Voices of Human Trafficking

From UN GIFT:

Voices of Human Trafficking -a film by Eveline van Dijck- These women want to state that they are not voiceless victims, but survivors of an horrendous crime who are capable and willing to put their experiences to use. They want to make clear that in order yo have effective antitrafficking strategies victims need be involved in designing and reviewing policy in an integrated and ongoing way. For more information visit: http://www.blinn.nl/



This documentary features images from Kay Chernush's series "Bought and Sold: Voices of Human Trafficking." Chernush states, "As I move into multi-media and explore different ways of raising awareness, I think it's a good example of how photography and art can be used to transform perceptions of human trafficking -- perceptions of the survivors of themselves, and also of public and political entities."

"Be the Change" on Gandhi's Birthday

Here's a great chance to "be the change you wish to see in the world": the Kids with Cameras Foundation is looking for volunteers to host "House Parties for Hope" on October 2 - Gandhi's 140th birthday. Kids with Cameras is the foundation that grew out of the award-winning documentary Born into Brothels, which follows the lives of several children of prostitutes in Calcutta's red-light district who are given video cameras and taught how to use them. Through a partnership with the Buntain Foundation, Kids with Cameras is now working to build "Hope House," which is a "landmark endeavor to house up to 100 girls who are daughters of prostitutes from the same red-light district featured in the film. Hope House will give them access to on-site physical and psychological care, as well as formal mentorship from nursing students from an adjacent College of Nursing, all on a quiet, rustic campus on the city's outskirts. Each girl will have a full scholarship for private school education through high school, as well as access to computer labs, English language instruction and art, film and photography classes."

To complete the project, Hope House needs to raise the remaining $690,000 of its $1.2 million goal--and that's where you can help, by joining others from all over the world in hosting or attending a screening of Born into Brothels at a House Party for Hope. All proceeds from the house parties will go directly to Hope House's Capital Campaign.

Says Ross Kauffman, co-director and producer of Born into Brothels: "I hope all of the film's fans and our past supporters will join us in this unprecedented effort to raise the completion funds to build Hope House. It was a dream of ours as we made the film to have a place for these children to learn and grow. The dream is close to becoming a reality. There is no better way for anyone that watches the film and falls in love with these kids, just as we did, to make a difference in their future."

To learn more about hosting or attending a House Party for Hope, please visit http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/. For more information on Hope House, visit http://www.kids-with-cameras.org/school.

11 Photos from My Travels

I have spent a good deal of August trekking around the Philippines getting away from the crowded streets, smoggy air, and noise pollution of Manila to bathe in energizing springs, greet powerful mountains, and devour (organic) food grown a few yards away from the kitchen.

Here is what I saw:
























A month and a half left in the Philippines.

How time flies...

Glimpses of the Past Month

Photos from my work & travels in the Philippines...

It's been a while since my last post.

The past few weeks I've been sucked into a whirlwind of activities that have just now died down long enough to post new content before I get swept back up.

Once again my work and personal interests have taken me to disparate regions of this archipelago. Whether hanging out in the province with relatives, snapping photos of girlie bar culture for my upcoming website on trafficking, recording music in a high rise home studio for my album on trafficking, or attending workshops on social enterprise in rebel-infested rural areas, each day brings a new surprise and a new lesson.

Let's begin:


Jeepneys decked out in garrish colors and designs blaring loud music are an inseparable part of the Manila landscape.


70 students + 1 teacher + 1/2 a classroom + tropical heat + 1 fan = high school in the Philippines. And yes, the students in front are literally touching the front wall.


High school marching band in Capiz


Piles of beef, pig, and goat are chopped and prepped for a massive feast in the countryside


Hostesses, or guest relation officers, entertain customers with conversation and sometimes more at bars across the country.


Standing up for worker's rights at a GABRIELA event


Hip hop meets human trafficking- in the studio working on my album


Making the (trafficking) documentary- cameras draw crowds


Hoop dreams Philippines style


Music festival in Malate, Manila


Camiguin- hot & cold springs, hidden waterfalls, volcanoes, and lush jungles.


White Island, a spotless sandbar surrounded by crystal blue waters 15 minutes from Camiguin.


Monument to Andrés Bonifacio and the Katipunan (or KKK)- Philippine revolutionaries who fought for independence against Spain.


Staff from social enterprise NGO Unlad Kabayan gather in Iligan to discuss community development in the Philippines.

Big article coming late next week, smaller articles before then...

20,127 Words

The man, the martyr



B-boy stance



Aeta hut: 100% organic & biodegradeable, not FDA approved



Election time must be upon us



Last night a DJ saved my life



Beautiful Boracay



Quiapo, Manila



Madapdap cerebral palsy clinic for children



Tranquility one hour away from the hustle and grind of Manila



Human commodities



Fire on the beach



Ballroom dancing= old women dressed to the nines + young gay dance instructors



Aeta land illegally fenced-off and settled by nuns



Aetas, University of the Philippines econ students, NGO workers, and me



Mission accomplished



If you look carefully you might come across this flier



Filipinas pay $6 an hour to massage pale foreign legs... wait...



My uncle is a dog breeder



Corona's got nothing on this



Hip-Hop Tagalog


Wish you were here...