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Contrary to what we were taught in school slavery was not abolished in the 1800’s, it continues today. The victims are drug addicts, runaways, LGBTQ, indigenous, foster kids—they are often the vulnerable marginalized members of our society and they are also the girl next door. They are from all socio-economic and racial backgrounds. No one is immune. It can happen to anyone. And, it happens every day. The Pimp Playbook We live in a world where the sale of human beings is a billion dollar industry. In the current climate, technology has changed, as it’s known on the streets ‘The Game’ and made it even easier for traffickers to operate under the radar. They utilize the online world to recruit their victims and from the security of their home johns can peruse ads, anonymously book their dates and set up a meeting location using smartphone texting features, texting applications, private or instant messaging apps, or Voice Over IP (VoIP). Alongside social media the victims are hunted in shopping malls, coffee shops, movie theatres, libraries and at school. Yes, you read that correctly…at school. Not all victims are confined, there have been cases where young girls were picked up at school, pimped out and then dropped off at home. In Canada, the average age of a girl tricked into ‘The Game’ is 13 years old. In 2015, the Toronto Star interviewed a pimp who was waiting to appear before the court on trafficking charges. Matthew Deiaco explained his rationale behind the demand, “Sex is a part of life…why should anyone be getting in trouble. Some people don’t want a relationship. They just want to get what they want and go home—with no strings attached—no relationship, no feelings, no fighting.” And who are these ‘no strings attached’ customers? They’re men and sometimes women. They could be your neighbour. They’re doctors, lawyers, businessmen, police officers, labourers, drug dealers, college students, teachers, judges, accountants and soldiers. Deiaco also sheds some light on how traffickers recruit their victims. Traffickers are master manipulators who prey upon girls, “who are broken, and you just move to answer their call.” Traffickers find the girl’s crack be it insecurity, loneliness, drugs and they bust it open until they have total control of the girl’s mind, body and soul. All is done under “the illusion of love and security. You tell them what they want to hear.” The luring of a victim by these 'Romeo pimps' is a clearly defined strategy referred to as ‘grooming,’ in which the pimp gains their trust while isolating them from friends and family. The luring can happen quick--a victim can be hooked in 2-4 days. Targets are predominately female but males are also targeted. Please see below for a breakdown of its stages. Basic Stages of Grooming Adolescent Engagement ='s Prevention
Because traffickers primarily target adolescents it is crucial that parents and guardians are aware of their child’s social media activity and recognize potential flags. In December 2018, a national study* to gain a better understand about the attitudes and behaviours that put teen girls at greater risk for sex trafficking revealed, “talking to our daughters about sex trafficking can have a big impact on the decisions they make. 59% of girls said they have a friend who has done things online that were not safe. The more girls and their parents know about the risks, the better equipped they are to protect themselves,” said Julie Neubauer, Manager, Human Trafficking Services with Covenant House Toronto. Neubauer added, “Survivors we’ve worked with have told us they would have been more likely to seek help sooner if they had felt comfortable sharing their experiences with their parents without fear of judgement or punishment.” Police recommend that parents:
For your children... How to tell if your friend is being “gamed:”
Signs a young person, may be in trouble include;
Doesn’t it make you mad? It makes me mad. The next time you drive along the 400 Highway series, look at all the hotels and motels that line the corridor and you may assume that at one time a victim of human trafficking occupied one of the rooms in all of them. Let’s do something about this…
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While you are writing, there's a little force that can make an appearance and create havoc with your creative process. Do any of these statements sound familiar?
It's your filter. As soon as you hear it, you are faced with a choice: A.) you turn it off and continue with your work or, B.) you listen to it and alter your work. Well, I’m here to tell you…DON’T LISTEN because that darn filter is destructive. To help you ignore it, and choose Option A, here's a pep talk for anyone who is suffering from self-doubt (that lovely little by-product of your filter). The Pep TalkThe filter always worries about what other people will think. And who's kidding who, as creators we want people to not only like our work—we want them to LOVE it. But the reality is (if you can believe it?! 😊) not everyone is going to like what we do. Art, in any form is subjective and it is because of this, as an artist, we need to create for ourselves and the only way we can do this…is to turn off the filter and GO FOR IT! I’ll say it again. I’ll shout it from the mountain top DON’T WORRY about what people think. People are going to judge your work. People are going to have very definite opinions about your work…and yes, some (but not all) of these opinions will leave you reeling because it feels like someone ripped your heart out and stomped on it five times. It hurts. It sucks. But this is the reality of releasing your work out into the world. But don’t EVER let this stop you from doing so. Be tough. Be brave. You can do it. Trust in yourself. Trust in your work. And, whatever you do…don’t ever change the content of your work because you doubt yourself. If Stephen King turned on the filter, we might not have The Shining, Carrie or Pet Cemetery. Or, what if EL James turned on the filter…would 50 Shades of Grey be the runaway success it was? Embrace Your Inner VoiceWhereas last week’s advice to writers was to turn off the filter and write your character true to their voice, please click here if you missed it. This week, I wanted to build upon that sentiment because our internal censor is a biggie. I will reiterate… DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT let your filter get in the way of your voice. Embrace your inner Stephen King or your EL James and be confident with who you are and what you write.
