Human trafficking is not Europe's problem. It's not India's and the rest of Asia's problem. It's not The America's problem or the Southern Hemisphere's problem. It's OUR problem. It is a global issue of injustice that has covered our globe and distorted our world. This is not a problem to be ignored or even shoved off to God. God's answer to the cry of a broken world is His children. It's OUR problem and we see the infected fruits of it every day. What are you gong to do to be that answer?
Restoration is welding pieces together again. It's not easy, like welding, it takes One Who has the ability and understanding to make something whole again. But even though restoration is painful and difficult, just look at the beauty that comes from it.
I saw these two birds fighting with each other. The magpie was attacking this other bird. For what reason, I'll never know; I can assume, but I'll never truly understand why one was trying to destroy the other. From this picture, the birds don't look all that different from each other; they look the same. At the end of the day, they're both birds. No matter their differences, they're birds. Their feathers may look different, one may be stronger than the other, one may live differently than the other, but they are made the same way.
I'll never know why these two birds were fighting and why one was trying to destroy the other; and likewise, I'll never understand why humans try to destroy humans because of petty differences. But if injustice made sense, it wouldn't be injustice.
For more information about genocide visit Genocideintervention.net
Shooting them before they can fly.
The UNICEF estimates that there are some 300,000 children (boys and girls under 18) involved in over 30 conflicts around the world. That means that over 300,000 children were abducted, manipulated, brainwashed, and were robbed of their childhood, their innocence and their free will. They were taken at the moment they are most vulnerable. They were "shot" before they could fly.
Thanks to Kony2012 the world is more aware, than ever before, about the horrors of child soldiers. You can join their movement to help bring a man responsible for a good percentage of the 300,000 children abducted,Joseph Kony, to justice.
Also check out Emmanuel Jal and his work to protect and save Africa. He himself was a child soldier and now uses music to tell his story and encourage positive action.
There are certainly more organizations and people working toward justice for these children; don't stop at just these two, but don't ignore them either.
Photos that didn't make it:
Open hand. Fist.
Spread out. Compressed.
Space. Cramped.
This is the reversal that occurs when a person finds themselves in a refugee camp. They left their home where they were free, they had space, it was theirs to open or close; to find themselves in a camp where they are cramped with thousands of others, like themselves, but everything about their life has now become like this fist. What was once open and relaxed is now locked in this defense mode. They left freedom to escape a fight and now find themselves in another fight all together; the fight to survive with more than just ability but to maintain your will and dignity to do so.
I was watching this baby boy who has eczema. He kept reaching up to scratch his neck and the person holding him kept having to pull his arms away. The little boy didn't realize that he was actually hurting himself more; by indulging in his felt need, he was causing himself more pain in the long run. Then I realized, I do the same thing.
This is my song called, "A Refugee's Plea" that may be able to help you understand what over 15 million people go through everyday.
"Run away. It's not safe here anymore. Runaway my child, we've got to go. We can't stay here another night. We've got to pack our things and flee our home.
My homeland is not my own. My nation is a different place than the one I've known. My country has turned against me. Wisdom and fear are what keep me running. I'm a refugee.
Run away. I can't stand it anymore. Run away. I'm not gonna settle for less. Cause I'm hungry but I'm starving for peace. This camp is not what I left for.
My homeland is not my own. My nation is a different place than the one I've known. My country has turned against me. Wisdom and fear are what keep me running. I'm a refugee.
Thought peace was a fair compromise. Leave to live or stay to die. But I lost my heart when I left that night.
This country is not my home. I long for the place my fathers are from. My nation was beautiful before the war. 'Refugee' is not my nationality or my identity."
