spent everyday in Krachi on boats visiting these extremely isolated island communities and talking to every fisherman and child in between. George is well known on the lake and the fisherman are surprisingly complient and friendly. He approaches the boats and villages and simply asks if the children go to school, how old they are, how long they have been working, where are they from, etc. He then goes on to explain why education is important and why working in these conditions is not okay and illegal for the matter. Nearly 100% of the time the fisherman honestly had no idea that having children work and buying them was illegal.

Anyway, just wanted to give you an update. I will all the pictures and videos uploaded for viewing most likley next week.

- Tini

NFS Supports Legislation that Helps Prevent Trafficking in San Francisco!

June 25, 2009 Posted by Kilian Moote

Legislation introduced by San Francisco Supervisor Carmen Chu and Mayor Gavin Newsom supported by the Not For Sale Campaign passed with a near unanimous vote. The new legislation will increase transparency and provide additional regulation over the massage industry in San Francisco, an extremely high probability industry in San Francisco for trafficking. Not For Sale Campaign President, David Batstone, provided testimony in support of both pieces of legislation. Among the needed changes this new legislation enhances the ability of the city to revoke licenses from high-probability industries and increases cooperation and dialogue between various regulating agencies, needed changes David has advocated for since the beginning of the campaign.

Not For Sale would like to thank Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Carmen Chu for their work introducing legislation that would increase the cities ability to prevent trafficking from occuring.

Not For Sale goes to Australia!

June 24, 2009 Posted by Allison Trowbridge

This July, the Backyard Abolitionist Tour goes down under! Join us in Australia for the dates below…

To learn how you can bring the Backyard Abolitionist Tour to your own backyard, click HERE!

# July 3, 7:00 pm – YGAP Event - Classic Cinema Elsternwick (Melbourne)
# July 4, 6:00 pm – Bayside Community Church – Cheltenham (Melbourne)
# July 5, 9:30am – Bayside Community Church – Cheltenham (Melbourne)
# July 5, 11:30am – Bayside Community Church – South Melbourne
# July 7, 7:30 pm – Baptist World Aid, Cardiff Panthers, Munibung Rd, Cardiff/Newcastle
# July 8, 3:30 pm – Hillsong Conference, Sydney
# July 10, 7:00 pm – STOPSTART Womens Event, CCC Whitehorse, Melbourne
# July 11, 8:00am – St. Kilda Baptist, Melbourne
# July 12, 10:00am – CCC Lane Cove, Sydney
# July 12, 5:00pm – Ashburton Baptist Church, Melbourne
# July 13, 7:30 pm – Syndal Baptist Church, Melbourne
# July 17, 7:30 pm – The Edge, Adelaide
# July 19, 10:00am – The Edge, Adelaide
# July 19, 5:00 pm – The Edge, Adelaide
# July 22-23 – YWAM host, Perth (schedule TBD)

Canadian MP Hailed for her efforts!

June 24, 2009 Posted by Allison Trowbridge

MP Joy Smith, a continuous voice and advocate for increasing Canadian efforts to confront human trafficking was recently hailed for her leadership. In an article featured in the Canadian “National Post” Thomas Axworthy commends MP Smith for her continuous work to confront trafficking, “Since arriving in Ottawa, Smith has been the go-to person on the trafficking file. In 2006 she introduced private member’s motion M-153 on human trafficking, which called on Parliament to adopt a comprehensive strategy to combat the trafficking of persons world wide. Her motion was passed unanimously. She has also secured funds for aboriginal groups to prevent the trafficking of native women and children.” He continuous on by expressing admiration for her latest effort to combat trafficking. “Smith’s bill on mandatory minimums follows the logic of the State Department report, which calls for real and significant jail time for sex traffickers.”

Join MP Joy Smith at the first Global Forum on Human Trafficking and learn more about her efforts in Canada to end human trafficking.

Secretary Clinton on Efforts to Confront Trafficking

June 17, 2009 Posted by Kilian Moote

On June 16th Hillary Clinton, standing alongside the newly appointed Ambassador-at-Large to monitor and combat trafficking in Persons Lou de Baca, announced the release of the 2009 Trafficking in Persons State Department report. The following day, June 17th, Secretary Clinton authored an article in the Washington Post entitled “Partnering Against Trafficking”. In the article Secreatry Clinton reaffirmed the United States efforts to confront trafficking and hailed the State Departments continuous work with countries dedicated to confronting this global human rights concern.

Read the Article Here:

“A Giant Welcome to the NFS Team”

June 16, 2009 Posted by Allison Trowbridge

Friday night Not For Sale staff headed out to support Free2Play team members Jeremy Affeldt (Giants) and Matt Holliday (A’s).

What an incredible game… and NFS even got a shout out on the scoreboard

NFS at 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report Release

June 16, 2009 Posted by Kilian Moote

David Batstone joined Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ambassador-at-Large to Combat Human Trafficking Lou DeBaca in Washington D.C. for the public release of the 2009 G/TIP Report.

Batstone represented the Not For Sale Campaign as a national partner for the creation of effective legislation to combat the global slave trade.

NFSC is thankful for the work that both Clinton and DeBaca are doing within the US State Department to tackle modern slavery, and the extensive information made available through this effective report. Secretary Clinton stated during the press conference, “The ninth annual Trafficking in Persons Report sheds light on the faces of modern-day slavery and on new facets of this global problem. The human trafficking phenomenon affects virtually every country, including the United States. In acknowledging America’s own struggle with modern-day slavery and slavery-related practices, we offer partnership. We call on every government to join us in working to build consensus and leverage resources to eliminate all forms of human trafficking.”

Read the full report here

Soulfest 2009

June 16, 2009 Posted by Allison Trowbridge

Title: Soulfest 2009
Location: Gunstock Mountain Resort, Gilford, NH
Link out: Click here
Start Date: 2009-07-29
End Date: 2009-08-01

LAUNCHED: Athletes Join Free2Play

June 12, 2009 Posted by Allison Trowbridge

Not For Sale Campaign and the members of Team Free2Play believe that sports can change the world. Through innovative web technology, athletes across the globe are joining Team Free2Play to challenge themselves and make a difference in the lives of others. Major League Baseball stars like Jeremy Affedlt and CYO basketball players like Dolan Shaffer have created their own pledges to support Not For Sale’s international projects, which use athletics in their work with survivors of trafficking.

Whether you’re training for a triathlon or sharpening your jump shot at the recycling bin, you can join a team that’s making a global difference.

At Not For Sale, we believe that everyone is an athlete, and that everyone should be free to play. Create your pledge today and begin to play for those who cant!

“Everybody has the right to be able to say one day I’m going to be, one day I’m going to accomplish, one day I’m going to become, one day I’m going to play — and slavery kills that dream.”
-Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants* & Team Free2Play

Click HERE to Join the Team!