We are an energetic and committed group of Young Adult Professionals (YAPS ) organized by 5 Stones Church hosting Documentary Nights at the Heritage Grill – Connecting people around social justice issues in a fun, casual manner. Connect with us on Facebook: (5 Stones Documentary Nights) To find out more about our church, visit our website at http://www.fivestoneschurch.org
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Event: {un·orphan’d} : the film night
Time: Sunday November 27 at 5pm
Location: The Heritage Grill
447 Columbia Street New Westminster, BC
In Africa, millions die each year of AIDS. Most leave children behind.
They can redefine their reality. We can help.
In celebration of World AIDS Day, 5S Doc Nights, in collaboration with HOPE International Development Agency, presents {un·orphan’d} : the film night on November 27, 2011. Journey with us to Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa, where an estimated 1 in 5 adults are HIV-positive. The impact on children is staggering – more than 2 million children have been left behind as orphans and many find themselves caught in the same entangling cycle of poverty, the sex trade, and AIDS that took their parents from them. But there is hope. Travel with Lindsey, a UBC student, as she meets the orphans and sex workers whose lives, hopes, dreams, and opportunities are changing – with your help.
Join us for this opportunity to give and walk alongside an orphaned child as they redefine what their future holds.
HOPE International Development Agency’s {un·orphan’d} campaign will run through World AIDS Day on December 1, 2011 until the end of December. For more information, please visit www.hope-international.com.
Do you think it is possible to produce zero waste in an entire year?
On September 25th, we are featuring a local documentary: The Clean Bin Project. The film is about a regular couple and their quest to answer the question “is it possible to live completely waste free?” Jen and Grant go head to head in a competition to see who can swear off consumerism and produce the least amount of garbage in an entire year. Their light-hearted rivalry is set against a darker examination of the sobering problem of waste in North America. Even as they garner interest in their project and find themselves becoming unintentional zero-waste spokespeople, Jen and Grant struggle to find meaning in their seemingly minuscule impact on our “throw-away” society. Featuring interviews with renowned artist, Chris Jordan and marine pollution expert, Captain Charles Moore, The Clean Bin Project presents the serious topic of waste reduction with optimism, humour, and inspiration for individual action.
Date: Sunday, September 25th
Time: 6:00pm
Location: The Heritage Grill - 447 Columbia Street.
RSVP on our facebook event.
Be a Man Against Human Trafficking
This in not an issue for women to fight alone. We as men are the primary cause of this injustice, and we must be the ones to end it. As long as there are men demanding commercial sex, there will be sex trafficking. It is time to realize that it is not a man’s right to buy sex from helpless women with no say in the matter. It is time to show women that there are some good men in the world, men who can be trusted, men who will fight to end the evil they have allowed to spread. Don’t pay for sex or go to places where commercial sex acts take place, either in Canada or when travelling abroad, and discourage your friends from doing so if you’re invited to go along to such places. Explain your concerns, and challenge them to grow up and take up the fight alongside you.
1. Confront the belief that prostitution is a “victimless crime”
Viewing prostitution as a victimless crime or something that women “choose” allows men to ignore the fact that the average age of entry into prostitution in the U.S. and Canada is 12 to 14 and that the vast majority of women engaged in prostitution would like to get out but feel trapped. Men need to stop viewing prostitution as a victimless crime and acknowledge the tremendous harm and suffering their participation in prostitution causes.
2. Stop patronizing strip clubs
When men think of human trafficking, they often think of brothels in countries outside of the U.S. However, strip clubs in Canada may be a place where human trafficking victims go unnoticed or unidentified. Men rarely consider whether women working in strip clubs are coerced into that line of work, because to do so would conflict with the pleasure of participating in commercialized sex venues. Men can combat human trafficking by no longer patronizing strip clubs and by encouraging their friends and co-workers to do the same.
3. Don’t consume pornography
Pornography is the “gateway” to other illicit forms of sexual activity and plays a crucial role in the proliferation of human trafficking. Pornography has the power to manipulate male sexuality, popularize unhealthy attitudes towards sex and sexuality and eroticize violence against women. Pornography leads men and boys to believe that certain sexual acts are normal, when in fact they are non-consensual, offensive and result in the pain, suffering and humiliation of women and children. The unrealistic sexual acts portrayed in pornography encourage sex trafficking, pedophilia, dehumanization and objectification of women as well as a disregard for their rights as humans. If we ever hope to end the sex trade and change men’s attitudes about women and sex we must go to the primary root causes, especially pornography.
4. End sex tourism
Men in Canada, the U.S. and other “first world” nations routinely travel overseas and have sex with women in developing countries. When men engage in these practices, they do not acknowledge the fact that many trafficked women and children come from developing countries—even in countries where prostitution is “legal.” Traveling overseas grants men a great deal of anonymity. As men, we have a responsibility to confront the men that go overseas and participate in sex tourism.
5. Raise sons and mentor boys to challenge oppression
Some say chivalry is dead. I don’t believe it’s quite there, but it is definitely on its way. As men (and women) we must reverse this trend and raise our sons to respect women and teach them that true masculinity does not come from our strength, it comes from the proper use of our strength. No boy is destined to be a “john,” a pimp, or a human trafficker. Raising young men in circles of accountability to be respectful and protective of all women and children is one of the most important things men can do to stop human trafficking. It will take men standing up and using their strength for good in order to end human trafficking, I think we’re ready. Talk about human trafficking as a modern form of slavery to help convince men and boys to become allies in the fight to end this form of oppression.
6. Make a commitment
Commit to do something. Commit to be a man against human trafficking. Commit to not let this travesty continue. Commit to stand up when your friends want to go to the strip club. Commit to fight for what you believe is right, even though it might cost you. We are given strength not to make us safe, but to make us brave: bravely use your strength to end slavery and exploitation around the world. What is important is that you commit to something and see it through, for we all have our part to play. In the words of William Wilberforce, who lead the charge to end the trans-Atlantic slave trade, “find some ignorance to instruct, some wrong to redress, some want to supply, some misery to alleviate.”
Report It
Be aware of the warning signs of human trafficking in your community, at work, and when travelling. Report suspicious activity to your local police, or Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
