More than just hands….

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Have you seen this picture from the aftermath of the factory collapse in Bangladesh? Disclaimer, it’s disturbing, but I believe it’s something we all need to see. Here’s the photo description from Time’s website:

Many powerful photographs have been made in the aftermath of the devastating collapse of a garment factory on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. But one photo, by Bangladeshi photographer Taslima Akhter, has emerged as the most heart wrenching, capturing an entire country’s grief in a single image.

Shahidul Alam, Bangladeshi photographer, writer and founder of Pathshala, the South Asian Institute of Photography, said of the photo: “This image, while deeply disturbing, is also hauntingly beautiful. An embrace in death, its tenderness rises above the rubble to touch us where we are most vulnerable. By making it personal, it refuses to let go. This is a photograph that will torment us in our dreams. Quietly it tells us. Never again.”

Never.

Again.

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Photo Credit: CNN.com

Over 1,000 people lost their lives in this collapse. A few months prior, several hundred people were killed in a factory fire in Bangladesh. A couple weeks ago, 8 more people were killed in a fire in Bangladesh. Factory conditions are horrible in this country. Workers may bring home 30 dollars or less per month, well below the international poverty line. How does this concern you and I? Why should we care?

These beautiful lives were lost while making our clothes. These mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers are paid next to nothing because we demand cheap clothes. I believe that these wonderful people are more than just hands that make the clothes I wear everyday. The lives lost were more than just tools to help me look fashionable.

Were the factory owners at fault? Of course. Were the floor managers at fault? Absolutely. Are the American companies who continuously turn blind eyes and claim ‘ignorance’ in their supply chain to blame? Certainly. But I believe I am to blame as well. I have been greedy. I want more, more more! I haven’t always cared about where I bought my clothes. I have moments where I look in my closet and feel convicted about my excess. I promise to do something about it. But one trip to Gap or Target and my conviction goes out the window and a new item of clothing finds its place in my closet.

I’m not going to get into complicated economics, supply chain debates, or a discussion about whether or not ‘a little money is better than no money at all’. I want us to think about what we are saying with our purchases. It is not hopeless, we have a voice. Social change happens with collective action. If this haunts you like it haunts me, do a little research to see what ethical principles are in place in your favorite retailers. Check out a guide I helped develop, Purchase with Purpose. You can research just like we did with a little bit of time.

And, tell your favorite companies that you don’t want another factory tragedy in Bangladesh. We can demand that companies implement stricter practices. Right now, one of my favorite companies, Gap, has not decided whether or not they will sign a new safety accord to protect workers in Bangladesh. I’ve emailed Gap (custserv@gap.com), telling them that I am a loyal customer and would like for them to sign this agreement. If they refuse, I will likely take my business elsewhere. I believe they will listen, because they want our business. They may not listen to my one email, but if my one email is part of thousands, they will pay attention. You are not powerless, you have immense power with your purchases. Let’s join together to truly say: NEVER AGAIN.

Resources:

Free2Work

Purchase with Purpose

Fair Labor Association

Better World Shopper

Dangerous Generalizations

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Late Friday night (or was it early Saturday morning?) I posted a facebook status and twitter post in response to some things I had been seeing on social media pertaining to the horrible attack and manhunt in Boston

My fellow Christians: show compassion and love to your Muslim neighbors. They don’t condone the activities of this week any more than you condone Westboro Baptist ‘church’ protesting soldiers’ funerals. Let’s not label, let’s love each other.

It was a response from my heart, from my personal experiences and from my belief as a follower of Jesus that all people have value. I was beginning to see a variety of posts and articles of people using this tragedy for their own political soapbox. People were broadcasting their anti-immigration sentiments, their anti or pro gun control opinions, their disdain for the media, and their opinion on taxes. But what stood out to me more than anything else were the few posts I saw expressing disdain towards Muslims.

For most of us who do not adhere to the Islamic faith, our only exposure to the tenets of the religion come from Fox News, CNN, or other biased sources. Most of the Christians I know do not have friends who are Muslim. Many do not know how to engage in respectful dialogue with people of a different faith. It is human nature to spend time with people who are just like us, and to keep a ‘safe distance’ from people we don’t understand. Instead of listening, learning from each other, and treating each other with respect, we avoid interaction and stay in our safe zone.

