Moral Values Flourish as Amazing Grace Film Debut Coincides with Bicentennial of the Abolition of Human Trafficking

Pasadena, CA (PRWeb) February 27, 2007 -- This month marks the 200th anniversary of laws that disallow human trafficking. In conjunction with this bicentennial the film Amazing Grace, based on the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce, is slated to open in theaters nationwide on February 23, 2007. The film highlights moral values in society and focuses on how Wilberforce who, as a member of Parliament, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire.

Although slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire in 1833-34, and in the United States in 1865, and today no national government officially allows the ownership of another human being, the practice is still widespread throughout most of the world.

In a compelling Vision.org article that touches on ethics and current events, contributor Bill Butler raises the question - why, if two hundred years ago Briton and the United States outlawed human trafficking, are there more than 800,000 to 900,000 victims trafficked globally each year? According to the government 17,500 to 18,500 are trafficked into the United States. Women and children comprise the largest group of victims.

The article is part of a special report running on www.vision.org this week that analyzes the current social issues surrounding the global human trafficking problem. The report features interviews with several experts on modern slavery and human trafficking as well as victims of the scourge. Butler interview one such victim, Beatrice Fernando, originally from Sri Lanka but now living in the United States. The 23-year-old woman was taken as a slave from her home to Lebanon, where her life became so unbearable that she leapt for freedom from a fourth-story Beirut balcony. Her long road of escape and return to a normal role in society was not an easy one. However she counts herself one of the lucky ones, because she understands that the vast majority is not so fortunate to escape.

"When the average person hears the term slavery, he or she probably thinks of an era long gone, yet the shocking truth is that the slave trade is alive and well, said Butler. "An estimated 27 million struggle in slavelike conditions."

President of Washington, D.C.-based Free the Slaves Kevin Bales is also a professor of sociology at Roehampton University in London, and considered the world's leading expert on contemporary slavery. His book Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy has become a recognized manual on the subject.

In his interview about the causes of modern slavery with Butler, Bales offers his thoughts, as he has dedicated himself to combat what he refers to as "the terrible frozen face of ignorance and icy apathy of the public to the lot of an estimated 27 million slaves in the world."

Butler identifies several organizations that are working on solutions to human trafficking. Compassionate, decent-minded people everywhere must stand behind those organized efforts to defeat this type of evil, but it will take more than human endeavor and government legislation to change the hearts of those who selfishly inflict so much suffering on the poor, the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.

The problem is a deep-seated spiritual one that has plagued human nature from the beginning of time and remains a current social issue problem. "Humans have always exploited other humans," according to Butler. "Human nature is part of the problem, but the way people view their responsibility to any and all other human beings is a spiritual matter."

###

Related Articles:

U.S. Gold Coins Out Perform Gold Bullion by As Much As 3-1.
Wholesale rare coin prices show collectors that purchased numismatic gold coins have received a return far in excess of their bullion content, but rarity is the key for investors.

What Can The Gold Coin Dealers Do For You?
Among all the links that form the chain of coin collection, gold coin dealers are the most important link. They buy coins from different sources and sell them to collectors or investors. A collector who wants to dispose off his collection to safe hands can also approach a gold coin dealer. These are the professionals in the sector of coin collection. They do it to make a living and the level of expertise gained by gold coin dealers can only be termed magnanimous.

Coin Operated Amusement Equipment Financing
Coin operated amusement equipment can be quite costly, especially in the casino and video game industries The owners of such sophisticated equipment generate high revenues, but incur high costs at the same time

Two Sides Of The California Mortgage Coin
Sunny California skies and beautiful homes - what a nice picture! But behind the idyllic scenery is a slew of houses in the thousands hard hit by the housing slump. You may be one of those losing their homes, or one of those who lost their jobs with California mortgage companies. So what gives? Is there still hope?

Coin Collecting: How To Make The Grade
Coin collection is not synonymous with possessing as many coins as possible. What is important is the quality of the coins rather than the quantity of them. The coin?s grade is the yardstick to measure its quality. You can measure the grade by using a scale ranged between 0 to 70 which is the highest point grade. This point scale was introduced by Doctor William Shelby in his work ?Penny Whimsy?. The classifications of coins according to grade are as follows:

The secret in every coin trick
Magic performers who prefer stage magic will find it more difficult to approach tricks with coins, because such tricks are specific for close-up magic circumstances. However, nowadays, with a camera to record the trick, magic performers can try, with serious practice prior to the show, such tricks even when performing stage magic. The point is that a coin trick will find its most advantageous method in close-up magic circumstances precisely because of the size of the props used. The well-known fact is that stage magic uses larger props, because they need to reach the sight of rather large audiences. In any case, beginners may approach coin magic only after they have practiced a lot and it is still easier to perform than tricks made in front...

Cleaning coins ? Should you do it?
Allow me to guide through the aspects of Cleaning Coins.

Buy Old Hammered Coins Online
When it comes to buying old hammered coins, the internet is awash with opportunities for experienced buyers looking to make a very specific purchase and first time buyers that have a certain level of uncertainty about exactly what they are looking for. With the evolution of e-commerce it is now possible to find, buy and receive old hammered coins from the comfort of your own home.

Basic Coin Collecting Strategy
Collecting coins is a longer term goal, however, the happiness of pursuit is always more important than the rapid completion of a set of coins The inherent enjoyment is always found in the process of collecting, and fulfillment is found in its completion

Coin Collecting Supply Company "Wizard Coin Supply" Launches New Website
New site will provide a comprehensive catalog of coin collecting supplies and educational resources for coin collectors.

Share your Passion for Hammered Coins
Old hammered coins have great historic value and are enjoyed by many people around the world. From the UK to China, there are people who appreciate the cultural insight that they offer and have a collection of their own. Although hammered coin collecting is popular, it is far from mainstream which means that collectors are often unable to discuss their collection with family and friends to the extent that they would like to. That is why many hammered coin collectors can often benefit from meeting like minded people.

New Site Offers Links for Buying or Selling Gold and Collectible Coins
Coin collectors and speculators will find more than a dozen quality links to dealers, traders and supply companies at the new www.x-rarecoins.com. The site cuts through the search engine clutter to provide visitors a select group of retailers and other vendors who specialize in gold and silver bullion, currency, proof sets and platinum.

Wizard Coin Supply Partners with Seneca Mill Press to Distribute Coinage Books
Wizard Coin Supply and Seneca Mill Press LLC proudly announce the appointment of Wizard Coin Supply as the exclusive distributor for the Renaissance of American Coinage books by Roger W. Burdette.

The Other Side of the Coin
Authorities arrested David Parker, father of a 6-year-old, for protesting the latest attempt by Gay Agenda activists to indoctrinate public school children that Gay is good and Gay is ok.Parker didn't want his kid to hear this propaganda and the school knew this.

GoldWhy.com Site Launch: Gold Coins, Bullion, Investments and Jewelry
GoldWhy.com is the newest site on the Internet devoted to all aspects of gold including gold coins, bullion, investments, mining companies and jewelry. While there already exist specialty sites focusing on one aspect of the gold experience, Gold Why is the first site to focus on every aspect of gold in one convenient place. Including gold articles, pictures, and price quotes, Gold Why's mission is to provide highly valuable free information to everyone interested in learning about gold, including both novices and seasoned gold bugs.