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The Match Factory | December 2009
2 | International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
I opened the newspaper yesterday to see the big-eyed face of a five year old girl staring up at me. The words “Don’t let me be sold into slavery” written across her body struck me deep. It seems that adverts for humanitarian organisations such as this one is as close as many of us will ever come in to the slave trade. Yet it could be said that, indirectly, many of us actually benefit from some of the “milder” forms of slavery. An alarming number of the products we consume on a daily basis are bought to us through oppressive and coerced means. Of course slavery exists in extreme forms with more people being trafficked now then ever before in history, but also in situations where farmers and factory workers have a lack of freedom in their employment, and wages that mock their toil. If we think we can avoid it by turning over the page of the newspaper quickly, we are mistaken.
Let’s revisit some of the facts bought together by the Stop the Traffick coalition:
- At least 12.3 million people are victims of forced labour worldwide. Of these 2.4 million are as a result of human trafficking.
- 600,000-800,000 men, women and children trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors.
- An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year.
- The majority of trafficked victims arguably come from the poorest countries and poorest strata of the national population.
- Trafficking is the fastest growing means by which people are caught in the trap of slavery.
- Human trafficking is the third largest source of income for organised crime, exceeded only by arms and drugs trafficking.
- It is the fastest growing form of international crime, already generating $7 billion per year in criminal proceeds. There are even reports that some trafficking groups are switching their cargo from drugs to human beings, in a search of higher profits at lower risk.
Screen it: A couple of years ago a film about abolitionist William Wilberforce was released, Amazing Grace. Make a night of it by either hiring a local cinema to show it or put it on the big screen at church. Collect donations in exchange for tickets, get some tubs of ice cream in and send the profits to The Salvation Army’s anti-trafficking programme.
Feature it: Take seven minutes in your church service/ youth group night, share some of the facts above and this five minute video from Stop the Traffick.
Change it: If you decide your church should get further involved have a look at The Salvation Army USA Western territory’s web page or for an example of a more local expression of action look at the Croydon Community Against Trafficking website.
5 | International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
This is a great day to reflect on the role volunteering has in society and to celebrate the work of people who passionately and tirelessly invest their time and energy in to their community. In reference to the importance of volunteer work in his local community President Obama once said
Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. We are the hope of those boys who have little; who’ve been told that they cannot have what they dream; that they cannot be what they imagine.
Or as musician Ben Harper sings,
I can change the world with my own two hands, make a better place with my own two hands!
This day is a chance to celebrate that God uses simple men and woman to bring about a world filled with love, joy and peace.
Here are some r
andom facts about the other benefits of volunteering taken from The Guardian:
- half of people (48%) who have volunteered for more than two years say volunteering makes them less depressed. 71% of volunteers who offer their professional skills and experience say volunteering helps combat depression;
- 63% of 25 to 34-year-olds say volunteering helps them feel less stressed. 62% of over 65’s say volunteering reduces stress;
- nearly half of all volunteers (47%) say volunteering has improved their physical health and fitness;
- 25% of people who volunteer more than five times a year say volunteering has helped them lose weight (20% overall);
- 22% of 18 to 24-year-olds say volunteering helps them cut down on alcohol. 20% of people who have volunteered for over two years and 19% of those who volunteer once a month or more say volunteering helps them drink less alcohol.
Celebrate it: If you rely on volunteer help in your line of work or community centre why not take some time to celebrate and thank people for the work they do. You could have an awards ceremony or perhaps just a large cake!
Do it: Find out the joys of volunteering yourself. Choose a subject that you are new to and discover new skills or choose an area you know well but can bless with your expertise. Be prepared to have your life enhanced by new people, knowledge and challenges.
Write it: Get a collection of cards and write to the people you know who do little things for the community. Leave them in secret places to give them a surprise dose of encouragement and energy for the next season.
Already the effects of this changing climate are causing the deaths of over 300,000 people every year and 325 million people are severely affected. It is the poorest people of our Earth who are most at risk now, and will be most at risk from any further changes to our climate. Not only that, but over 90% of climate-related deaths are due to changes to the environment which result in increased malnutrition or disease , rather than through the weather-related disasters that we typically associate with climate change. It is these people who will suffer most, yet they have contributed least to the problem – the average person in the world’s least developed countries produces just 0.2 tonnes of CO2 a year, whereas on the other hand the average person in the UK produces 9.8 tonnes – that’s almost 50 times as much! Basically, if you care about people, you need to care about the Earth, because at the moment our Earth, through our actions, is harming our global neighbours in developing communities throughout the world.
Sign it: Sign the international “I am ready” campaign that will be presented at the conference to portray a global movement of people who hope to see climate justice.
