Most of us relate slavery to African-Americans being shipped over from Africa to the United States in the 16th through the 19th centuries...few of us are aware of the ongoing struggle many people face in the 21st century.
Modern day slavery is still a strong cell of activity around the world: Globally, some 600,000 to 800,000 people are being trafficked across international boarders each year, 20% of the victims are children.* In the United States, the CIA estimates 50,000 people are trafficked through the USA annually as sex slaves, domestics, garment and agricultural slaves.*
These numbers are startling to say the least; thankfully, there are many groups dedicated to ending this disturbing trend.
Members of IALF will share information via CNN's Freedom Project. Please feel free to check out the following link for information, stats, and ways to help: http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/
Every second, 3 sharks die at human hands. Many are "finned" so that their fins can be used for shark fin soup. Sharks are becoming extinct and it is affecting all ocean life.
Executive Producer/Director Gary Rose and fledgling group KISS (Kids Involved in Saving Sharks) have teamed up to create a PSA campaign aimed at halting the slaughter of sharks and preserving the ocean's ecosystem.
MJ Fam, please help those kids and spread their message to help the endangered species of sharks that are essential to our eco system!
Why?
Sharks have been around for nearly 400 million years: that makes them older than dinosaurs! There are about 375 different types of shark in the world.
The sea monster myth
Sharks rarely attack people. In fact, the chance of being attacked by a shark is less than the chance of being struck by lightning. The real dangers for people in the ocean are drowning, exposure and being struck by a boat. So no, sharks are not the sea monsters we hear about in stories.
Threat to survival
While sharks are not a threat to people, people are a very real threat to sharks. Each year, over 100 million sharks are killed, most of them for their fins. In fact, there are now 20 types of sharks that are in danger of disappearing because of overfishing.
One of the reasons the shark population is decreasing rapidly is that it takes a long time for sharks to become adults. When a young shark is caught they do not have the chance to grow up and produce baby sharks (pups).
When it comes to reproducing, sharks are more similar to mammals such as whales, dolphins and humans than to other fish. While most fish reach maturity in only a few years and produce thousands or millions of eggs per year, sharks take many years to reach maturity, with some species not reproducing until they are over 15 years old. So when sharks are overfished it may take them many years to recover and in some cases they may never recover.
Why care?
Sharks are crucial parts to the ocean ecosystem. They are at the top of the ocean food chain. They control populations in a beneficial way by eliminating diseased and genetically defective animals. Sharks are an important part of the Earth’s biodiversity.
YOU can help endangered sharks!
1. Educate yourself and others about their importance to our world.
2. Send letters to politicians and other influential people. Let others know how you feel about endangered sharks and how crucial they are to the environment.
3. Sign a petition or start a petition against shark finning and send it to representatives of China.
4. Avoid purchasing products made from sharks.
5. Organise a fundraising activity at your school or in your community and donate to a shark conservation program or organisation.
Together we can make a difference! Tell us how you’ve helped the sharks and inspire other to do the same.
Within the last days a lot of turmoil was going on in regards of Michael Jackson. Unfortunately this kept away the spotlight from a TV show that REALLY deserves our attention.
The "True Crime" MJ special by Aphrodite Jones.
Most of you are familiar with her work and constant fight for truth and justice for Michael through her book "The Michael Jackson Conspiracy". For everyone who hasn't read it yet, please do!
So yesterday her "True Crime" MJ special aired and everyone should take the time and watch it and spread the word. Make sure you also thank Aphrodite Jones for everything she's done! Find contact links below.
Here's the show:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Part 6:
Please also read Charles Thompson´s excellent entry on Aphrodite Jones's Michael Jackson documentary:
This is a new series of irregular blog entries that focus on the depth of Michael's lyrics. As much as they speak for themselves they deserve thorough attention everytime you listen.
Michael shared his wisdom in his lyrics and in combination with the music and his voice, a song becomes a universe.
My song of today is "On The Line". It is written by MJ (unlike stated in the "Ghosts" single*) and produced by Babyface and opened Spike Lee’s 1996 movie "Get on the Bus" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWmvleHLIaM). It was left off of the official soundtrack because of a label dispute, but you can buy the song on MJ's Ultimate Collection, which was released in 2004.
"On The Line" to me is part of Michael's many "affirmative" songs. His main message is encouragement. The kind of encouragement that we all need in our lives. It reaches you exactly at the point where you stand. Michael has this uncomparable ability to lift your spirits but includes a reminder that nothing comes for free. Whatever it is, it might not be easy and you might have to try harder. But the price is endless.
"Hard times just don't go away." How many of us have had this thought? Complaining and wallowing in self-pity is sucking you into a vicious circle of negativity ("that chip on your shoulder").
"It's time you open up, Have some faith" indicates change. Change of mind, change of thought. Collecting strength from believing.
"Don't you think it's time you go for a change?" Well, yeah. We want the negativity to go away. We want to like what we see in the mirror. Thank you Michael for reminding us, that the (wo)man in the mirror is the only one that can make a change to their very own situation! No more complaining, no more blaming situations, others... Me? YES!
"Gotta put your heart on the line, If you wanna make it right. You've got to reach out and try!" Ok, I hear you. The change needs my own input. And my energy, it isn't for free. But I am in the driver's seat.
"If you wanna do it now, You gotta learn to try. You can make it right somehow!" Ok, trial. There might be error but trying is a requirement for change. And "YES, you can!". Can I?
"Let love come free and that's just so easy now." So easy? Really Michael? It didn't seem that easy while I was busy complaining. But I forgot about the love... oh.
"You gotta go for what you want, You gotta do what you got to do" Oh dear, YES!!! I want! I want a change. I want to make it right! So, why waiting? Hesitation? Compromise? No! Go for what you want!
"Don't waste your time on the past, no, no It's time you look to the future It's all right there if you ask This time if you try much harder You'll be the best that you can be!"
YES, I will. Thank you Michael for guiding me through!!!
Michael Jackson - On The Line
No sense pretending its over Hard times just don't go away You gotta take that chip off your shoulder It's time you open up Have some faith
Nothing good ever comes easy All good things come in due time Yes it does You gotta have something to believe in I'm telling you to open your mind
Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right You've got to reach out and try Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right Gotta put it all on the line
You see yourself in the mirror And you don't like what you see And things aren't getting much clearer Don't you think it's time you go for a change
Don't waste your time on the past, no, no It's time you look to the future It's all right there if you ask This time if you try much harder You'll be the best that you can be
Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right You've got to reach out and try Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right
If you wanna do it now You gotta learn to try You can make it right somehow Let love come free And that's just so easy now You gotta go for what you want You gotta do what you got to do
Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right You've got to reach out and try Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right
These numbers are startling to say the least; thankfully, there are many groups dedicated to ending this disturbing trend. 
