NEWS

Some of you may have heard David Batstone,US  abolitionist and author of, 'Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade - and How We Can Fight It', speak when he was in Australia during Freedom Week in March.   As well as being the Keynote Speaker at the Liberating the Captives Conferences held in Melbourne and Sydney,   David and a number of other advocates spoke at a forum of almost 200 people convened in the main committee room, Parliament House, Canberra  on  March 27th .

The guests included Members of Parliament, representatives from various government departments and church leaders.  The new Minister For Justice and Customs, David Johnston, delivered a message of support from the Prime Minister and Bob McMullan, Shadow Minister For International Development Assistance, spoke on behalf of the ALP. Other speakers were -
Christopher Payne - Former Australian Federal Police officer and recognised authority on people smuggling issues,
Jennifer Burn of the Anti Slavery Project at the Faculty of Law – University of  Technology New South Wales,
Tim Costello CEO of World Vision Australia was M.C.

Speeches:
David Batstone
Christopher Payne
Jennifer Burn

Good Shepherd Social Justice Network arranged a 'Social Justice Lunch' on Friday 23rd March leading up to Freedom Day. All of those who attended heard about the issue of human trafficking and signed the Stop the Traffik Declaration. These have been onto a banner which hangs from the Good Shepherd building which is located in Victoria Street Richmond. This gives it exposure to all who drive and pass by in this very busy thoroughfare. The sign is also visible from the railway line so city bound commuters will also get the chance to view the messages on the banner. This is a great way to raise awareness within the broader community of the issues of human trafficking and the need to make a stand so that we can STOP THE TRAFFIK. Why don't you encourage your workplace to do the same?

The Salvos Soul West End church in Brisbane have now held two stalls in Brisbane's West End's Green Flea market to raise awareness on the issue of Human Trafficking The markets are held every Saturday and attract thousands of people who come into West End to buy vegetables, fruit and other items.

The Salvos have on display information about Stop the Traffik, Human Trafficking DVD continuously plays and people are encouraged to sign the Stop the Traffic declaration. Also on display is Paul Mergard's coffee table book 'Looking for Hope' which is raising funds for the fight against poverty and human trafficking. At the last markets several people were invited to put their hand in paint and then on the canvas as a symbolic sign of declaring that they want to Stop the Traffik. On Easter Saturday we will again have a stall at the markets and this time we will also have Helium Balloons with the Stop the Traffik Logo on it.

If you are in Brisbane and want to visit the markets, they are held in Davies Park in Brisbane's West End and go from 5am until 1 pm every Saturday.