And I think it's because we get a warm fuzzy feeling about Raju (especially since right now he's safe) but we're just so utterly horrified about human trafficking. And, even more importantly, I think we just feel so completely helpless in the face of SO MUCH cruelty and heartbreak and misery: it's human nature to focus on something we can fix rather than on something it would take the world working together to eliminate. (Maybe like global warming... we're so f-ed, almost irretrievably, that I suspect that's why people just don't like thinking about it.) I'm not saying that's a valid reason for giving Raju more attention than trafficking, but I think that's part of the reason. If there were a single child we could save, he or she would get the same attention. I think and hope so, anyway.

But yeah. I agree with you 100%.

know animals are not on equal level so they feel the need to protect them.

in india i think i probably liked the stray dogs more than the people. this is probably true in the US also and anywhere else also.

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

They have a free DVD and resources you can get and pass out:

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/anti-trafficking

They have posters/cards/etc you can order free. As I have noted elsewhere I used to do a radio show and that is picking back up this fall and have spoken with a media rep there (NHTRC) to set up an interview. Their 'Look beneath the surface' campaign is worth taking a look at.

I am also in touch with local radio personalities and am hoping to fire up some awareness of the issue that way (outside my own program) but that takes time (which I understand, there are a slew of things to be covered, election season, college football - which is huge here, etc). Part of media is knowing when to hit up what for maximum impact.

There is no 'wrong' time to bring up issues, so don't be discouraged when things you bring up don't get much in the way of views/replies. I am woefully ignorant on the issues in India, but not because I don't care but because I only have so many hours in a day to keep up on things. And western mainstream media is a joke on just about everything.

Thanks for the post and I will bookmark this and work it into my show (which should be in early October and be weekly from there on out till the end of the year).

I've noticed it even here on DU. If you post a funny cartoon or a graphic, a lot of people will recommend the post. But if you're talking about hard subjects like racism, discrimination against women, people living in poverty, people still living in slavery - it's hard to get your posts recommended. Those posts get a lot of views, but they don't get recommended.

In real life polls I've withheld my vote from parcel taxes I didn't think a huge priority: when I withhold my vote, and the measure doesn't get passed, that's me, as a voter, sending a message.

When a few hundred people view, yet refrain from recommending a post about slavery...yet can't up-vote a post about in-house bickering fast enough, it really makes me wonder.

I would like to point out a simple idea of what means to be a Democrat:

A Democrat is someone who builds civilization by enabling the citizens who will uphold the Democracy.

Thanks for the thread, Recursion.

I love elephants, but it is so true that far too few pay attention to those children's lives. People have no idea how many people live in slavery today, more than at any point in human history.

I just get sad from the differing response rates in the western media.

Because you live in the country - you are able to be our eyes. And I agree with all you've written. I've not given money for Raju - didn't know this case was even going on. . . But you make excellent posts.

My personal "pet" project has become Chimpanzee/Primate rescue/retirement homes in the US. But my rule is for ever dollar I donate - I give two to the food bank or non profit shelters.

(Google "the monkeys still control the cabana" if you aren't familiar...)

That said, I'm not trying to come down on animal charities (I give to them too). I'm just sad how hard it is to get trafficking in persons any attention.

And the question/thought is fair.

I'm a person that will always put human beings first when I have the choice. I'll google that!

We are actively pursuing purchasing land in Costa Rica and building a "tiny house" in the tree house vein - for the purpose of drawing monkeys to our property. We've both shaken hands with a monkey and gotten "lovey eyes" -

They are very very cute and amusing - they are also very very very naughty!

I think the elephant story provided an entry point for activism that people could access immediately.

Are there resources we can help and share here about human trafficing in India?

Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
http://www.ungift.org/

International Labour Organization
Forced labour, human trafficking and slavery
http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/lang--en/index.htm

U.S. Department of State
Trafficking in Persons Report
http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/

Tracking anti-trafficking bills in Congress:
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/subjects/human_trafficking/6210

Safe Horizon
Anti-Trafficking Program
moving victims of violence from crisis to confidence
http://www.safehorizon.org/page/anti-trafficking-program--60.html?gclid=CIbiyZLEx8ACFWho7AodjFMAOQ

It's a heavy burden, but I guess it's our to bear, eh, Recursion?

in this case. In human trafficking, as you even say, it's complex and there are no easy and quick fixes.

And you're right -- people can be angry about many things at once. I don't rank suffering. If there is something I can do to lift the suffering of ONE being, I will do it. Maybe that doesn't seem like a enough to you, but if enough people do it enough times, it will make a difference. This case is raising awareness. If no suffering and cruelty is accepted, it is good for us all and that is what we are hopefully moving towards.

I just don't like this argument and have heard it way too many times: Why worry about this when THIS is happening??? And it usually comes up when people are doing something for animals. Why not worry about it all? We need to. We HAVE to. As I said before, if we fight injustice in all it's forms, it moves us towards ending ALL injustice.

whose nude selfies have been hacked into.