Feature it: The UK Salvation Army International Development Team have put together an excellent resource, Earth. There are videos, Bible studies, dramas and much more for you to get involved in climate justice. Click here for more info.
Pray it: Sign up to receive the daily Copenhagen prayer updates from Planet Prayer.
Shout it: Join with others who care on the streets of your local city. Marches are planned in most cities across the world on the 5th and 12th December. To find details of your local one visit this link.
ALL THIS WEEK - A FEATURE ON ORDINATION
Which way do you see it?General Clifton stated to the recent international conference of leaders that he has “addressed and actioned”, amongst other initiatives, the following:
“the consistent promoting of officership, its sacredness and dignity, and its emphasis on the solemn spiritual covenant into which all officers enter, thus differentiating officership theologically and ecclesiologically from other forms of (helpful and effective) Army service.” (The Officer, September/October 2009, page 7)
General Eva Burrows - “The Founder marched us out of the Church and into the World – and I’m not going to march us back in.”
If you’d like to contribute please email rubiconeditor@gmail.com .
Salvationist Frank Heinrich wins in German Election!
Friends, Frank Heinrich won in the weekend’s election. He is now in the Federal Parliament (’Bundestag’) having received 34% of the votes in Chemnitz.Please keep him in your prayers - he´s DEFINITELY going to need it now!
The General’s Call to Prayer - September 27th (People trafficking)
Official Statement:Dear Colleagues in Christ:
We are pleased with the General’s call to prayer on Human Trafficking to take place on Sunday, September 27, 2009. In conjunction with this call the International Moral and Social Issues Council have developed a draft positional statement on the subject of Human Trafficking which has been approved by the General.
Attached please find this resource for distribution within your territory/command as together we address this darkness of captivity with the light of the gospel.
Blessings,
M. Christine MacMillan, Commissioner
Chair
International Moral and Social Issues Counsel
THE SALVATION ARMY
INTERNATIONAL POSITIONAL STATEMENT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Statement of the Issue
Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. Reliable reports show that millions of people around the world are subjected to it. The techniques used by traffickers and the forms in which trafficking is manifested are various, but what is common to them all is the exploitation of some people by other people. Those who are victimized include babies, children, teenagers, women and men.
The following statement created by the United Nations and adopted by many others, is both a definition of human trafficking and a clear call to action:
“The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. ”
Statement of Position
The Salvation Army is deeply committed to fighting human trafficking however it may be manifested. We seek to exercise care in restoring the freedom and dignity of those affected.
Principles
Human trafficking is contrary to the principles of freedom and dignity. The exploitation of human beings dehumanizes the individuals who are trafficked, rewards the inhumanity of the traffickers, and weakens the moral and social fabric of society at large.
Restoring dignity to persons who have been exploited is not easy, and the danger of paternalizing trafficked victims in the name of aiding them must be kept in view.
Traffickers need to be stopped and held accountable, but they also need those who will help them to a transformation of heart and mind.
The Salvation Army is opposed to the corrupt abuse of power against other human beings that is inherent in trafficking for personal economic gain. We therefore have the responsibility, both individually and collectively, to work for the liberation of those who have been enslaved in this manner, and to establish the legal and social mechanisms by which human trafficking can be stopped.
Biblical and Theological Background
Humankind is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26 ). All people are valuable to God, holding a special place in God’s creation (Psalm 8:5). The Bible teaches that nobody should be exploited or damaged. Psalm 10 describes the wickedness of those who entrap others and the Psalmist calls on God to intervene. This Psalm is as relevant now as it was when it was written many years before the birth of Jesus.
Isaiah 42:22 says, ‘But this is a people plundered and looted all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, “Send them back.”‘ Joel 3:3 says, ‘They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine that they might drink.’
Jesus taught that no one should live in physical or spiritual bondage. He said, ‘The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, and to say, ‘This is the year the Lord has chosen.” (Luke 4: 18 - 19). He was quoting Isaiah 61: 1 - 2. Later in Isaiah 61 are these words, ‘I, the Lord, love justice! But I hate robbery and injustice.’ (v. 8).
Consequently, Christians are called upon to work for the elimination of all forms of human trafficking.
Practical Responses
Since its inception, The Salvation Army has sought to reduce the worldwide phenomenon of abuse of individuals or groups of people for personal gain, now defined by the United Nations as human trafficking. It has established places of refuge for victims, sought legal changes that would both prevent trafficking and punish those involved, and it has created alternatives for those vulnerable to trafficking. Through its constituent territories, corps, centres and individual members, The Salvation Army continues to plan and undertake culturally and biblically appropriate responses which will help to eliminate the development or continuation of any form of human trafficking.