It is easy in the face of a tragedy to look at the perpetrators and make generalizations. It is easy to then look at others that share the same nationality, citizenship status, or religion as the suspects with suspicion or judgement. My heart breaks when I see this expressed online, on TV, or in person. I’ve been watching the news coverage all week. My heart has been so sad for the victims’ families, the injured spectators who will never be the same, and everyone in Boston who feels angry or afraid. We have the right to be angry at what happened in Boston. We have a right to demand justice for the crimes committed. But we don’t have a right to look at other Muslims or refugees in our country and generalize them with the men who committed the terrorist act this past week.

I know many asylees and many Muslims who live in the United States. I consider them friends. Most are here because they escaped persecution or tragedy. Some came for an education. Others came for a new job opportunity. It is not fair to assume that my friends sympathize with acts of terrorism. It is not fair to persecute them or judge them without knowing them. Muslims should not have to be afraid to walk down the streets in our country now. Islamic extremism is a horrible sect of a religion in which most of it’s followers are peace loving people. They love their families and their country. They work hard to provide for their children. If you don’t believe that, please step back and assess if you have ever had a conversation with an immigrant in our country. If you haven’t and would like to, please let me know. I can introduce you to some amazing people in Atlanta who would love to meet you.

I am a Christian and I deeply love Jesus. But if I claim to love Jesus, I need to act how He acted. Jesus spent time with everyone. He spent time with social outcasts and people who were different from him. He shared His love with all people. I am trying to do the same.

Feel free to leave comments but anything deemed as hateful dialogue will be promptly deleted.

a faded ‘X’

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The ink may be fading, but that doesn't mean it's over.

The ink may be fading, but that doesn’t mean it’s over.

Yesterday was the End It Movement’s “Shine a Light on Slavery” day. Thousands of us around the country drew red X’s on our hands to tell the world we are in it to end it. It was very encouraging to see all the red X’s on hands, cars, and on social media. I’ve been fighting this fight for awhile now, and the increase in awareness even over the last few months is very heartening. My passion for the cause is in overdrive as I’ve seen so many friends increase their awareness and express their desire to change the world for those in captivity.

But now what?

You’ve got the red X, you are understanding the issue. Your heart feels heavy for the 27 million. It’s incredible that you raised your awareness and shared the info with your friends. But what are you going to do now? Is it over? What’s next? The x is probably starting to fade, it’s lines are blurred. Does your part end when the X disappears? Or is there something more?

This is where many of us stop with our activism. We learn, we share, we post, then we move on. I’ve done it myself on numerous occasions. I first learned about human trafficking six years ago. SIX years ago!  It took me several more years to really begin to make a change in my lifestyle. I gave lip service to the cause but didn’t serve nearly as much as I should have. It’s only been a couple years I’ve been more actively involved, and only a year since I dove in headfirst and have been really fighting for freedom.

I spend a good bit of time now talking to people who want to change the world, who want to make a difference. Many times I hear “Well, after I graduate”, or “I’m just so busy”, or “I don’t have the experience, education, networks, or skills or (insert reason)”. Sometimes the answer is “Well, I’m just a _______________, I can’t possibly have anything to contribute”

Well, wonderful readers, friends, fellow world changers, I’m here to tell you that you can make a difference. There are dozens of things you can do to fight for freedom. Your efforts to “End it” don’t have to stop with awareness. Here are a few ways you can get involved (disclaimer: most of these are Georgia based organizations)

1. Love to write? Send your elected officials emails, telling them that you care about human trafficking and that you hope they make it a priority the next session. Check out my post here on lobbying 101. Or you could write a blog about justice. Or, how about writing encouraging notes to women and girls in the Wellspring Living program for girls rescued from human trafficking? Check out the Write to Restore campaign here.

2. Have a few bucks? Most of us probably don’t feel like we have a lot of money, but a little bit goes a long way. Not for Sale right now is working to fully fund their program in Amsterdam. They use social enterprise as a way to help rescue women out of trafficking. Or, find a cause and donate a small amount to them. Every little bit counts.

3. Have a little bit of time? I’d love for you to join us at Not for Sale Georgia for our poster campaign. We go out every month, distributing posters to local businesses that list the national human trafficking hotline with Polaris Project. Or, you could work towards prevention. We need strong role models for children, especially children at risk. Teens today need to understand the risk of human trafficking, and they need to know they have value. Volunteer at a local shelter, school, or even Big Brothers Big Sisters. You could aid in prevention by being a friend to a child in need.

