Tonight I had the privilege to attend a screening of a film due to release later this year called Call+Response. The screening was held in inside the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Downtown Nashville, so obviously it was an honor to be invited. Call+Response deals directly with human trafficking and slave trading including children sex slaves. I had heard quite a bit about the horrific things that go on but this documentary does an unbelievable job of bringing some of these tragedies to light.
CALL+RESPONSE is a first of its kind feature documentary film that reveals the world’s 27 million dirtiest secrets: there are more slaves today than ever before in human history. CALL+RESPONSE goes deep undercover where slavery is thriving from the child brothels of Cambodia to the slave brick kilns of rural India to reveal that in 2007, Slave Traders made more money than Google, Nike and Starbucks combined.
Director/Producer Justin Dillon hosted the night and said some pretty amazing things. One of the things that he said that really stood out to me was simple and clever, but I thought was brilliant. While talking about the need for us all to get involved in the abolishing of these thing, he said this, “It’s not called Awarenessism it’s called Activism”. Simple and brilliant.
My mind is still processing the images of a seven year old girl being sold to grown men looking for a good time. This is a very real and very local thing. I have questions like, why is it that the government can find out if I download a record illegally, but little girls are bought and sold for sex for less than an iPod? And this is happening right here in America. And it’s happening all over the world. Questions like, how far has the human race fallen when we are treating children with less value than cattle and making billions of dollars in the process? And questions like, where do I even start?
I could go on and on about how the night went, and all the terrible things that I learned, but right now I’d encourage you to go check out the trailer and at the very least find out when this film is released in your city, then bring as many people as you can. There’s all sorts of amazing music mixed into it and some great artists that are also involved. I have already sent an email to the director asking him how I can possibly help with some stuff online. I know that there are plenty of organizations out there dealing with everything from water to kids to shoes, but if this is something that you don’t know about or haven’t heard, it’s time to get educated and get involved.
Has anyone else really studied this? The numbers seem too staggering to ignore.
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thank you so much for posting this info. my 40 day fast post was about the child sex slave industry. many people don’t have a clue that this is going on.
this looks very powerful. i can’t find a listing of when/where it is being released in various cities though.
Tyler. Justin mentioned that they are still taking it around showing special screenings, but right now they are planning the premier in Washington DC, then showings in Portland, Seattle, Austin, Boston, Nashville, DC, and a few other places. He mentioned that it will be sometime in October, but the dates are still up in the air.
The sex trade industry is one of the things I have to force myself to think about because it makes me sick. Like you, I ask why? How can this happen here in America? I’m glad to hear more about movies like this and Trade that shed light on this topic.
I’m also a supporter of International Justice Mission and the work they are doing. But when you read the statistics it just seems like a drop in the bucket. We can and should do so much more.
My first response is, “hard to swallow.”
But I don’t want to swallow it or digest it. It’s not something that should be accepted as part of any culture. We need to be warriors against it.
I pray that this film will expose the issue to many who have no idea it exists and cause even more to enlist in the fight.
Adding the trailer to my site. I want this shown in LA. This is one of those things that although you see it, hear it, you still can’t believe that this happens in today’s society! If every person thought of those kids like their son, daughter, sister, brother, friend, there would be a revolution in matters like these.
I’m praying this take the world by storm. Just like movies that were made on Columbine, 9/11, etc., I hope that enough “big guns” get behind this so that people won’t have to search for special showings, that this is in every theatre in every city! I’m excited to get involved and if anyone needs help promoting different events support this in your area, count me in! I will post anything about this issue on my blog at all times!
Thanks for the tip, Brody.
I’m glad a movie is finally going forth with this info. I worked a few years ago on a similar movie and it was heartbreaking and so spiritually hard to do. The light will pierce through the darkness.
[...] 31, 2008 alymc I just read about this on Brody’s blog. I watched the trailer. I don’t know what to say. I don’t really know what to do [...]
It just completely broke my heart.
I really don’t have any words right now.
It will be good to get involved …
Do you know if they give any other things you can do,like people to contact or anything? Or is it mainly just doing what you can to promote the video?
There are plenty of ways to act at: http://callandresponse.com/join.html
Someone already mentioned this, but I would also recommend checking out International Justice Mission’s web site (ijm.org). The work their lawyers, social workers and investigators are doing around the world is pretty incredible, and definitely worth learning about. IJM’s web site also features a lot of educational materials about worldwide slavery and ways in which you can make a difference in this horrible and hidden industry.
These atrocities were recently brought to my attention via my friend Seth at http://hope4cambodia.blogspot.com/
I also just heard a woman talk at my church about the industry in Bangkok. http://www.nightlightbangkok.com/index2.htm
The action they are taking to give these women another option is truly amazing. I can’t encourage enough people to seek out these organizations and find ways to support them with money, prayer, a voice, an ear, anything…!!!
Brody,
I just ran across your blog and this issue is heavy on my heart as well. I am a therapist and am often left blank when wondering how I could utilize my understanding of effects of trauma to help these poor kids. I like the phrase activism vs awarenessism. Thanks for sharing. I spent some time in Sri Lanka after the tsunami and on the ground, these children are as scared as any of ours would be…thanks for bringing it home. Can’t wait to see the documentary!
Wow Brody. Thanks for sharing this. I will be sure to catch it when it comes to DC.
[...] of a Christian Nation, the One Campaign | So while flipping around blogs I came across Brody Harper’s recent post about Call+Response and it got me to thinking. Actually, recent discussions with [...]
i had some thoughts on that quote about justice and love in public. here they are:
http://blog.amoslanka.com/2008/08/13/708/