The Salvation Army recognises that there is a great deal of sex trafficking, and that the majority of those trafficked for sex are women and girls. It rejects this commodification of women in any circumstance - including pornography, prostitution and sex tourism - and works both to eliminate human trafficking for this purpose and to create alternatives for women who would otherwise be forced into prostitution.
The Salvation Army will work against any activity that trafficks people for the sale of human organs. The Salvation Army seeks to develop strategies and methods which assist trafficked people to re-enter and make a home in their chosen place of residence.
Often the incidence of human trafficking is hidden within a society. The Salvation Army takes an active role in researching where human trafficking is occurring and aims to raise public awareness as a result.
The Salvation Army calls upon all legislators in local, national or international jurisdictions to create laws and enforcement mechanisms which criminalize trafficking and which will punish those engaged in such activities.
The Salvation Army also encourages all law enforcement agencies to actively prosecute perpetrators of human trafficking and to work with other government and community organizations to free people from any present or future coercion or threat.
Human trafficking flourishes because there is a demand for the services trafficked people are forced to provide. The Salvation Army therefore undertakes education and awareness raising activities so that those who use products or services supplied by trafficked people are confronted with the human misery, suffering and injustice created by their continuing use of these services or products.
The Salvation Army recognizes that there are a number of credible organizations working locally and globally on the issues of human trafficking. The Salvation Army encourages cooperation and networking with these agencies to achieve the elimination of human trafficking and to provide support to trafficked people.
The Salvation Army calls upon Salvationists and other Christians worldwide to seek God’s face and pray.
Reference Documents
United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Definition of “human trafficking”, at Annex II, Article 3, paragraph (a)(http://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/a_res_55/res5525e.pdf)
humantrafficking.org: A web resource for fighting human trafficking (http://www.humantrafficking.org/)
United Nations Global Initiative To Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) (http://www.ungift.org/)
The Salvation Army, ‘Opposing and Preventing Global Sexual Trafficking’ (www.salvationarmy.org/ihq)
(The views expressed in this international positional statement constitute the official position of The Salvation Army on the issue addressed, and they may not be modified or adapted in any way without the express written permission of International Headquarters).
(Source : JUST SALVOS www.justsalvos.com )
Watch the video on YouTube “The Truth isn’t Sexy … ”
Prayer request for Frank Heinrich’s election bid
Dear Rubicon community,
This coming Sunday, September 27 a general election will be held in Germany.
Many of you will know that Frank Heinrich, the founder and leader of 614
Chemnitz http://www.614network.com/chemnitz/index.html has been on leave
from his position as a Salvation Army officer in order to run for Parliament
for Chemnitz.
Please remember Frank in your prayers this weekend as he seeks public office
for the good of the community God has called him to.
Thanks, Geoff Ryan
The Match Factory | Aug - Oct 2009
Here are a few of the many key moments in our global calendar from August to October. Use them to reflect on some of the issues facing our world and let the people behind the statistics inspire you to take action. You can spend one day or one minute on these things - but do something!
August
12 | International Youth Day
In the brilliant article, Why Stories Matter, by community organiser Marshall Ganz, he says
“…There’s something very particular about young people, not just that they have time. Walter Brueggemann writes in The Prophetic Imagination about the two elements of prophetic vision. One is criticality, recognition of the world’s pain. Second is hope, recognition of the world’s possibilities. Young people come of age with a critical eye and a hopeful heart. It’s that combination of critical eye and hopeful heart that brings change. That’s one reason why so many young people were and are involved in movements for social change.”
International Youth Day is a superb opportunity to not only celebrate the huge positive impact young people have had on society but also to take a chance to encourage it amongst the young people you know. Here in the UK it is our young people who are leading the way in ensuring political will for climate change action- they are utterly convinced that we must find urgent solutions for the world’s poorest who are suffering the effects.
Pray it: There is a beautiful “Prayer for our young people” here. Spend some time praying by name for the youth you know.
Dream it: Plan a “Dream Date” with your youth group/ young people you know. Plan in some time to think about issues and problems that affect your community, choose one to research further and begin to dream up solutions. Don’t leave until you have an empowering plan of action! Email the team at the Regent Hall Number 9 Project for a model of how they run theirs.
Encourage it: Spend some time researching some of the ventures young people in your town/ country have embarked on. Send them an email with a few words of encouragement - this has the potential to energise some fantastic people and their work.
Feature it: Take 5 minutes at your service/ youth group to share one or two local examples of great youth stories and one or two historical examples (What about the youngsters who began the Salvation Army in New Zealand?) Together, celebrate the way that God continues to reveal God’s kingdom through young people and children.
