WHAT: Raymond Gitau, a Fair Trade coffee co-op manager from Kenya, will stop in Houston, TX on April 25, 2012 during a 12 day tour with Fair Trade Towns USA. Fair Trade Houston and Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition will host an evening presentation and short film to welcome Mr. Gitau and hear from him about [...]
Trip to Origin: A Week in the Dominican Republic
By: Kendra Penry April 16, 2012 Ever since its inception, the idea of Fair Trade has faced criticism. Critics have claimed that it does not really benefit the poorest people and only creates more poverty for the smallest farmers who need help the most. Others say that it does not really work, and it is [...]
Ending Slavery One Step at a Time
When: Saturday, May 5th, at 6:30pm Where: Rice Temple Baptist Church – 6409 Greenbriar, Houston, TX 77030 What: Special guest Dr. Tomi Grover from Traffickstop, followed by a Sweet Notions Jewelry Boutique and Dessert Reception. Houston Rescue and Restore will be present along with several pieces from our art exhibit as well as Fair Trade [...]
Financiers and Sex Trafficking
Posted in National News, News Room
By: Nicholas D. Kristof The New York Times March 31, 2012 Backpage.com seems to be the biggest forum for domestic minor sex trafficking. The website is owned by Village Voice Media, and the ultimate owners include private equity financiers, including Goldman Sachs. According to AIM Group, a trade organization, Backpage.com has 70 percent of the [...]
Sex Trafficking at Truck Stops
Posted in News Room
By: Sarah Headrick April 5, 2012 It’s been a long day on the road. He’s been driving since before the sun rose, only stopping to fill up with gas and stretch his legs from time to time. Driving around the country for work has kept him away from home for weeks now and he’s feeling [...]
The Human Costs of Apple’s iPhone
Posted in National News, News Room
By: Charles Duhigg and David Barboza January 25, 2012 The New York Times In the past decade, Apple has risen to the top of the business world, becoming one of the mightiest, richest, and most successful companies worldwide. This success, however, comes at a cost – a human cost. Workers in Chinese factories who manufacture Apple [...]
Human Trafficking Becomes a Critical Issue in Texas
Posted in News Room, Texas News
By: Enrique Rangel LubbockOnline March 28, 2012 On March 29, 2012, Corpus Christi will host a statewide summit on human trafficking. Although Texas has made significant progress in the prosecution of human trafficking, much more is needed, particularly involving the public. Texas Legislature panels do not often hold public hearings throughout the state. The fact [...]
Estonia Makes Human Trafficking Illegal
Posted in News Room
By: Jari Tanner Associated Press March 21, 2012 Estonia’s Parliament has passed legislation banning human trafficking, making them the last EU country to enact such laws. The bill is expected to become law in the coming weeks through approval by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. The measure makes human trafficking punishable by a maximum prison sentence [...]
GOP, Dems Join to Fight Human Trafficking by Contractors in Iraq, Afghanistan
Posted in National News, News Room
By: Pete Kasperowicz TheHill.com March 27, 2012 A bipartisan group of members from the House and Senate has proposed legislation that seeks to crack down on human trafficking by contractors hired by the US military for work in Iraq and Afghanistan. The End Trafficking in Government Contracting Act is a reaction to reports from the [...]
Houston Sex Trafficker Accused of Threatening Witnesses
By: John Perera Fox 26 March 22, 2012 Andre McDaniels, a sex trafficking suspect in Houston, TX, has now been accused of bullying, threatening, and even attempting to bribe both witnesses and law officials in his case. McDaniels is one of six people accused of trafficking children for sex and forcing adults into prostitution. McDaniels [...]