Comments on: Weekly Geeks: a Social Issue http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/ A twenty-something writes about books, reading, and how it all affects her life. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:24:05 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: john bowe http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3393 john bowe Wed, 28 May 2008 15:12:41 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3393 hi, Eva. thanks for the mention! I didn't even know there were this many recent books about trafficking! I do know that there are several more on the way. My own take is that slavery, whether sexual or "labor" slavery (farm workers or anyone else, in any country) has a lot to do with power imbalances. The reason I wrote about labor slavery is because unlike sex slavery, it has a corrosive effect on regular people: no one can compete with slave labor. No employer or employee can remain unaffected by it. Wealth inequality is on the rise around the world. What does this mean for the future of democracy and freedom? My book is good for helping to understand how the mentality behind slavery, slave-holding etc, doesn't die out just because we live in a modern era. We're hard-wired to do this stuff, if the conditions are right. It really opens your eyes to what goes on in our own country, every time we make a purchase. Kevin's book, Ending Slavery, is really great for helping us all realize what we can do to end slavery, worldwide, and also how increasing true democracy and evening out power imbalances is the antidote to slavery. anyway, thanks. john bowe hi, Eva. thanks for the mention!

I didn’t even know there were this many recent books about trafficking! I do know that there are several more on the way. My own take is that slavery, whether sexual or “labor” slavery (farm workers or anyone else, in any country) has a lot to do with power imbalances. The reason I wrote about labor slavery is because unlike sex slavery, it has a corrosive effect on regular people: no one can compete with slave labor. No employer or employee can remain unaffected by it.

Wealth inequality is on the rise around the world. What does this mean for the future of democracy and freedom? My book is good for helping to understand how the mentality behind slavery, slave-holding etc, doesn’t die out just because we live in a modern era. We’re hard-wired to do this stuff, if the conditions are right. It really opens your eyes to what goes on in our own country, every time we make a purchase. Kevin’s book, Ending Slavery, is really great for helping us all realize what we can do to end slavery, worldwide, and also how increasing true democracy and evening out power imbalances is the antidote to slavery.

anyway, thanks.

john bowe

]]> By: Eva http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3333 Eva Sat, 24 May 2008 01:21:19 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3333 Emily, most of these were new to me too! Tara, that sounds interesting-I hope you talk about it when you get to see it. :) Lisa, it is alarming, isn't it? Melanie, I didn't know there was a TV program too. Very cool! Maggie, somehow I missed your comment the first go round. But that's so neat that you're ordering books for you college! Emily, most of these were new to me too!

Tara, that sounds interesting-I hope you talk about it when you get to see it. :)

Lisa, it is alarming, isn’t it?

Melanie, I didn’t know there was a TV program too. Very cool!

Maggie, somehow I missed your comment the first go round. But that’s so neat that you’re ordering books for you college!

]]> By: Melanie http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3329 Melanie Fri, 23 May 2008 03:27:48 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3329 Very interesting list, Eva, about a serious issue that we don't always like to think about. I can vouch for Victor Malarek's "Natashas" -- there was also a tv program here about it, as he's a well known and well respected journalist. I'll look at some of the others as well. Very interesting list, Eva, about a serious issue that we don’t always like to think about. I can vouch for Victor Malarek’s “Natashas” — there was also a tv program here about it, as he’s a well known and well respected journalist. I’ll look at some of the others as well.

]]> By: Lisa http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3321 Lisa Thu, 22 May 2008 13:31:21 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3321 This is a topic that I don't know as much about as I should. Thanks for this great list of books on the subject. It's alarming to think that there is still so much human trafficking going on. This is a topic that I don’t know as much about as I should. Thanks for this great list of books on the subject. It’s alarming to think that there is still so much human trafficking going on.

]]> By: tara http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3316 tara Thu, 22 May 2008 01:45:37 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3316 Great list. I need to educate myself more on this topic. I've seen a preview of a film - I think it is called The high price of sugar - that I believe deals with some of the issues of these workers. I am waiting for it to come to netflix. Great list. I need to educate myself more on this topic. I’ve seen a preview of a film – I think it is called The high price of sugar – that I believe deals with some of the issues of these workers. I am waiting for it to come to netflix.

]]> By: Emily http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3308 Emily Wed, 21 May 2008 22:05:41 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3308 Interesting list of books, none of which is familiar to me (since I'm not exactly up on the topic myself). Definitely not titles to be read all at once, though. Interesting list of books, none of which is familiar to me (since I’m not exactly up on the topic myself). Definitely not titles to be read all at once, though.