September
24-25 | G20, Pittsburgh, US
For the second time this year leaders of the world’s twenty wealthiest nations are gathering. It was hoped that the earlier summit would deliver the tools for an effective global deal on climate change but it fell well short. These meetings are often hailed as being key for global solutions to global problems, but far too often fail to produce any visible results. With only a few days together each time many issues can get sidelined. It is vital that these leaders realise the importance of reflecting not just the needs of countries present but those of the many countries not represented.
Pray it: Here is a website dedicated to praying for wise decisions at September’s G20. Keep your eyes peeled here for prayer events and guides.
Read it: Global Call to Action Against Poverty have written an interesting article entitled “Why we need a G192 not a G20″ that summarises some of the debate around this.
Host it: Host your own G20! At the time of the G20 organise a gathering of twenty friends/ colleagues/ youth group members. Plan yours to be a model of democracy and justice. Talk about some of the global issues impacting our world and spend some time praying for the leaders at the summit. Get some ideas from We20.
October
2 | International Day of Non Violence
This day falls on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and is meant to be a celebration of non violent solutions to conflict. In a world so ravaged by war and battles on a smaller scale it is important to take the chance to reflect on peace whenever we can.
“Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”. Gandhi
Do it: Research the conflict in your own community. Explore the local peaceful solutions already occurring and find out how you can support non violence in your neighbourhood.
Pray it: Spend some time focusing your weekly service or youth group night on the importance of peaceful solutions. Look at Francis of Assisi’s Peace Prayer and reflect on situations in your locality and in our world that need peaceful action.
Read it: Peacebuilding 101
5 | World Teachers’ Day
The relationship between poverty and lack of education is explicit and often cited, but the connection is a complex one. It is simply not a case of building schools to break the poverty trap. A main issue is the huge lack of educators in poorer nations. Poor education systems do not turn pupils into teachers and teachers that are found can not be retained with 100 pupil classrooms for little or no pay. There are options however; a key one being the management of overseas aid budgets - ear marking money for schools and teachers. Global Campaign for Education have been doing a sterling job in the last few years in creating awareness of the complexities and also providing solutions.
Did you know:
- 72 million children are out of school (over two-thirds are girls)
- 771 million adults worldwide are illiterate (64 per cent are women)
- Two million new teachers are needed today to provide kids with a decent education - and 15 million will be needed by 2015 to achieve education for all
Share it: Some things can only be portrayed visually. Have a look at this world map with a twist.
Do it: Take Oxfam’s Big Promise to play your part in ensuring the world’s poorest nations have enough teachers for education.
Join it: Get together with your friends/ colleagues/ youth group and create a Campaign for Global Education Group - there is an array of ideas and resources available for you at this website.
8 | International Day for Disaster Reduction
This day is devoted to raising the profile of the absolute need to mitigate against natural disasters. With the looming threat and reality of climate change, this date is taking on a significant prominence. One of the defining needs of a world with climate change is the need to help countries that are being hit hardest with adapting to these new circumstances. Very few governments in the world deny climate change, most have plans to lower emissions, yet what virtually all get stuck on is the idea that wealthy nations should help poor nations mitigate. It is deeply unfair that many of the countries that have caused climate change rarely experience the disaster that comes with it - it seems it is only right that we help reduce the impact in countries that suffer dire consequences.
You may agree- or not! Why not use this day to have that conversation?
Oxfam’s Right to Survive Report suggests:
- We need $42 billion more now each year in humanitarian aid to help meet people’s basic needs and another $50 billion now each year to help developing countries adapt to the effects of climate change.
- Rich countries, most responsible for the problem, must stop harming by rapidly cutting their carbon emissions and start helping by providing more money and support to help vulnerable countries adapt.
- National governments and the international community must provide more and better, more flexible aid. Aid should be provided on the basis of need – not tied to strategic or political interests, or favor one affected group over another or cherry-pick high profile emergencies.
- To avoid the most extreme potential impact of climate change in the longer term, developing countries must give greater priority to responding to emergencies and reducing people’s vulnerability to them.
Read it: The powerful report that perfectly outlines current and upcoming climate related disasters and their impact on developing nations. Right to Survive: Humanitarian Challenge in the Twenty First Century
Watch it: Franny Armstrong’s “Drowned Out” is a powerful film about traditional Indian families choosing to stay at home rather than move to the slums due to increasing flooding. A clip of this truly powerful film is available here.
Host it: Hold a film night screening Oxfam’s Sisters on the Planet. This DVD / online video selection has four separate stories of how women across the world are responding to increased natural disasters bought about through climate change.
Feature it: Spend some time in your service/ youth group reflecting on and praying for victims of recent natural disasters. Catholic Relief Service have a beautiful resource for a church service here.
You are always more than welcome to add your own ideas and links to this resource.
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- The Holiness Movement: Dead or Alive? 3 David Witthoff, Robyn Bridgeo, Barry Gittins
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