GUEST SPEAKER : Rob MacArthur – RAGAS -Rotary Action Group Against Slavery
Past Pres Dave Andrews introduced Rob MacArthur. Rob is a classic entrepreneur, always looking for new technology, products, and services, that will help people. His professional background has included working in the Manufacturing, Healthcare, Municipal Government, Hospitality, Retail, and Health and Wellness industries. His roles have included the areas of management, finance, information technology, communications, marketing, and media. He has worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Currently, he is media, technology and management consultant, as well as working in the mortgage and music industries. His work centres around helping people and organizations with his expertise.
His real passion is helping. Currently, he is the Past President of the Rotary Club of Ajax.
Founder of RAGAS in Canada – Rotary Action Group Against Slavery
Rob is the father of six children, and the grandfather of nine. He and his lovely wife Lorraine also entertain as a band , duet, DJ's, and Karaoke Hosts. Their band (called Two Drunk to Fish) has performed at fairs, festivals, and Ribfest's throughout Ontario. Their duet has entertained across Ontario and Florida. Always looking for his next challenge, Rob has the Enthusiasm of Youth Combined with the Wisdom of Age!
Rob first played a very powerful video that was shown at the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta in June 2017.
In Canada, RAGAS Coordinator Rob MacArthur welcomes you to ‘local’ news, events, and opportunities to help end slavery here and abroad. To assist that we have a Canada focused FaceBook group … do join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/RAGASCanada/
THE REAL IMPACT OF SLAVERY - A FEW REFLECTIONS BY MARK LITTLE (FOUNDER OF RAGAS)
Definition of slavery….I am often asked for a definition of a slave. Quite simply, it is someone who is forced to work without pay, who is unable to leave and who is controlled by violence or the merely threat of violence. For these people their free will is taken away. Their labour, their lives and their minds are being consumed by someone else’s greed. But there is another dimension to slavery which is often forgotten.
It eliminates identity…..My visits to Child Slave Rehabilitation Centres in India, Nepal and Thailand these last 16 years have made me realise that one of the great crimes of slavery is that it goes beyond “servitude”. It goes to the point of eliminating the identity of the individual and the younger someone is taken into slavery the less likely they are able to repossess their own identity. In effect they become like zombies. That is what I mean when I say slavery eliminates the identity of the individual. This is the essential ingredient of modern day slavery, ie the total control of one person by another for the purpose of economic exploitation.
Liberation is not enough….For the countless numbers of children and adults who are rescued from their factory prisons, fields, homes, quarries, restaurants etc, liberation is not enough. In Europe or in the United States, a child kidnapped and held in captivity for a number of years would automatically be given counselling. It would be assumed that the child or adult would need help for years to come. The trauma of slavery is just as bad and the need for rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community, is just as important.
The need for rehabilitation ….Children (and the same applies for adults) when rescued are usually broken in body, mind and spirit and if taken directly back to their homes, would undoubtedly remain traumatised and withdrawn for the rest of their lives. They therefore need to go through a physical, mental and spiritual rehabilitation process. For the lucky few, this process is undertaken wherever there is a place available at a Safe House, Rehabilitation Centre or Trafficking Shelter. Sadly, there are not enough of these in the developing countries I have visited.
The Rehabilitation process…At some of the Rehabilitation Centres I have visited in India, the rescued children are re-educated a) to believe that they are worthwhile, not worthless, b) to learn to love themselves again and c) to play and mix with other children. Also because the majority of these children are from the lowest caste (the dalits) and are illiterate, they are taught to read and to write and to acquire trade skills such as welding, weaving, electronics, screen printing, tailoring, bicycle repairs, sewing etc. Acquiring these skills will enable them to more easily reintegrate back into their own villages.
Rob's message:
It takes two to 6 years to deprogram a victim.
Here is a brochure that helps tell the story: http://ragas.online/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/RAGAS-leaflet-Aug2016.pdf
Here is the link to their excellent website: http://ragas.online/
45 million people are in slavery today. One in 4 slaves are children. It is possible to bring an end to modern day slavery (alos called human trafficing) and join with Rotarians around the world through RAGAS. Rob joined at the Atmanta Convention as did 3 other Canadians.
