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According to the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report, some 800,000 persons are victims of trafficking each year, seven times more than in 1960. The victims are mostly womae and children who are often used as sex slaves, forced to endure harsh labor or even to fight wars. The numbers do not always include those who remain enslaved in their own countries, and many believe figures on trafficked persons are much higher than officially reported. There are some 27 million people, who are living lives as slaves today around the world. It is widely believed that there are at least 2 million children used as slaves in the commercial sex industry worldwide. Prices for these modern day slaves are at an all time low, while profits remain high, leading some to believe the problem is worse now than during the days of legalized slavery.
All Sides with Ann Fisher - Human Trafficking, 1/12/2010
The Price of Life Invitational, April 18- 23, 2010, OSU Campus
During the week of April 18-23, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, along with other student and community organizations, will be partnering with, The International Justice Mission, Not for Sale, and World Vision to conduct a campus wide “invitational” outreach on the main campus of The Ohio State University. This week-long event will seek to mobilize students for the purpose of raising awareness concerning human trafficking in general, and the child sex slave industry in particular, raising money to help fight human trafficking, and encouraging volunteerism. In partnership with many other student organizations and concerned faculty and staff, the Invitational partners will conduct both small-scale and large-scale gatherings throughout the week. (see list below)
- The Ohio State Invitational will focus on the fast-growing illegal enterprise of trafficking children for sex.
- Focused niche meetings for segments of the campus such as Black, Asian, International, Greek (sororities and fraternities) and grad students will allow students and faculty to confront this issue in communally relevant ways.
- The Ohio State Price of Life Invitational will include a large-scale fundraiser to fight human trafficking & thousands of people in a protest march against modern-day slavery.
- In addition to all the events throughout the week, the Price of Life Campaign is designed to raise money for those local and national organizations that are on the front lines fighting the proliferation of human trafficking in Ohio and around the world and providing care and advocacy for victims of sexual exploitation.
THE PRICE OF LIFE ~ List of activities for the week.
- PARADE OF TEARS: Students and community members will retrace the route of the historic Underground Railroad in the OSU area in protest against 21st century slavery. Demonstrators will show their solidarity against the modern day slave trade by wearing temporary tattoos, with some participants being bound and gagged and/or chained together.
- ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS: Representatives from World Vision, the Not for Sale Campaign, the International Justice Mission and other front-line abolitionist organizations will present lectures in university colleges & departments in areas such as medicine, social work, and business.
- NICHE MEETINGS: Several “niche” or focused meetings will take place throughout the week enabling students, faculty, and staff to confront the issue of modern day slavery in communally relevant ways.
- PROXE STATIONS: Interactive visual and experiential art stations ("Proxe Stations") will be set up all over the campus throughout the Invitational. Proxe Stations allow students to process some of the emotional and spiritual issues related to human trafficking on a more personal level.
- TOWN HALL MEETING: This gathering of lawmakers, attorneys, legal faculty and staff, and community leaders will address the public policy side of the fight against human trafficking. The Town Hall meeting will include an open, public forum with panel discussion and message.
- PRICE OF LIFE EVENT: The Invitational will culminate in this large-scale event at Mershon Auditorium in the Wexner Center complex, patterned after the Price is Right game show. Instead of bidding on the value of our fabulous prizes, contestants will try to identify the value currently placed on slaves in various parts of the world. Through the visual and performing arts, live media, and a speaker, attendees will learn about human trafficking and its implications for each of us. The Price of Life event also seeks to raise money for international and local organizations that are on the front lines of the fight against human trafficking.
For more information please contact Howard Van Cleave, van-cleave.3@osu.edu or visit the website: www.osupriceoflife.org
Midwest Faculty Conference: "Surprised by the Academy" June 19-25, 2010 - Cedar Campus Conference & Retreat Center, Cedarville, MI Web: http://www.facultyconference.org
Following Christ 2008 - InterVarsity’s conference for graduate students, faculty, and professionals - December 27–31, 2008 - Audio and Video Files
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