In the Booth with Ruth - Interview Questions
How did you become involved in the movement against human trafficking?
I am a survivor of incest, child rape, child labor and child prostitution, as well as extreme child abuse. I was also born and raised in a Mafia family. I grew up in the United States. America like every other country is a great country, and like every other country also has citizens that suffer greatly at the whims of others thus having their rights violated.
After a 41 year history with this and sharing my story with the public for the past 26 years, I am thankful people are listening and the awareness is greater than ever before but honestly, as ungrateful as this may seem, the terms “Human Trafficking” and the other terms that have become politically correct irk me to know end. I have said it for many years and will continue to say it. “Abuse is Abuse”. Every one can relate to abuse. But Human Trafficking sounds so exotic it is easier to picture it in a far away tropical local than in our own back yard. And to say it is “Modern Day Slavery” implies that slavery ended in America when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation when in fact slavery only changed into a new format. It may seem that I am clouding up issues but in reality, Human Rights abuses take on many forms and affect every and all generations. The fact that the abuses I endured and so many others are still enduring has a fancy catch name that sparks attention lends me to ask: "Are we so brain washed by marketing that we have become jaded to caring for a person in need unless their need is given a name?" and "Now that Human Trafficking is the new buzz word and people are spreading the buzz word around really what practical impact is that going to have upon the children and their families to come?"
Slavery and Human Exploitation started when the first person realized they could manipulate someone’s misfortune for their own selfish gain. Human Exploitation will exist until the one of the last two persons dies or unless the world has a change of heart.
What draws you to support and advocate for people enslaved by traffickers?
I wish I could give you a noble answer. I am still a person crying out to be heard and helped. Basically I am in constant search for answers to my own personal questions and solutions to my own family’s issues. This brings me before many people who are also looking to do the same. We help each other. And when I have the opportunity to speak to the public, I am speaking for myself, my family and for my fellow victim survivors and survivor activists and their families. We are all in a constant state of healing. That includes our children. My children a few years ago brought it to my attention that since they were born that "My" story became "Their" story. My one son stated eloquently that child abuse is a holocaust upon the generations and the other stated that human exploitation is the scourge of all humanity. Was interesting to see that same sentiment stated in an article last week three years after my sons admonished me with their statements.
What does your work involve?
In the early days going back twenty-six years ago, I shared my story in schools, churches, events, TV, radio and in written format. Later, I found myself helping people out of abusive relationships, and prostitution and even to leave organized crime. Then after a time, I came to network with organizations to develop community programs that helped promote community safety. These programs would decrease the potency of the atmosphere that allowed for prostitution, drugs and even domestic violence to thrive.
For the past fifteen years currently, I have been advising organizations, NGOs and governments. I also stay in contact with victim -survivor and survivor-activists and their families listening to their needs and searching for solutions. Lately, the most intense work is spending time with homeless women in Skid Row and hearing their stories, getting to know them, helping to meet needs, helping case workers see through the eyes of their clients who have been victimized. Domestic abuse, sex abuse, human trafficking/exploitation have such a direct connection with homelessness. Malnutrition runs rampant also. Once Upon An Eden works to address these needs.
What legal improvements or changes would help to abolish human trafficking?
Well for starters the people who make the laws could actually follow them and hold THEMSELVES accountable to the laws they write. Local officials and education programs could make known access available to their citizens of their local, state and federal laws. Pardoning victims for the crimes committed under duress and or in self defense would be great. We are all breathlessly waiting the release of Sarah Kruzan. How many more people are in her shoes? I would like to see rape charged with the same intensity as murder, personally. Gender neutral laws coordinating family law, rape/domestic violence laws and immigration laws need to be designed to address some of the complexities associated with such issues happening today. Trade agreements need to be read and understood by activists. Organized crime hides behind the trade agreements. Again, this links back to law makers. There are too many back door deals that take place under minding the anti-human exploitation laws being written and efforts and safety of advocates. Policies of the UN and EU and other global agencies also need to be examined for their promotion of atmosphere that permits violation of Human Rights by independent agencies outside of the UN and EU. Accountability and reform or abolition need to be expected as per outcome of the examination.
For anyone else who wants to be involved, what can other people do to help?