The average age in Canada is 14. In the UK and Australia, there are laws to stop modern day slavery. 58% of the slavery is in 5 countries: India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan. When chlidren are enslaved, they never come back home. Recently 100 UN peacekeepers ran a slavery ring in Haiti while supposedly helping with the floodding. They have not been punished.
70% of the slavery in Canada is in Ontario and 86% of that is in the GT.Only 30% of those charge with trafficing in Canada go to jail. Not accurate figures available in Canada – jurisdictions call it different things. Statscan says about 6,500 are slaves. 50% of the slaves are between the ages of 18 and 24. Every hotel in Durham Region has the slave trade of human trafficing.
We can spread the word as Rotarians.
We can get to know what to look for.
Spot it to stop it - How to spot a trafficked victim
Signs of modern slavery can be difficult to detect, with victims remaining hidden for years. But you can be aware of the situations below.
Physical appearance….victims may show signs of physical or psychological abuse, look malnourished or unkempt or appear withdrawn.
Isolation….Victims may rarely be allowed to travel on their own, seem under the control or influenced by others, rarely interact or appear unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work.
Poor living conditions…Victims may be living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation, and/or living and working at the same address.
Few or no personal effects….Victims may have no identification documents, have few personal possessions and always wear the same clothes – day in, day out. What clothes they do wear may not be suitable for their work.
Restricted freedom of movement…Victims have little opportunity to move freely and may have had their travel documents such as passports, retained.
Unusual travel times…They may be regularly dropped off/collected for work very early in the morning or very late at night. Reluctant to seek help…Victims may avoid eye contact, appear frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers and fear law enforcers for many reasons, such as not knowing whom to trust or where to get help, fear of deportation or fear of violence to them or their family.
The mindset of a trafficked victim - Why doesn't a trafficking victim just leave?
Traffickers teach victims to distrust outsiders, especially law enforcement officers.
Foreign victims are afraid of the government and police because they believe they will be deported (whether they are in a country legally or not).
Victims often feel it's their own fault that they have been trafficked.
They develop loyalty to their captor as a coping or survival skill. Sometimes they even protect them from authorities.
Even if they are being raped for profit night after night, it may still be better than what they came from (unbelievable but true).
Victims, whether domestic or foreign, probably don't know their rights. Their captors have lied to them about their rights. They don't see themselves as victims or trafficked.
They don't have a cell phone, and their captors took away their ID, visas, and passport
They never heard of calling or even knowing the number of a helpline and they distrust police anyway.
Their captors may threaten their families, and say if they try to escape, their families will pay the price.
10 simple steps to help you on your way …
Step 1.Help build this Rotarian movement. Join RAGAS. Your Charter subscription works out at £10 ($15) a year. Two years in and that’s about the price slave masters pay to buy an enslaved soul at ‘Le Marche des Jeunes Gens’ on the Ivory Coast.
Step 2. Print off and promote our information leaflet (being updated)
Step 3. Spend a bit of time watching one of the many videos on the subject
Step 4. Recognise and buy only sustainable slave-free products
Step 5. Vow to, at least, achieve three of these simple ‘Things I can do”
Step 6. Spot it to STOP it – Recognise a victim in your neighbourhood
Step 7. Know your local Helpline number and promote it (Durham Regional Police)
Step 8. Don’t be challenged – Understand the different forms of slavery
Step 9. Don’t be shy – support relevant campaigns
Step 10. Develop, promote and support a practical project
Get the RAGAS Newsletters here.
Local organization: Safe Hope Durham
In Canada, there is no 1-800 line for victims or those who notice slavery to call.
This is more than a crime. It is a human rights issue. Call the police when you see the signs.
Rob was thanked by Dr. Kris Sachdeva
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, MAKE UP : Go online at www.rotary.org go to the Rotary Club Locator and find a club or clubs near your destination. Or you can add the free App Rotary Club Locator to your phone for instant look up of any club in the world. Please mail or fax your make-ups to Secretary Robbie Larocque, or give your make-up card to the attendance/registration officer at the next club meeting.