Have you ever changed your work because you worried about what people will think? The novel I'm currently reworking, Tears from the Sea has brought me back to more than a character, it’s brought me back to the issue of human trafficking. My heroine Iphim is a sea gypsy from Myanmar, who lost her family in the tsunami and was swept into the world of human trafficking. Because the novel has been percolating for 10++ years, I feel like I’ve failed her because I’ve allowed her story to sit for such a long time. While Iphim has been waiting for my return, the growth of human trafficking has waited for no one.
Therefore, to grow awareness as I continue to work on Iphim’s story, I wanted to share some information about human trafficking--which is modern day slavery and, when we’re ready-- Iphim’s voice will add to it. What is human trafficking? Human trafficking involves the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring or receiving a person through the use of force, deception or other means for the purpose of exploiting them. Did you know…
I used to think that human trafficking was something that happened outside of my beloved Canada. When I learned it wasn’t, I was under the impression it was foreigners who were being trafficked across our borders—oh, how wrong I was again. Did you know that in Canada...
+ Enslaved and Exploited: The Story of Sex Trafficking in Canada Transcript
What can I do?
OK...as the Jeffery Epstein scandal heats up so does the British press coverage of Prince Andrew's connection with the CONVICTED pedophile and registered sex offender (finally). But I'd like to know...why is Prince Harry and Meghan's vacation transport fiasco sharing front page coverage with Prince Andrew? I'm sorry, the 'alleged' accusation that Prince Andrew was a willing participant in multiple sexual liaisons with an underage woman trumps the environmental loving Sussexes flying in a private jet. The Prince Andrew story line should be upfront and center. Also, note the page numbers for the continued coverage of these stories. Harry and Meghan pages 4-5 and Prince Andrew buried a little deeper on pages 12-15. Although, I can appreciate the hypocrisy surrounding these climate change activist's decision to use private jets while trying to save the climate. (they flew to both Ibiza and France this month). I question why the negative coverage focuses exclusively on the Sussexes rather than shared with the other royals. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Charles have used private jets...all are passionate environmentalists yet, Prince Harry and Meghan are the targets. Why? And while I'm at it...on August 19th, the Daily Mail featured an article by Guy Adams. Note the language around the Prince Andrew's connection to Epstein. But the Prince has had a seeming blind spot for the unsavoury aspects of Epstein’s character, as their long, close relationship attests. ... Andrew was dragged into Epstein’s grotty orbit during the late 1990s, apparently via his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who became chummy with Ghislaine Maxwell, the New York-based socialite daughter of disgraced newspaper tycoon Robert. Are you kidding me?! Epstein was a CONVICTED pedophile when they met. How is that even classified as a 'blind spot?' It's beyond bad judgement. And, I just love how apparently Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson 'dragged' him into this 'grotty orbit.' COME ON people, he's a big boy. COME ON Daily Mail, you can do better than this. You’ve poured your heart and soul into your novel, worked even harder targeting and querying publishers AND FINALLY all your effort has come together and a publisher has agreed to take you on. Yippee! pat yourself on the back you’ve entered a world that is the equivalent of being drafted in the NFL. You may be in, but the game has only just begun. So, fasten your seat belt you’re a rookie in this foreign place and marketing your work will be just as challenging as getting through training camp. Well, it was for me and my background is communications--seriously. Do NOT Do This!To help get you succeed, please don’t make the same mistakes I did when I marketed my first book. If I could do it all over again, I would not do the following:
You've got this and I've got this too, when book #2 launches I'm going to the play it smart this time round! Image Source: https://linguist.co.in Well...A LOT has changed since my last post. Prince Andrew has catapulted his way into the global headlines thanks to his interview on BBC's Newsnight with Emily Maitlis about his relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffery Epstein. The Prince had hoped the interview on Saturday, Nov. 16th would clear his name and rehabilitate his reputation. According to the Newsnight, he thought it went well. IT DID NOT GO WELL. The interview was disastrous and it is doubtful that Prince Andrew will ever be able to recover from the fallout. What went wrong...Oh my gosh, where to start...
