June 16, 2016 Editor

Where Were You?: A Profile of Modern Slavery

by Matt Friedman • June 16, 2016

photo above: Matt Friedman and Sylvia Yu Friedman

an excerpt:

If the Holocaust nearly a century ago remains on the world’s conscience, why have we not cared that today six times that number of young people, even children, have vanished into brief lives of unspeakable cruelty, exploitation and deadly disease?

Slavery has existed as far as history has recorded the human race. The only thing new about the issue is the speed and deadliness of its proliferation. While hardened businessmen make billions of dollars and unaware citizens throughout the world purchase their slave-made products, the numbers of children and young adult slave victims now exceeds the population of Canada.

Throughout the ages, voices have been raised to greater or lesser effect. Perhaps it’s children’s voices that will pierce through our excuses, that of the child who demanded “Where were you when Hitler killed the Jews?” or the uncomfortable question from Gita, who demanded of me “Where were you? You sit there interviewing people and writing reports. What good is that? I waited and hoped that someone would come help me. Where were you?”

Please click on: Modern Slavery

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Editor

Wayne Northey was Director of Man-to-Man/Woman-to-Woman – Restorative Christian Ministries (M2/W2) in British Columbia, Canada from 1998 to 2014, when he retired. He has been active in the criminal justice arena and a keen promoter of Restorative Justice since 1974. He has published widely on peacemaking and justice themes. You will find more about that on this website: a work in progress.

Always appreciate constructive feedback! Thanks.