Studying about abuse is a great help. But one cannot stop there. Awareness with out action is Apathy and Apathy kills. The actions do not have to be elaborate. Get to know one’s neighbors. Be involved in the neighborhood watch. Have block parties. Be more attentive to your child’s words, listen to their hearts and minds. Never stop seeing the world through the eyes of your child. Let your children influence you for the better. Share your heart and mind with your child. More eating around the table, more game night, more family fun nights, more dates with your significant other. Put the electronics away once in a while (hopefully more often). Use and encourage creativity and arts in your household. Shop locally more often. Avoid chain stores when possible. Understand we are the human family, not a bunch of races or nationalities. Please stop being shocked and surprised by reports of sex abuse. Please stop being in denial and coming to the side of religious leaders when accusations of sex abuse are made. Hold the institution and the person accused accountable if found guilty. Please do get to know and try to understand the issues that survivors face. Please do support organizations that strive to make the communities safer such as http://www.TinyStars.org (a non-government agency dedicated to working with US Federal Law Enforcement gathering evidence to prosecute extrememe human rights abusers) by joining their Bucket Brigade teams. Please recognize that boys and men are also abused. Please recognize there is a real against innocence, safety and well being.
What are your plans for the future?
An internet radio program is about to be launched in March. Once Upon an Eden has partnered with Majestic Dreams Foundation to shoot a documentary which should be done by June. OUAE is in the process of designing training videos about human rights abuses, organized crime, and the needs of survivors and their families. We have partnered with anti-poaching groups in South Africa to come against human exploitation. We have also partnered with Leaderspeak to form a program for homeless Veterans which ultimately our goal is to form an army of men who will help fight human rights abuses. We have some gardening –community design projects that we are looking forward to implementing. And my auto-biography will be published this year. OUAE has also pulled together teams to address issues that survivors face. We are hoping to design laws that address these issues. Currently these issues are isolated and become "morals platforms" that pundits campaign on. We are hoping to help the public see how these issues interlink and affect their loved ones. This is exciting for us because the teams comprise organizations and individuals “out side” of the “human trafficking” community. Most exciting is the fact that many are men's groups. OUAE has also been asked by a men's group comprised of male lawyers and judges from India to help design programs for the men of India in response to the riots that took place recently.
Recommended websites/further reading: (these can be your own links or links you would like to recommend)
Once Upon An Eden –www.onceuponaneden.org
Facebook.com/onceuponaneden2
onceuponaneden@groups.facebook.com
How did you become involved in the movement against human trafficking?
I am a survivor of incest, child rape, child labor and child prostitution, as well as extreme child abuse. I was also born and raised in a Mafia family. I grew up in the United States. America like every other country is a great country, and like every other country also has citizens that suffer greatly at the whims of others thus having their rights violated.
After a 41 year history with this and sharing my story with the public for the past 26 years, I am thankful people are listening and the awareness is greater than ever before but honestly, as ungrateful as this may seem, the terms “Human Trafficking” and the other terms that have become politically correct irk me to know end. I have said it for many years and will continue to say it. “Abuse is Abuse”. Every one can relate to abuse. But Human Trafficking sounds so exotic it is easier to picture it in a far away tropical local than in our own back yard. And to say it is “Modern Day Slavery” implies that slavery ended in America when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation when in fact slavery only changed into a new format. It may seem that I am clouding up issues but in reality, Human Rights abuses take on many forms and affect every and all generations. The fact that the abuses I endured and so many others are still enduring has a fancy catch name that sparks attention lends me to ask: "Are we so brain washed by marketing that we have become jaded to caring for a person in need unless their need is given a name?" and "Now that Human Trafficking is the new buzz word and people are spreading the buzz word around really what practical impact is that going to have upon the children and their families to come?"
Slavery and Human Exploitation started when the first person realized they could manipulate someone’s misfortune for their own selfish gain. Human Exploitation will exist until the one of the last two persons dies or unless the world has a change of heart.
What draws you to support and advocate for people enslaved by traffickers?
I wish I could give you a noble answer. I am still a person crying out to be heard and helped. Basically I am in constant search for answers to my own personal questions and solutions to my own family’s issues. This brings me before many people who are also looking to do the same. We help each other. And when I have the opportunity to speak to the public, I am speaking for myself, my family and for my fellow victim survivors and survivor activists and their families. We are all in a constant state of healing. That includes our children. My children a few years ago brought it to my attention that since they were born that "My" story became "Their" story. My one son stated eloquently that child abuse is a holocaust upon the generations and the other stated that human exploitation is the scourge of all humanity. Was interesting to see that same sentiment stated in an article last week three years after my sons admonished me with their statements.
