Thursday, 22 July 2010

Richmond Fights Slave Trading

http://www2.richmond.com/

via Khmer NZ

By Andrew Cothern

Richmond.com

Published: July 21, 2010

There are 27 million slaves in the world today - more slaves than ever before in human history.

The Richmond Justice Initiative, an organization dedicated to ending human trafficking internationally as well as here in Richmond, wants everyone to know this and are bringing the critically-acclaimed documentary “Call and Response” to the Byrd Theatre.

“Call and Response” goes undercover where slavery is thriving from places Cambodia to rural India to reveal the horror of slave trading.

The documentary features interviews with many political and cultural figures including Dr. Cornel West, Madeleine Albright, Daryl Hannah, Julia Ormond and Ashley Judd, who offer their first hand accounts of this issue.

It also features musical performances from artists including Moby, Natasha Bedingfield, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Imogen Heap, Five For Fighting, Switchfoot and more.

Sara Pomeroy, founder of the Richmond Justice Initiative, chose the movie because it shed a great deal of light on an otherwise unknown crime happening in the world.

And according to RJI, it happens a lot closer to home as well.

“99 percent of people coming to this movie are thinking this only happens in India and Cambodia,” she said. “They will walk out knowing this is happening in their own backyard and they will want to do something about it.”

The screening of “Call and Response” will take place this Thursday, July 22 at 7 p.m.

Janet Polarek, the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Va., and Chrysta Hayden from the International Justice Mission will be guests at the event.

RJI will also be holding a Q&A session at Double T's Restaurant (across the street from the Byrd) after the movie for people who want to learn more about the organization and how they can get involved.

Pomeroy hopes that by seeing this film, people will be moved to join the movement to help end human trafficking.

“You don’t have to be a cop or a lawyer,” she said. “You can use the gifts that you have to make a difference like the musicians in the movie did.”

Watch the trailer for “Call and Response” below.

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