]]> By: Eva http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3303 Eva Wed, 21 May 2008 15:26:52 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3303 Alisia, books that offer solutions are definitely great. :) Toujours Jacques, I'm sure you're right about 1807! I knew it was the year Britain banned slavery, but I didn't know that Congress also prohibited further importation. Thanks for letting me know! Debi, I haven't read any of them either, but I'm off to see if the library has them. :) Nymeth, aww-thanks! Sarah, thanks for stopping by, and for the recommendation. It sounds great! Jeane, no problem. :) A Devoted Reader, I cried through it too. SO sad. Heather, I'll add a link to your review if I can find it! Megan, that is depressing. One of my professors had us read an interesting/depressing article on how some poor people are *selling their organs*. I wish I could remember anything else about the article, so that I could've included it on the list. Kim L, I agree-it's not something that a lot of people realise Andi, you're welcome. Thanks! :) Evie, I agree! Humanising people is always the most important step to change. Myrthe, I hope you have time to write the post toO! Lilya 4Ever haunted me too. Kevin Bales, thanks so much for stopping by! I've just become interested in the topic, so the link is very informative, and your new book sounds great. Alisia, books that offer solutions are definitely great. :)

Toujours Jacques, I’m sure you’re right about 1807! I knew it was the year Britain banned slavery, but I didn’t know that Congress also prohibited further importation. Thanks for letting me know!

Debi, I haven’t read any of them either, but I’m off to see if the library has them. :)

Nymeth, aww-thanks!

Sarah, thanks for stopping by, and for the recommendation. It sounds great!

Jeane, no problem. :)

A Devoted Reader, I cried through it too. SO sad.

Heather, I’ll add a link to your review if I can find it!

Megan, that is depressing. One of my professors had us read an interesting/depressing article on how some poor people are *selling their organs*. I wish I could remember anything else about the article, so that I could’ve included it on the list.

Kim L, I agree-it’s not something that a lot of people realise

Andi, you’re welcome. Thanks! :)

Evie, I agree! Humanising people is always the most important step to change.

Myrthe, I hope you have time to write the post toO! Lilya 4Ever haunted me too.

Kevin Bales, thanks so much for stopping by! I’ve just become interested in the topic, so the link is very informative, and your new book sounds great.

]]> By: Kevin Bales http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3302 Kevin Bales Wed, 21 May 2008 11:08:25 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3302 thanks very much for putting this out, and including Disposable People (there's a newer 2005 edition) - but the one book I urge you to look to is Ending Slavery: How We Free Today's Slaves. Disposable People set out the shape of the global problem, Ending Slavery explains how we can bring slavery to an end forever. For more information about modern slavery see: www.freetheslaves.net Free the Slaves is the largest of the US anti-slavery groups and the sister organization of Anti-Slavery International in the UK - this is the oldest and original human rights group in the world, founded in 1787. Free the Slaves works with partners around the world to bring people out of slavery every day. For freedom! Kevin Bales thanks very much for putting this out, and including Disposable People (there’s a newer 2005 edition) – but the one book I urge you to look to is Ending Slavery: How We Free Today’s Slaves. Disposable People set out the shape of the global problem, Ending Slavery explains how we can bring slavery to an end forever. For more information about modern slavery see:

http://www.freetheslaves.net

Free the Slaves is the largest of the US anti-slavery groups and the sister organization of Anti-Slavery International in the UK – this is the oldest and original human rights group in the world, founded in 1787. Free the Slaves works with partners around the world to bring people out of slavery every day.
For freedom!
Kevin Bales

]]> By: Myrthe http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3301 Myrthe Wed, 21 May 2008 05:44:42 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3301 I was going to mention some of the books you mention as well. I was actually going to tie the Weekly Geeks together with finally putting up my answer to the meme for which you tagged me weeks ago (until the end of this week I am up over my head in work, a class I am taking and getting my residency permit extended). I hope I will actually get around to write the post! Lilya 4Ever is one of my favorite movies ever. I couldn't stop thinking about the movie for days after I watched it. If you have any feeling inside of you (which I assume we all have), this movie cannot leave you untouched. I was going to mention some of the books you mention as well. I was actually going to tie the Weekly Geeks together with finally putting up my answer to the meme for which you tagged me weeks ago (until the end of this week I am up over my head in work, a class I am taking and getting my residency permit extended). I hope I will actually get around to write the post!

Lilya 4Ever is one of my favorite movies ever. I couldn’t stop thinking about the movie for days after I watched it. If you have any feeling inside of you (which I assume we all have), this movie cannot leave you untouched.

]]> By: Evie http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/weekly-geeks-a-social-issue/#comment-3300 Evie Wed, 21 May 2008 04:40:13 +0000 http://astripedarmchair.wordpress.com/?p=559#comment-3300 I watched Lilya 4-Ever when it was televised in Australia. It is a really good movie though as sad and disturbing as you would expect any film on this subject to be. I recommend it unreservedly. Lilya 4-Ever humanises the people who are being trafficked and it also doesn't allow those Westerners who patronise the sex trade to escape responsibility for their part in all this. I watched Lilya 4-Ever when it was televised in Australia. It is a really good movie though as sad and disturbing as you would expect any film on this subject to be. I recommend it unreservedly.

Lilya 4-Ever humanises the people who are being trafficked and it also doesn’t allow those Westerners who patronise the sex trade to escape responsibility for their part in all this.

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