There is still so much human trafficking happening around the world, that it is absolutely incredible that people know so little about it.

Sex Tourism is when tourists, mostly men, engage in sex-trafficking by purposely traveling to known sex destinations (usually under-developed and poor nations), seeking anonymity in pornography or prostitution, or engaging in pederasty with young children and homosexuality with young and older adults. Many of these victims were either sold into the trade or kidnapped and forced into sex-slavery (this is called human-trafficking).

I would like to draw your attention to the following South African website, STOP.

According to STOP, “People are mainly trafficked and enslaved as sex workers but also as forced labourers, child brides and as soldiers. This is fact. Of the 600-800’000 people smuggled over international borders annually, 75% are used for sex trafficking.”

Keep your eyes and ears open, folks, and if you find out that someone has been kidnapped and is being used for human-trafficking, or hear rumours that someone is involved as a trafficker, or has been forced into sex-slavery or prostitution, please report it to the relevant authorities.

This following Animated Information Video was created by Firestorm Production for STOP Human Trafficking’s 2010 Human Traffic campaign. All performers are pupils of Jan van Riebeeck Primary School in Cape Town, South Africa. Please watch it!

Kids on Human Trafficking in SA

Posted under Everything Else

We’ve had merchandise available online for quite some time but the prices, including S/H, were pretty prohibitive. Fortunately we found a new provider that lets us sell shirts at much lower rates.

A regular T-Shirt will now sell for $12.99 plus $5 S/H. That’s a full $11 less than with our former provider.

We have many different styles including 100% cotton tees, vnecks, sleeveless, ringers, baseball and cap sleeve shirts for both men and women. Shirts are available with our Ubuntu Now and South Africa Project logos, as well as with our tag clouds.

The new online store also has full customization options–want a different shirt color? Want the logo in a different place? Design however you like.

This is the time to spread the word and let your friends know about the store. At these rates even we can afford to shop

Posted under Everything Else

We are proud to announce long-established household cleaning brand Carbona as our first corporate sponsor.

As part of their “Carbona Cares” program, Carbona has donated $10,000 to Ubuntu Now. The funds will be used to sponsor both a full-time community mobilizer and a clinic help desk worker in South Africa over a 10 month period. Both professionals are employed by Ubuntu Now’s local sister organizations, the Sonke Gender Justice Network and Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Program (TVEP).

Carbona’s name is closely tied to the campaign in a sincere effort to address some of the most pressing issues in South Africa, with the goal of launching a number of similar partner programs that provide value to both Carbona’s sponsors and, most importantly, Ubuntu Now’s objectives.

First, “Carbona Cares” will sponsor a Sonke Gender Justice Network staff member to promote and implement their One Man Can campaign. The sponsored community mobilizer will work to:

•    Educate men to stand against violence against women, both personally and within their own community

•    Increase men’s understanding and support of gender equality

•    Mobilize the public, private and non-government organization (NGO) sectors to encourage men’s greater involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support activities.

In addition, the community mobilizer will conduct weekly workshops to further promote these goals.

Second, videos will also be filmed by a “Carbona Cares” sponsored help desk advisor at TVEP. They will conduct monthly interviews covering topics such as sexual assaults, HIV, access to justice and use of female condoms.  The help desk advisor will be talking to rape victims, program directors and clinic help desk advisors in rural South Africa.

Watch this blog and/or our Facebook fan page for updates directly from the community mobilizers!

The digital cameras that will be used for this project were generously provided by Eastman Kodak.

Posted under Everything Else

We’ve recently launched a “Wall of Supporters” on the website for our 2010 FIFA World Cup-centric initiative, South Africa Project.

A minimum of ten dollars buys you a spot on the wall. In exchange for your donation, your personal avatar is posted and provides some visibility for your online presence including a searchable URL. Via use of rollovers, other wall viewers are able to access your customizable profile, personal website, Facebook page,Twitter feed, etc.

One of the reasons Ubuntu Now launched South Africa Project is our conviction that in addition to enjoying the World Cup,  fans and non-fans alike should use this time of celebration to make a contribution and show their support for the people of South Africa– after all, it would be a travesty to gloss over the country’s issues at this crucial time.

Even the minimum $10 donation to the South Africa Project goes a long way. A $70 contribution provides a community with a rape prevention education and promotion kit, $400 can put a community mobilizer to work, and $1,000 sponsors a comprehensive community workshop on the subject. More information can be found at the website for One Man Can, the initiative spearheaded by sister organization in South Africa, Sonke Gender Justice. Read More…

Posted under 2010 World Cup, Everything Else

The rulers in Iran made one big mistake during the Islamic Revolution. They cut down women’s rights. But they figured that if women cover themselves up they could be allowed into Universities. And so they went. And they got very educated. The rate of educated women climbed from 30% to 70% over the last 30 years.

Yes they still walk around all covered up but there was something brewing underneath all these chadors and head scarfs. And the rulers missed out on that.

The women of Teheran have shown tremendous courage over the last weeks. They were not afraid to take a beating.

