Photo courtesy of Run For the Rescue
Sometimes you have to do something dramatic to bring attention to an overlooked issue.
In 2008, singer-songerwriter Eric Proffitt was invited by the United Nations to perform at the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking Conference. Though Proffitt had long used his music as a way to communicate messages that informed and inspired his listeners, Proffitt’s experience at the conference left him feeling as if music might not be enough.
“I have never seen a problem so large, of which so few people are aware,” Proffitt said about global slavery. While at the conference, Proffitt learned that more than 27 million children around the world are enslaved as diamond, cacao, and sex workers; as the father of five children himself, he was determined to do something more than sing about the problem.
“I have never seen a problem so large, of which so few people are aware.”
Most people wouldn’t do something as drastic as Proffitt has done: he and his wife sold their house and decided to start an educational awareness campaign called Run For the Rescue. But that’s not all: it’s what that awareness campaign entails that makes Proffitt convinced he’ll be able to make thousands–if not millions–of people more aware of the problem of global slavery and inspire them to do something about it.
On August 1 (Why August 1? Emancipation Day in the States) Proffitt started a 500 mile run– in chains. He anticipates the total run will take 42 days.
The goals, Proffitt states on his website, are two fold:
1) Raise $1 for each of the 27 million people living in slavery. This money will be used by non-profit organizations to rescue and rehabilitate girls like Theresa and to find and prosecute the perpetrators of human trafficking.
2) Create a global tipping point for the fight against modern day slavery.
The run started in Washington, D.C. and will continue in parts of the U.S. before Proffitt tackles the second leg, which will be in the U.K.
You can learn more about the run on Proffitt’s website, where you can also follow the journey as he blogs about it. Donations are being accepted through the website and if he’s running through your area– well, step outside and show him your support!
Community Connection:
Learn more about global slavery in this article from our archives: 10 Shocking Facts About Global Slavery in 2008.
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5 Comments... join the discussion!
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Sarah- I agree with you completely. Fortunately, Proffitt seems to be entirely conscious of the fact that the ultimate goal is to really help educate the public, rather than just take their dollar and donate it to organizations that are involved in direct interventions.
If you click around his websites and his YouTube channel, you’ll find information about the very issues you mentioned. And he is trying to generate as much press coverage as possible so he can talk about how we can be more responsible consumers, not buying diamonds, cacao, or other products that are harvested by the hands of children (or other exploited people, for that matter).
I think he’s on to something, though. Amidst the thousands of other issues–all of which are important–sometimes you’ve got to do something crazy just to call attention to the issue. Many people simply don’t know that human slavery still exists. And if they don’t know it exists, then they can’t do anything about it. Like all other social problems, basic awareness is the first step toward change; the really hard work comes next!
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Hey Julie,
I spent some time exploring the sites and totally agree with you. Hopefully this will get people thinking about the connections between what they buy and drink and wear and the exploitation that goes into making them.
Thanks for bringing attention to this!
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Wow. I doff my cap. Nice work Julie…
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Wow you are studying in San Juan’s Centro de Estudios Avanzados de PR y el Caribe! I lived all my life various streets from there! I moved recently to Spain. I find it very interesting people interested in Puerto Rican and Caribbean culture, specially globe-trotters. Great post (and very inspiring!) like always.
Greetings from a Puerto Rican happy traveler!↵
