Warning: This Should Disturb YOU!!

I’m SOOO saddened and downright angry about something and I just need to get it out!

Did you know that…

• there are 27 million slaves in the world TODAY
• $90 is the average cost of a human slave around the world
• it is estimated that 200,000 AMERICAN children are at high risk for trafficking into the sex trade industry each year
• modern day slavery is the second largest criminal industry in the world
• there have been instances of children as young as 6 years old being kidnapped into the sex trade industry and made to “service” 20+ men a night

Now for those of you who don’t think this is happening in our country, State, city (like it should matter)…

• Atlanta has more strip clubs per capita than Las Vegas
• 80% of adult prostitutes begin between ages 12-14
• 1 in 3 women in the general population are victims of childhood sexual abuse– this number is usually higher for women in the Adult Entertainment Industry
• In the state of Georgia alone, approximately 250 girls are recruited into prostitution on a monthly basis. There are over 4,000 strippers who work in the 40 adult entertainment clubs in and around the Atlanta area and statistics show there is a clear link between pornography, exotic dancing and prostitution.
• #1 site for prostitution is Craigslist
• The prices for erotic services on Craigslist are measured in “roses”
• When the mayor wrote Craigslist about this problem, they simply said, “We’re only responding to demand.”
• After much complaining, there is now a statement about GA laws and a link to the APD on the Craigslist erotic services pages but victims are STILL BEING BOUGHT AND SOLD on the site
• When Atlanta raised the ordinance so that women under 21 could not get their dancing permit, it took 2600 girls off the stage
• Atlanta will become the 48th city in the United States to start a “John School” — a school for first offenders to realize the effects of prostitution related activities
• The Shapiro Group, in conjunction with the Juvenile Justice Fund, estimates that when a young girl is dressed provocatively, she is assumed to be 8 years older than she actually is– this leads many men to believe they are buying services (sex, lap dances, erotic services in general) from a legal woman, when in reality, she may be a child.
• When surveying Atlanta for areas of prostitution and trafficking, the Shapiro group has found that where strip clubs and hotels meet, illicit sexual activity is usually happening– researchers sat in major hotels and watched the traffic from the strip clubs into the hotels
• Out of 500 escort phone numbers, 85% go to 3 main call centers– this shows there are 3 main escort services that are trying to have the appearance of many different businesses. There is a organized nature to trafficking and sexual exploitation
• There are 400-500 listings for erotic services/day on Craigslist
• Prostitution as a symptom—the victims are not running to the street, they are running from their homes.
• 75% of minors are controlled by a pimp
• There are more domestic minor sex trafficking victims in the US than international victims in the US
• Approximately 1.7 million runaway/throwaway episodes occur every year in the U.S., and 90% of runaways become a part of the sex trade industry. This recruitment doesn’t take much time or effort; 1 in 3 teens will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.

If your heart can stand it, check out this story… This just breaks my heart and makes me realize, more than ever, that what I perceive as HUGE problems in my life are so inconsequential!

I’m ashamed… when I’m worried about escalating gas prices, whether I’ll be able to sleep in, or that all of my cars might not pass emissions… when TRULY horrendous things are going on all around me. My priorities are all screwed up!

Most of this information was taken from a very cool blog, aimed at educating the public about this pandemic… www.mckennah.blogspot.com Make sure to add her to your list of blogs…