4. Love hanging out with people? My friends at Tapestri have many clients who just want to hang out with another person to practice their English. They want to learn English and job skills, they just need someone to help them practice. Or, sign up to work with Out of Darkness or Wellspring Living to spend time with the girls and women in their programs. My friend Kristi just posted a great blog about her day hanging out with a woman at Solomon House through Out of Darkness.

5. Love hosting people? One of my favorite platforms for raising awareness is through a Swap Party. Invite your friends, have them bring their unwanted clothes to ‘swap’ with other attendees. Then, donate all leftover clothes to a Wellspring Treasures store in your area. You’ll be contributing to Wellspring’s programs. Or, have your friends over and screen a movie about Human Trafficking. There are dozens of options to choose from. Then, have a discussion about ways you and your friends can take action. If you want a speaker from a local organization, let me know! I’m happy to get you in touch with someone (and will even come myself if you’d like!)

6. Love a challenge? My friends at Out of Darkness have some of the most diverse opportunities to serve. Some roles involve participating in rescues and outreach to women who are potentially being trafficked. Check out their website, but if you want to get really involved they offer some incredible ways to serve. Out of Darkness has great opportunities for both men and women too, which is awesome.

7. Like to shop? One simple way to change the world for trafficking victims is to change the way you shop. Check out how many slaves work for you through Slavery Footprint, then research your favorite companies to see what they are doing to end slavery in their supply chain. You can do this through Free2Work, or through the guide I contributed to, Purchase with Purpose. Also, if you enjoy couponing or finding deals, Wellspring Living, Out of Darkness, and Tapestri all usually have needs for hygiene products and other supplies for survivors. Check out their respective websites to see if you could help with that.

So your X is fading, the social media hype is dying down, and people may start moving on to the next thing. Don’t be discouraged or defeated, the work is still there. You can change the world, just take that next step. And if you need more encouragement, email me at emilylaney85(at)gmail(dot)com. I’d love to chat more and help you get connected.

A faded X doesn’t mean it’s over, it’s just beginning.

Battling it out

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Photo credit: snow0810 (creative commons)

Photo credit: snow0810 (creative commons)

Have you ever gotten in a fight? Fist fight, fight with words, cold war with the silent treatment? I think you would have to be living under a rock if you could honestly tell me you’ve never experienced any sort of conflict. It’s part of the human condition. We don’t always get along. We are people- conflict is just part of the story. And sometimes conflict results in growth and positive changes. Sometimes you have to be refined in the fire in order to really be transformed.

Sometimes our conflicts are with people, and sometimes our conflicts are with life itself. Maybe the struggle came from an interpersonal issue, or maybe it’s just from life circumstances that have resulted in a situation that is less than ideal. Maybe I’m not making sense, but essentially the question is this: have you ever felt like you were battling life? No matter what you do, the overall circumstances just feel like a fight? You’re in the ring, you have the boxing gloves on, and you are trying to ward off the circumstances, doubt, and struggle that seems to be attacking you from all sides.

I’ll be the first to say that I’ve led a very blessed life, and my periods of trial have been minimal compared to other people. I’ve always had food to eat, a place to sleep, and clothes to wear. My problems have always been ‘first world problems’. But there have still been periods of trial, periods of a battle, where I felt weary and tired from the struggles around me. Right now things are calm, but I’m staring at my boxing gloves, wondering if I’ll need to put them on soon. The lesson that God taught me this time last year is still fresh in my mind, but the enemy and my overall circumstances are trying to make me forget God’s faithfulness. In my mind I’m touching the gloves that symbolize that battle, wondering what is going to happen in three weeks, six weeks, three months. Will God come through again? Will it all work out? Or will I have to put the gloves on and enter the ring once again?

But as I touch the gloves, wondering if they still fit and if it’s going to happen again, a verse comes to mind.

The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still. – Exodus 14:14.

Wait what? God will fight for me? Seems too good to be true. Isn’t there a verse that says “God helps those who help themselves?” I need to fight for myself! (actually, there isn’t, just wanted to throw that in there because I know we’ve all thought that before or had a well intentioned friend/relative/boss/acquaintance tell us that)

The Lord will fight for me. I know that. He’s done it before. He’s won many huge battles for me and my family over the years. Things have happened that I can only attribute to God’s incredible ability to fight for me. He loves us, and he’s there.

