Not For Sale.

Book Review

Batstone, David. Not For Sale. The return of the global slave trade – and how we can fight it. Harper One 2007.
D.B. - professor of ethics at the University of San Francisco. Appears regularly in USA Today’s Weekend Edition as “America’s ethics guru”.

Comment. Henry
Slavery (the abuse of a fellow human) has been a part of human history forever. This book addresses current, global slavery in its various forms. Child slavery seems to be the worst because of their innocence. A very enlightening and disturbing read.

This resource focuses on slave trade that involves slave labor, sex trade and children being conscripted as soldiers against their will. No country is exempt from some form of this kind of slavery. The revenues generated from slavery rank third after drug trafficking and arms trafficking. Laws against such slavery have not eliminated the practice. Children are especially vulnerable, e.g. a 2004 UN study is entitled ‘Ten Million Children Exploited for Domestic Labor’. They are invisible in their communities. And yet they are not invisible. Poverty and social inequality are the pool from which slaves are drawn. Thankfully there are many abolitionists and abolitionist agencies that are working effectively to address this huge problem. They are motivated by faith in God and/or dedication to love and justice. “There are times to read history, and there are times to make history.” (18)

The sexual slavery of Cambodia and Thailand are discussed. An inferior status of women in the culture of these countries contributes to the prevalence of this problem. Although sexual tourism is a large part of the problem, the acceptance of sexual slavery by local people in business and entertainment is the major contributor. The problem is also condoned because of spiritual (religious) bondage.

In 1997 Gary Haugen founded the agency International Justice Mission which functions as an abolitionist agency. He discovered that “oppressors use violence to commit injustice and to discourage potential rescuers from coming to the aid of the victims”. (84) Slave redemption, through monetary purchases, is not a valid approach to the problem. It contributes to the problem by creating instant income for the slave traders. Part of rescuing slaves must involve providing effective after care (rehabilitation) in a safe environment. This can become a very difficult process

The story of slavery as represented by the child soldiers of Uganda is heart wrenching. Forcing children to become murderers is mind boggling. The organization World Vision operates a rehabilitation camp to help ‘rescued’ children from their military slavery.

The sex-syndicate of Europe is discussed. It stretches across several countries. The fall of communism actually made it easier for this organization to function. Regina Pacis under the leadership of Padre Cesare is an organization that helps girls escape from their slavery in the syndicate.

The “lost children of Peru” (189) is another topic that represents thousands of children in slavery. “Generacion” (202) is working to address this problem.

Rescuing children from slavery in the U.S. is described as “building a new underground railway”. (225) When these ‘slaves’ come from other countries they are often prosecuted as illegal aliens (criminals) rather than defended as victims. Abolitionists are working to have legislation passed to protect ‘victims’. “Good things happen once people learn the warning signs of slavery and feel confident to take actions.” (267)
In conclusion, the author makes a number of observations about how the slave trade could actually be stopped. A ten page list of organizations is given that are working to curb slavery.