Not For Sale

Not For Sale

Adult nonfiction
"More than 30 million slaves live in our world today. Girls and
boys, women and men of all ages are forced to toil in the rug-loom
sheds of Nepal, sell their bodies in the brothels of Rome, break rocks
in the quaries of Pakistan, fight wars in the jungles of Africa, and
sew clothes in the garment factories of California.
Go behind the facade in any major town or city in the world
today, and you're likely to find a thriving commerce in human beings.
You may even find slavery in your own backyard."
David Batstone, author of Not For Sale, found slavery in his own
backyard. He and his wife were regulars at an Indian restaurant in
San Francisco. Then a 17-year-old died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The same person owned the apartment complex where she died and a bunch
of businesses including the restaurant. He smuggled adults and
children from India, working them long hours, claiming their wages as
rent, and threatening to report them if they tried to escape.
Batstone, professor of business and social responsibility at the
University of San Francisco and cofounder and president of the Not For
Sale campaign, takes readers all over the world, sharing heartbreaking
stories. The world of child soldiers, for example, is horrifying.
Torn from their families and villages, they are forced to commit acts
of violence such as killing their parents that will make them pariahs
in their tribes. Rape, brutality, and starvation become their new
reality.
Batstone intersperses this content with stories of people who
take incredible risks to rescue slaves, often incurring the wrath of
international gangsters who fond human trafficking very profitable.
In Peru the government decided to "cleanse" Lima of street kids who
began to disappear or be found dead. Lucy Borja was directing an HIV/
AIDS prevention program. One night she invited two terrified boys to
sleep in its office and bring friends. Returning from a party, she
found kids sleeping wall to wall and smaller ones in cupboards. At a
stage in life where people who can afford to are often at least
contemplating retiring she changed her agency and life path to
rescuing children from powerful people in government as well as
traffickers.
Of course most of us can't make this our life's work. But
Batstone believes that the movement has room for all of us. His
explanation of the many ways in which we can get involved is, in my
mind, the most hopeful aspect of the book.
On a personal note, I am sitting near my lovely decorated tree wrapped
in peace, serenity, and joy. I wrapped up the shopping yesterday.
(Even snagged myself 6 shirts--including 2 cat ones--up to Goodwill
cheap.) I cleaned this morning. I am no Susie Homemaker. My heart
is full of joy.
A great big shout out goes out to you, my readers. May you have a
joyous Christmas!
jules hathaway



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