What does your work involve?
In the early days going back twenty-six years ago, I shared my story in schools, churches, events, TV, radio and in written format. Later, I found myself helping people out of abusive relationships, and prostitution and even to leave organized crime. Then after a time, I came to network with organizations to develop community programs that helped promote community safety. These programs would decrease the potency of the atmosphere that allowed for prostitution, drugs and even domestic violence to thrive.
For the past fifteen years currently, I have been advising organizations, NGOs and governments. I also stay in contact with victim -survivor and survivor-activists and their families listening to their needs and searching for solutions. Lately, the most intense work is spending time with homeless women in Skid Row and hearing their stories, getting to know them, helping to meet needs, helping case workers see through the eyes of their clients who have been victimized. Domestic abuse, sex abuse, human trafficking/exploitation have such a direct connection with homelessness. Malnutrition runs rampant also. Once Upon An Eden works to address these needs.
What legal improvements or changes would help to abolish human trafficking?
Well for starters the people who make the laws could actually follow them and hold THEMSELVES accountable to the laws they write. Local officials and education programs could make known access available to their citizens of their local, state and federal laws. Pardoning victims for the crimes committed under duress and or in self defense would be great. We are all breathlessly waiting the release of Sarah Kruzan. How many more people are in her shoes? I would like to see rape charged with the same intensity as murder, personally. Gender neutral laws coordinating family law, rape/domestic violence laws and immigration laws need to be designed to address some of the complexities associated with such issues happening today. Trade agreements need to be read and understood by activists. Organized crime hides behind the trade agreements. Again, this links back to law makers. There are too many back door deals that take place under minding the anti-human exploitation laws being written and efforts and safety of advocates. Policies of the UN and EU and other global agencies also need to be examined for their promotion of atmosphere that permits violation of Human Rights by independent agencies outside of the UN and EU. Accountability and reform or abolition need to be expected as per outcome of the examination.
For anyone else who wants to be involved, what can other people do to help?
Studying about abuse is a great help. But one cannot stop there. Awareness with out action is Apathy and Apathy kills. The actions do not have to be elaborate. Get to know one’s neighbors. Be involved in the neighborhood watch. Have block parties. Be more attentive to your child’s words, listen to their hearts and minds. Never stop seeing the world through the eyes of your child. Let your children influence you for the better. Share your heart and mind with your child. More eating around the table, more game night, more family fun nights, more dates with your significant other. Put the electronics away once in a while (hopefully more often). Use and encourage creativity and arts in your household. Shop locally more often. Avoid chain stores when possible. Understand we are the human family, not a bunch of races or nationalities. Please stop being shocked and surprised by reports of sex abuse. Please stop being in denial and coming to the side of religious leaders when accusations of sex abuse are made. Hold the institution and the person accused accountable if found guilty. Please do get to know and try to understand the issues that survivors face. Please do support organizations that strive to make the communities safer such as http://www.TinyStars.org (a non-government agency dedicated to working with US Federal Law Enforcement gathering evidence to prosecute extrememe human rights abusers) by joining their Bucket Brigade teams. Please recognize that boys and men are also abused. Please recognize there is a real against innocence, safety and well being.
What are your plans for the future?
An internet radio program is about to be launched in March. Once Upon an Eden has partnered with Majestic Dreams Foundation to shoot a documentary which should be done by June. OUAE is in the process of designing training videos about human rights abuses, organized crime, and the needs of survivors and their families. We have partnered with anti-poaching groups in South Africa to come against human exploitation. We have also partnered with Leaderspeak to form a program for homeless Veterans which ultimately our goal is to form an army of men who will help fight human rights abuses. We have some gardening –community design projects that we are looking forward to implementing. And my auto-biography will be published this year. OUAE has also pulled together teams to address issues that survivors face. We are hoping to design laws that address these issues. Currently these issues are isolated and become "morals platforms" that pundits campaign on. We are hoping to help the public see how these issues interlink and affect their loved ones. This is exciting for us because the teams comprise organizations and individuals “out side” of the “human trafficking” community. Most exciting is the fact that many are men's groups. OUAE has also been asked by a men's group comprised of male lawyers and judges from India to help design programs for the men of India in response to the riots that took place recently.
Recommended websites/further reading: (these can be your own links or links you would like to recommend)
Once Upon An Eden –www.onceuponaneden.org
Facebook.com/onceuponaneden2
onceuponaneden@groups.facebook.com
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