27 Million Too Many Slaves

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Through the week I was streaming the Passion 2013 conference sessions. Passion is an annual conference in Atlanta, USA that had a massive 60,000 18-25 year olds in attendance this year. One of their main focuses is justice + Gary Haugen, founder + CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM), was a key speaker.

For year I have known there are 27 million slaves around the globe. In the midst of 7 billion people living on the earth, that number can seem massive on it’s own, yet a drop in the ocean in the scheme of things.

But this time, upon hearing Gary talk about the injustice + his experiences whilst working with IJM, I thought about it in a different light…

Australia’s current population of around 22.6 million people + New Zealand’s population of approximately 4.4 million = 27 million.

That’s two entire countries living in slavery… and that’s a lot of people with each number representing an individual who needs help.

I’m not entirely sure yet what my role is to play in it – whether it be volunteering, contributing financially, spreading awareness via writing, etc – but I do know that I can’t sit by + do nothing.

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There’s this whole ‘Be The Change’ movement, which I truly love. But if we get caught up on ‘being the change’, we can lose sight of the fact that more than simply being empowered + free to do something, it’s actually our right to do it. It’s not so much about you being free as it is about you being an instrument in bringing freedom, serving justice + giving each individual the opportunity + choice to live the colourful life they were created for.

You being free isn’t for freedom’s sake, but for the sake of others.

Once you’ve tasted + experienced true freedom, you can’t help but fight for the freedom of other’s.

Some organisations doing outstanding work in the field + whom I greatly admire are:-

International Justice Mission | A21 Campaign | Somaly Mam Foundation | Love 146 | Not For Sale Campaign | End It Movement | Invisible Children | Restore International | Light Gives Heat

Check them out. Learn more about the issue. Be informed. Spread the word. Play a part.

 “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” Ronald Reagan