Monday, Mar 9, 2009

21st Century Slavery

Today's Lunch Break:
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/01/03/opinion/1194837193498/the-face-of-slavery.html

I was at a meeting recently where a man said, "I don't believe anything written in the New York Times."

Recognizing the obvious politics behind his comment, I bit my tongue, but I wanted to say "Please, have your own political views, by all means, but have you read the Times? Do you know what fantastic content they have, even if you never touched an article about politics?" [1]

Of all the things I like about the Times, the columns, blogs, and videos of Nicholas Kristof just might take first place. Kristof is nerdy. Not particularly attractive. Has a strange-sounding voice. And the man is a stud. (Check out his full bio here.) In the words of the judges giving him his second Pulitzer Prize: he writes "graphic, deeply reported columns that, at personal risk, focus attention on genocide in Darfur and give voice to the voiceless in other parts of the world."

It is one of those voiceless voices I share with you in today's Lunch Break. This video captures the story of a young girl, kidnapped and forced to work in a Cambodian brothel before reaching puberty. She was electrocuted into submission. She had forced abortions, the second of which left her in excruciating pain. When she asked to have a few days' rest, the brothel owner stabbed out her eye.

Now she's receiving training and medical attention through the Somaly Mam Foundation, a charity committed to ending slavery, organized by Somaly Mam, herself a former prostitute.

Sad but inspiring stuff. It's a worthwhile five minutes. Watch the video HERE.

[1] I recognize you could construe anything as being political, but go with me on this.