World Vision and the Amazing Change Campaign increase awareness of historical and contemporary forms of slavery, and demand action.
February 7, 2007 "Amazing Grace" (in theatres February 23) at long last brings the story of one
of the world's most revered abolitionists to the big screen. But, more than
this, the film serves as a rallying call
to combat slavery that still exists
today.
Slavery Still Exists
While Wilberforce's work set in motion a movement that ended the African slave
trade, slavery continues to
exist in other forms today. Having an especially destructive impact on children, modern day slavery is
found around the world:
Approximately two million children are enslaved in the commercial
sex trade.
Exploiting poverty, this form of slavery is woven into the local economy of
many countries.
Nearly 300,000 children are forced to serve in bloody armed conflicts around
the world.
"Kill or be killed" is what these children face on a daily basis.
An estimated 250 million children work in exploitative labor conditions around
the world. From manufacturing sweatshops to domestic
service, without choice,
these children serve as slaves to industry and the wealthy. As a child-focused Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision is
committed to combating these
forms of slavery. Since most forms of
exploitation have their roots in poverty, the core of World Vision's work to
tackle the causes of poverty can actually reduce a child's vulnerability to exploitation and slavery. In addition, we work to provide care for those who already have been
victimized, such as in our center for girls who have escaped the sex trade in
Cambodia and our
center for rehabilitating former child soldiers in northern
Uganda.Our advocacy work in the United States and around the world is focused on
changing hearts, minds, attitudes, and government
policies, such as we saw with
Wilberforce. For example:World Vision's Child Sex Tourism Prevention Project is working both in the
United States and in five developing countries to combat the
sexual abuse of
children by American men traveling abroad.
Also, our Pawns of Politics campaign is working to bring peace to northern
Uganda and recovery for the children who have served in that
country's civil
war.
"Having seen modern day slavery with my own eyes in Africa and Asia, I hope
that this film inspires Americans and others around the world to fight slavery
with the same
passion and energy that the world experienced with Wilberforce,"
World Vision President Rich Stearns commented after after seeing "Amazing
Grace" at a premier event. "I especially hope that the
Church will, once again,
play a major role in this modern movement."
The Amazing Change Campaign
In addition to World Vision's ongoing advocacy around these issues, the organization is part of The Amazing Change, a campaign to mobilize greater
awareness of historical and contemporary forms of slavery and promote public
action. The Amazing Change Web site provides
learning opportunities and hosts a
petition for online signatures from people around the country who will publicly
speak out against modern day slavery.
Getting Churches Involved:
Amazing Grace Sunday
On Sunday, February 18, thousands of churches will participate in Amazing Grace
Sunday in order to educate and mobilize their congregations about modern day
slavery.
Churches that participate have committed to do the following on the
18th:Sing the hymn "Amazing Grace"
Pray for victims of modern day slavery
Watch a clip from the film "Amazing Grace"
Look for
ways to help combat slavery through organizations like World Vision
Get Involved >> Speak outagainst modern day slavery. Sign the petition on The
Amazing Change Campaign site.
>> Involve your church in Amazing Grace Sunday, on February 18.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
