~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6:48 AM 5/4/2005 "Trafficking in persons is a modern-day form of slavery, involving victims who are typically forced, defrauded or coerced into sexual or labor exploitation. It is among the fastest growing criminal activities, occurring both worldwide and in individual countries. Annually, at least 600,000 - 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked across borders worldwide, . . . " Cited: U.S. State Dept. Website. "Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons." 4 May 2005. Available http://www.state.gov/g/tip/ Quote of the day: "Since our inception we have focused our efforts on organizing, educating, networking, and advocating around the trafficking of Filipinas through the 'mail order bride' industry (now known as international matchmaking services), prostitution generated by militarization and tourism, and forced labor migration ." Cited: [http://www.gabnet.org/history.htm], 4 May 2005. Seriously, what they really meant to say, perhaps, they're AGAINST the trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation and slavery. No shit? So, you really wanna work in the desert? Here's some fun facts from [http://www.poea.gov.ph/Country/ksa.htm]: " . . . [some] enjoy good accommodation and [facilities] with modern equipment, good lighting and ventilation, and safety devices while the [latter] may not enjoy modern and adequate facilities . . ." So what are the problems, you may ask? The following was originally enumerated by bullets points: " Contract violations, Stranded workers, Runaways, Delayed/Unpaid salaries, Maltreatments/abuses, Rape, sexual harassments, Detention, Immorality, Vehicular accidents, Embezzlement, Poor accommodation, Homesickness, Theft, Illegal gambling/drinking of liquor or wine, Illegal selling of video tapes." Cited: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. "Working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." 12 July 2004. Available http://www.poea.gov.ph/Country/ksa.htm. "Risks of Running Away," as enumerated: "Revocation of employment permit, Arrest, detention and deportation, Deprivation of future employment, Loss of personal belongings, Fabrication of false accusations by employers, Ruins the image of and employment opportunities for Filipinos." Don't forget, Pinoys, "Prior to leaving open a savings account for remittance purpose." Cited: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. "Things you should know about working in South Korea . . ." 4 May 2005. Available http://www.poea.gov.ph/Country/korea.htm. Here's some fun stuff I found on the web, not all very helpful, however: The Official Government Portal of the Republic of the Philippines URL: http://www.gov.ph/ Description: This one actually help guide foreign agencies recruit pinoy hosepower. Hey, I'm not implying anything. Don't read between the lines. Speaking of reading between the lines, who the hell made up that line, reading between the lines? It's just a dumb idea. Anyway, what am I suppose to be blabbering about, again? I forget. U.S. State Dept > Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons http://www.state.gov/g/tip/ Description: Best link about the subject. Lots of facts, lots of ideas. Philippines- Facts on Trafficking and Prostitution URL: http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/philippi.htm Description: News clippings from today's and yesterday's headlines/blips. Megan's Law - Information on Registered Sex Offenders URL: http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/ Description: This is another fun link. Find your old buddies here! The Truth About Club Drugs URL: http://www.fbi.gov/hq/ood/opca/outreach/clubdrugs/clubdrug.htm Description: I suppose this is a non sequitur? Who cares, read it if you got too much time. I haven't got the time. Freeze, Motherfucker! URL: http://www.fbi.gov/gotcha/archive/gotarchive.htm Description: This is actually called, "Gotcha Archives," but my title reads off better. In case you're wondering, this is a complete, non sequitur in reference to our chit chat here. Interpol's subject about trafficking of women and children for sex/slavery URL: http://www.interpol.int/Public/THB/default.asp URL: http://www.interpol.int/Public/THB/Women/Default.asp Description: A few definitions about, well, you know what. Boring. The Purple Rose Campaign URL: http://www.purplerosecampaign.org/ Description: Led by GABRIELA network. GABRIELA network provide a lot statistical numbers found on the web, regarding sexual exploitation of women and children in Philippines. I don't know how they actually do it, but I'm just too lazy to figure this one out, too. Hey, it's a pretty website. Durex > Sex Ed. URL: http://www.durex.com/cm/education.asp Trojan > Information Center URL: http://www.trojancondoms.com/info_center/ Trojan > Free Sample URL: http://www.trojancondoms.com/posters/index.asp Lifestyles > STI self-diagnosis URL: http://lifestyles.com/canada/eng/sti_autoeval.htm Ansell Canada's Sex Ed Materials URL: http://lifestyles.com/canada/eng/institutional.htm ADDENDUM 4:12 PM 5/13/05 CDC > STD > Health Communication URL: http://www.cdc.gov/std/healthcomm/ AMW > Missing Children URL: http://www.amw.com/missing_children/