Neda Iran was of course the woman whose tragic fate propelled the women standing up into the world headlines. They know that what is happening in this country is not right.

This should serve as a lesson to other countries that still discriminate against women. No matter what your reasoning polical, religious or cultural.

Yes the demonstrations in Iran are about the past elections. But they have turned into something much bigger by now. These women stand up for their rights.

Bottom line: Many of these women are fearless heros. Some of them are dead now or imprisoned. They are still all winners in my book. I hope many other women from around the world will follow suit. This doesn’t always have to be on the level of trying to overturn a government. But gathering and speaking up does make a difference: To the outside world but even more so to yourself. It is very empowering and can chnge someone’s life forever.

How about that famous quote of Victor Frankl: ” Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. ”

Related articles by Zemanta

• Facebook Turns Iran’s Neda into a Martyr (usnews.com)
• Iranian authorities try to silence Neda’s voice (inquisitr.com)
• A graveside tribute to Neda (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Video: Neda Iran, one life lost for a greater cause (inquisitr.com)

Posted under Everything Else, Gender equality

The South African government announced today that it will not issue a visa for the Dalai Lama to attend a peace conference meant to deal with Xenophobia and overall violence in hindsight of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

As a result Desmond Tutu and F.W. de Klerk have already pulled out. The move is seen as a way to avoid conflict with the Chinese government even though South Africa denies it. Why else would you not let the Dalai Lama in.

Other countries have been way more diplomatic in their way to deal with the Tibet problem.

The South African government seem to be fairly dependent from trade with China. The peace conference is doomed to fail as a result. Maybe it is better hosted somewhere else.

The signal sent is that non-violence and peace might not seem to be top priorities. The government will give in to threats by powerful forces. That could have implications in South Africa’s efforts to present itself as a safe place for visitors to attend the World Cup.

Keep in mind that China is not the biggest force in World Soccer. No matter how big their efforts. China has maybe won this battle. On the pitch in 2010 they’ll be a non-factor.

Banning the Dalai Lama from a peace conference feels a little like banner a soccer ball from the game.

Posted under 2010 World Cup, Everything Else

Twenty-three years ago this week, Swedish Prime Minister and longtime leader of the Social Democrats, Olof Palme, was buried at the Adolf Fredriks cemetery in Stockholm, Sweden. As one of the most prominent champions for the abolition of apartheid, Palme had been murded two weeks earlier in front of a Stockholm cinema after viewing a late-night showing with his wife. Although police eventually detained a suspect, Christer Pettersson, and charged him with the the prime minister’s murder, he was later acquitted due to a lack of evidence. When Pettersson died in 2004, most leads into the investigation died along with him. The case is, however, still open.

Palme’s last official speech, given one week before his death, was given to a Swedish group dedicated to the abolition of apartheid. Having begun his political career with South Africa at heart — he collected proceeds from fellow students’ blood donations and put the money towards anti-apartheid efforts — Palme had built much of his international career as a proponent of equal-rights campaigns. Palme demanded that the Nordic countries become accountable for joining together and putting pressure on South Africa to abolish apartheid. The policies Palme proposed became implemented in the Swedish government and in various manners within other Nordic countries. Read More…

Posted under Everything Else

Though this isn’t specifically about South Africa, it’s a great example of how smart organizations are tapping into the extraordinary popularity of soccer and soccer players throughout the world: UN unites with European soccer stars to “red card” global hunger.

In a nutshell, the weekend of 20-22 March all games played in major football leagues throughout Europe will raise money to help the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) fund its TeleFood “micro-project” initiative.

“The money raised from the campaign will finance FAO TeleFood micro-projects designed to provide solutions to poor families and communities by giving them the know-how and means to produce their own food.”

Terrific cause and idea. Very fun. If you’re in England, Spain, Germany or Italy that week, do go to a game and help raise funds for the TeleFood project to help combat hunger, a problem faced by 1 billion people worldwide.

Posted under Everything Else

We can no longer afford indifference outside our borders.

The words of President Obama rocked the nation today. We have found ourselves at the point where our “collective failure” to make conscious decisions have led us to the current climate in our country. Not only has our economy collapsed, but the social system can no longer support the citizens of the most powerful and technologically advanced nation.

If there’s one thing today’s age of globalization has taught me is that we are all connected in our humanity.  Internet and social media platforms have allowed for global unity and despair. When the planes attacked the World Trade Center on 9/11, the world wept in sadness. When the NY stock market crashed, economies all over the globe felt the fall. And today as we inaugurated the first African American president, other nations felt the joy and pride in our hearts. Read More…

Posted under Everything Else

We have spend quite some time on screening many organizations doing great work on the ground in South Africa.

Today we are happy to announce a far reaching partnership with the South African organization Sonke Gender Justice. This is a milestone for Ubuntu Now / South Africa Project since we consider Sonke Gender Justice an excellent partner for our rape & HIV/AIDS prevention program. They have an amazing team and their programs, including One Man Can, are simply outstanding. Read More…

Posted under Everything Else, Meeting South Africa