http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2009-11-20T23:01:01+00:00
Snapshots of Slavery:

Both from Bangkok:

1st: Passing a young crippled beggar-boy on top of a street overpass (Sukhamvit Road?) and later learning that children are deliberately maimed and put out as beggars for criminal groups.

2nd: Taking a cab from Hotel and being shown a scrapbook of children available for sex.

What's the answer?.....Rule-of-Law, Enforcement, Security, Education, Development, Incentives, disincentives... Monetary Penalties and prison. (Human Trafficking/Slavery is first and foremost, a business).]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tip_report_2009/ Sun Jun 21, 2009
A problem with the federal government is that it responds to stories in movies, t.v. station editorials, articles in magazines, and other media, but often not to individual citizens.

When 60 minutes does a segment on white slavery in Romania, we see immediate government reaction, but when 2 million citizens protest in Tea Parties around the country, we get a yawn from bureaucrats in D.C.

There are some things governments cannot do much about, and one of them is the right of one person to sell their services to another person.

In foreign countries that seem to lack legal standards on that subject, such as Saudi Arabia, we see news stories of people held against their will in arab lands. We speak of slavery when it involves Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia and avoid the subject when we meet with Saudi royalty.

If a nation really wanted to eliminate slavery, it could help victims to sue the people who held them captive, and make it a crime to hold another person for service.

If the U.S. thought slavery was so wrong, why do we allow leaders of those nations notorious for ignoring slavery to vacation in the U.S. and make speeches at the U.N.?]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tip_report_2009/ Wed Jun 17, 2009
I applaud Ambassador Luis CdeBaca's efforts. Are we making any inroads with this heinous practice? I am also interested to know if we are making any progress with North Korea on releasing the 2 journalists they are holding? Is China "helping" us with this? I would like to think so, but I doubt it. I noted in a news article this week that China, Russia, Brazil and our "ally" India have joined together to minimize the U.S.'s influence around the world. Is anyone surprised? I know I am not.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tip_report_2009/ Wed Jun 17, 2009
Human-Sales: A Growth Industry

Human Trafficking represents the failure of governments to provide economic and political security for its people. Corrupt government officials collude with organized crime in the sale of persons; when they should be creatingmpathways to secure futures for the people. Human Trafficking is a growth industry, because people have become commodities in a globalized and privatized world.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tip_report_2009/ Wed Jun 17, 2009
India should take concrete steps against forced begging and sexual slavery. India could spend billion of dollars on defense but at home people are suffering in slums all over.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tip_report_2009/ Tue Jun 16, 2009
When it comes to the enslavement of persons. I would like to request that the state department take a real look at the country of Brasil. Even though things are improving, they are not improving fast enough for the people of Brasil. If you go past the fancy streets and the luxury hotels to the inner cities you will find that Brasil enslaves the majority of its citizens. They dont need to traffic they live in slavery...The U.S. China and India are now supporting this enslavement as Brail appears to be becoming a first world country. There is no difference between the work force of Brasil and the work and labor practices of Columbia. If you do not think doing business with Columbia is good why do business with Brasil...???]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/tip_report_2009/ Tue Jun 16, 2009