So, if you’re like me, staring at those boxing gloves, walk away. Or better yet, hand them to God. If you’re in the ring, struggling to make it through the fight, step out of the ring and let God take your place. He wants to fight for us, we only need to be still. Rest in that today. I know I’m trying to.

Goals- March

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Well, another month has come and gone, so it’s time for another update on this year’s goals. Here’s a recap:

1. Run a Half Marathon  I started back on a routine towards the end of March, and started to be more consistent in running. Brent and I have also instituted a system to hold ourselves accountable. We exercise three days a week. If either of us misses a day, we have to put a dollar from our spending money into a jar to go towards debt. We’ve started this for April, so I think it’ll help.

Photo Credit: ky_olson (Creative Commons)

Photo Credit: ky_olson (Creative Commons)

2. Innovation as a professional every month – This month marked the kick-off of a blog I’m having my students contribute to in one of my classes. It’s been going pretty strong and the class seems to be enjoying it. We had our first ‘comment’ this week, which sparked a great discussion and an extra credit assignment! Check it out: beyondthelineksu.wordpress.com

3. Read 24 books: This goal is going really well! I read “Rescuing Hope” by Susan Norris, and “Interrupted” by Jen Hatmaker this month. They were both really good! I also started “Safely Home” by Randy Alcorn, but didn’t finish it until April. I’m hoping to get at least three books read this month to get ahead on this goal.

4. Get Biscuit certified as a therapy dog Still putting this off for budgeting purposes. However, I’ve started being a little more disciplined in Biscuit’s walking, making sure he stays by us and practices the skills he’ll need to pass the therapy dog test.

5. Encourage two people a month with a handwritten note Still not doing as good on this one as I would have liked. I did write one note this month. I’m committed to do better, I just need to sit down and DO it.

6. Write 60 blog posts Five posts were written this month, with no guest posts. So, I’m at 21 posts for the year, which is ahead of schedule. And, this month marked the first time I had a post that got over 100 hits in one day. In fact, it got over 200 in 24 hours. That doesn’t seem like a big deal to some, but it was exciting for me.

7. Get to know people who different from me This month I’ve been thinking about intentional neighboring as it relates to this goal. I’m trying to prioritize my time, and am realizing that God has placed people around us who we can spend time with. While this is not what I had in mind for this goal, I think it’s a start, especially for right now.

8. Enter into a mentoring relationship Still going great. I love being able to spend time with Cindy, she’s taught me a lot and our friendship is growing tremendously. I also have a another woman I’m going to meet with soon as well, and I’m cultivating other relationships with professional women in the field I’m in so I can learn from them.

9. Pay the car off We hit a milestone in March, our debt was lower than it’s ever been! We are working hard, and praying that God will come through this month in a big way vocationally for me so we can get the car paid off. He has a plan that’s best, so I’m trusting in Him for that.

10. Increase my political activity- first name basis with elected officials - March was a bit quieter, but I did some follow up emails with my elected officials and went down to the capitol for one last lobby day. I think it’s safe to say that my senator definitely knows who I am and my rep at least recognizes my name. I am also getting to know other elected officials who are involved in fighting human trafficking.

11. Publish a professional article (or at least write one)- Our paper has hit a lull this month, mostly due to the busyness of both me and my writing partner. Fortunately, there is still time and I hope to get more accomplished this month.

12. Memorize the book of Philippians - Most of Chapter one is memorized. I’m a bit behind and haven’t been devoting as much time to this one as I should, but I already have most of chapter two memorized so I should be able to get back on track soon.

13. Love my husband in a new way every month – I didn’t deliberately do something different to show Brent my love this month. Like the letters and memorization, I need to focus more attention on it. It’s a desire, it just needs to become a priority.

This month went by very quickly! I still need to work on my priorities and my consciousness for specific goals. One thing I’ve been thinking about to increase my productivity overall is to wake up earlier. I’m blessed at my job right now as I don’t have to get up super early. But there’s no excuse why I can’t get up at 6:30 or 7:00 am to run, read, and get other things done pertaining to my goals. To do that, I need to stop staying up to midnight doing things that aren’t that productive (ie: facebook, twitter, and pinterest). So essentially this month’s word is discipline. If I’m going to increase my productivity I need to be more disciplined.

So, if you aren’t a huge morning person but manage to get yourself up early, do you have any tips for me? Or morning people too, feel free to chime in if you have tips. Suggestions are welcome!