Modern Slavery Essay

The Secret World of 27 Million People is an analysis of modern slavery, going back to the history of slavery and the economic and political context of the present time. Other than the fact that it really places slavery into a much larger context, the book also seems exhausting , with lots of statistical references and a broad analysis. Kevin Bales is a researcher who has devoted years to finding solutions to modern slavery. I feel that the audience of this book is the general public and those that want to learn more about slavery in the world today. The purpose of this text is to make readers more aware of what is going on and to give more information to people who are making an effort to put a stop to slavery. In order to put everything into context, the book starts with a chapter on the history of slavery, then moves into chapters that describe the different forms of modern slavery (including trafficking of women and children and child soldiers), as well as the of modern slavery on the economy, on the environment or the global health.It also contains important recommendations, in the last chapter, as to what potential solutions governments and non-governmental organizations can implement in order to combat modern-day slavery. It is a thoroughly researched book, and is something I would use to get as many details on this subject as possible. Bickerstaff, Linda. Modern-Day Slavery. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group Inc, 2010. Print. Modern-Day Slavery by Linda Bickerstaff does an great job in providing a basic introduction to modern slavery. The book uses simple terms to bring the reader in front of the terrible tragedy that millions of individuals go to. It references several central books on this topic, including several by Kevin Bales, which provides the opportunity to go through some of the ideas that these writers present in a compilation of facts. Modern-Day slavery is a book full of simple research, but it also provides several sources that someone who wants more in depth information can use. Bickerstaffs’ book is good initial research, for someone that may be unfamiliar with all the details to start the entire process of gathering information, structuring their work and providing the basis of the rest of the paper. It also provides a good number of other resources that can be used, including some of Kevin Bales’ books that have been mentioned. Kara, Siddharth. Sex trafficking: inside the business of modern slavery. New York: Columbia University Press, 2009. Print. Kielburger, Craig, and Marc Kielburger. â€Å"Obama challenges Americans to fight modern slavery.† Vancouver Sun 1 Oct. 2012: n. pag. http://Vancouversun.com. Web. 12 Jan. 2013. This news article refers to President Obama’s speech at the Clinton Global Initiative. It is an impressive news article because it clearly shows where the highest authority in the United States stands on the issue: President Obama clearly calls things by their true name, emphasizing and focusing in his speech on human trafficking and modern slavery. Kristof, Nicholas D.. â€Å"The Face of Modern Slavery.† New York Times 16 Nov. 2011: A3. nytimes.com. Web. 12 Jan. 2013. This article is about another form of modern slavery, sex trafficking. The article is important for this research because the story it tells is so vividly expressed that the reader really understands the horror of sex trafficking. The article tells the story of a young girl sold into a brothel in Cambodia when she was only six years old. The article also highlights one of the key causes of sex trafficking- demand. The only reason that sex trafficking exists and that situations like the one described in the article occur is that there are people buying these services. Combating demand is a key instrument in fighting sex trafficking. The article also talks about the importance of nongovernmental organizations that offer shelters and assistance to victims after they escape slavery. â€Å"Polaris Project | Combating Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery.† Polaris Project | Combating Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2013. . The website of the Polaris Project is focused on trafficking in the United States. It is important because many of the other existing websites are much more focused on fighting global slavery and trafficking while this one focuses on our own country. Although there is not one specific author, the organization as a whole has relevant information of modern slavery. Poorer and developing countries seem more subjected to such phenomena and the idea that this actually exists even in the US shows that modern slavery is not necessarily particular only to a certain category of countries. The website has several informative resources, including an interactive map that allows access to local information and resources. â€Å"antislavery.com: The Leading Anti Slavery Site on the Net.† antislavery.com: The Leading Anti Slavery Site on the Net. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2013. . This website is the site of Anti-Slavery International, a non-governmental Organization (NGO), that fights modern slavery at an international level. The website is useful from two perspectives. On one hand, it is a great informational resource for everybody interested in the subject. It does not limit itself to a particular category, it looks at everything from bondage labor to child labor, to forced labor and trafficking. On the other hand, by showing what the organization does, it also looks at some of the instruments that are employed in fighting modern slavery. Public outreach, for example, and partnerships, including with the business community, are excellent tools.