Diana Scimone

Can We Please Find Something Else to Laugh About?

I'm always amazed when someone finds humor in human trafficking.

A few weeks ago Alec Baldwin joked about getting a mail-order bride from the Philippines--and then apologized for the "perceived insensitivity of that remark." 

Uhhh, "perceived insensitivity"?   

Earlier this week when I was in California, I spotted this sticker on the hostess station of an otherwise great restaurant: 

And this is funny why?  Today 1 out of every 6 kids on the planet is a slave. So the threat on that sticker is not only not funny, but it's also kind of ironic considering it was in a Vietnamese restaurant.  Vietnam has a huge problem with child trafficking. (See 1 Miraculous Rescue + 1 Miraculous Escape = Good News.)

Can we please find something else to laugh about? Seriously, child trafficking just isn't all that funny.

One Person: Art and the Fight to Stop Child Trafficking

Can the beauty of art destroy the ugliness of child trafficking? Can one person--one artist--make a difference to help stop this global crime?

Oh yeah. 

In fact, beautiful artwork is at the center of the Born to Fly Project to stop child trafficking:  a wordless book with delightful illustrations by artist/illustrator Leah Wiedemer. 

Thanks to Leah's wonderful illustrations, anyone anywhere in the world will be able to "read" the book--no matter what their language, age, or culture. 

Called Born to Fly, the book is an allegory about learning to follow your dreams in a safe and secure manner.  Picture by picture, Leah's artwork warns parents about the ploys that traffickers use, and tells kids of all ages, "You were born to fly; don't settle for less."

Social (He)Art, the artists blog, just did a great profile on Leah. Read what Leah says about using her art to fight for social justice. It's inspiring.

Leah and I have collaborated on other children's projects, including the Adventures With PawPaw children's book series, which Leah illustrated and I wrote. You can see more of Leah's work (including her portraits from old family photos) on her blog, website, and CafePress store, and you can follow her on Twitter at @RoamingArtist

Very soon you'll get a sneak preview right here of Leah's illustrations for our wordless book.  We're keeping them undercover for now...but watch this space for the grand unveiling!

1 Miraculous Rescue + 1 Miraculous Escape = Good News

Yesterday police in Vietnam arrested a 22-year-old man who sold a mother and her 2-year-old son (below) to a human trafficking ring in China.

Miraculously the child was rescued and reunited with his mother. (If anyone is rescued from traffickers, I consider it a miracle.)

The same man also sold a Vietnamese teenager to a brothel in China.

Miraculously she escaped and returned to Vietnam.  (If anyone escapes from of a brothel, I consider it a miracle.)

You can read more in Saigon GP Daily.

Imagine if we could have warned this mother ahead of time about the ploys that traffickers use. That's what the B2F Project is designed to do.

What if the teenage girl had seen a copy of our wordless book, Born to Fly--before she ran off with a trafficker promising her the world? What if her teachers had a copy of the curriculum we're writing to equip kids to say no to traffickers?

Two more horror stories that never would have happened.

That's why I'm so excited to finish the B2F materials and get them into the hands of parents and kids all over the world.  Want to help us?  Visit www.born2fly.org and click on "donate." Let's prevent more horror stories like these from ever happening.

Five Years of Rescuing Slaves in Florida

Happy Birthday to the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which turns 5 this week.

My organization, Born to Fly International, is a member of FCAHT, and I'm thrilled to see the great work this non-profit is doing around the state.

Just since last year, FCAHT has found and rescued 82 victims of labor trafficking in Florida. The group also trains law enforcement officers, attorneys, state prosecutors, investigators, and health service personnel.  And it provides after care, counseling, and other services to rescued victims to help them heal from the trauma of trafficking.

I love this new FCAHT poster:

Human slavery happens everywhere--not just across the globe but also across the street. If you see something you think is not right, call the national hotline number on the poster: 888.373.7888.

Meanwhile, you call follow FCAHT on Twitter: @FreeAllSlaves