Arrogant & Out of TouchPrince Andrew's interview was a PR disaster which no doubt will be studied in PR classes as a 'what not to do' case study for decades to come. Certainly for the Queen, this catastrophic Prince Andrew mess classifies as another 'annus horribilis' for her.
What I will say, is that in the era of #Metoo I hope the walls that have protected people of power and influence will continue to be pushed down and people will be held accountable for their actions. Unfortunately, because of Jeffery Epstein's 'suicide' he will not be. But there are many individuals who participated and facilitated Epstein's trafficking activities and they should stand trial. I for one, will be watching. I like being a woman. But I find it frustrating I am treated differently because I am of the ‘female persuasion.’ I can site MANY examples of this, but I’d like to share the most recent incident.
Last night, I was on the phone with my cellular provider (such a joy) being guided in how to reset my phone. This is not hard to fix. It involved pressing buttons. Now, I am not the most tech savvy individual on the planet, but I can press a button and I can most certainly press three buttons at the same time. But my mobile wouldn’t respond. After extensive button pressing and being put on hold multiple times—I was asked, “Is there someone at your home who can press the buttons for you?” Are you kidding me? Thank you for your help and for making me feel like an idiot. As it turns, my phone just needed a break from all the button pushing and, I got it sorted out all by myself thank you very much. I can appreciate this experience is MINOR on the frustration spectrum, but comments that undermine a woman’s competency happen all the time. And, I like most women, can site multiple examples of harassment both in and out of the work place. But I am fortunate my experiences have not left me traumatized. Whereas, there are many women who have not been so lucky—they live in fear, have been victimized in unimaginable ways and continue to be daily. I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge all the woman who are suffering—may you find the strength and continue to be brave in your struggle to survive. I’d also like to say a special thanks to all the women and men who are embracing feminism. And, thank you to those who are pushing the boundaries for equality and celebrating our differences rather than undermining the way women are valued. I am inspired by all the events being held in Canada and globally to commemorate International Women’s Day. I’d like to dedicate this post to all women and wish you a Happy Woman’s Day! Today June 21st, is National Indigenous People Day and I would like to acknowledge and celebrate it. What is National Indigenous Peoples Day?National Indigenous Peoples day is a day to both celebrate and recognize the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. Why June 21st?For many generations Indigenous peoples celebrated their culture and heritage either on or near the summer solstice because it is the longest day of the year. This significance is also why National Indigenous Peoples Day has been chosen to be commemorated on June 21st across Canada. Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!In celebration, I'd like to highlight some very special contributions. Firstly, influential song-writer social and political activist Buffy Sainte-Marie. The magic of the Haida Totem Poles. These remains are located at SG̱ang Gwaay Llanagaay on the southwestern edge of Gwaii Haanas in BC. Above is an example of the incredible Inuit textile artist Marion Tuu'luq (1910-2002) work. It's called Together in Spring; she is also well known for her drawings, prints and wall hangings.
I don’t know what to write! I don’t have anything interesting to say. I don’t know why I even bother…no one will ever read it. This is stupid… What to Do When You're Hit with a Creative Drought I’ve heard it from other writers and all the statements above have certainly spilled out of my mouth on more than one occasion and, will likely spill out again should I be faced with another creative drought. So, what’s one to do when the thought of facing a blank page is both unbearable and intimidating? Show up. Sit your butt down in your chair and just write. It doesn’t have to be a critically acclaimed piece of work—it just has to be yours. Embrace the act of throwing some words down on that page and don’t worry where they came from or how they fit together. No pressure. No expectations. Tools to Kick Start Your Creativity Yikes, I’ve shown up…now what?! For a little jump start, two of my favourite tools to help get those creative juices flowing are writing prompts and free writing. 1. Writing Prompts If I’m really blocked, I quite appreciate not having to come up with an idea for a prompt, therefore I tend to utilize what’s already been developed; there are some fantastic writing prompt ideas online. Some of my favourites include:
May I suggest, having a selection of writing prompts on hand. Then they’re ready to go when you are. Please click here for some more ideas. 2. Free Writing I was introduced to the concept of free writing when I committed to Julia Cameron’s 12-week program the Artist’s Way. The premise of this program is to help unblock artists. It’s fantastic and I highly recommend it. One of the tools Cameron recommends is the morning pages/free writing. I found the process of free writing life changing. Every morning before I launched into my day, I sat down with a cup of bean in hand, a journal that I had bought specifically for the Artist's Way and a purple pen. The task was to write 3 pages of whatever popped into my head. Now, there were many a day when I filled up an entire page (or three) with “I don’t know what to write," or I complied my ‘To Do’ list for the day or a grocery list. Many, many days. But that was OK, the goal was to 'just write.' Kindly note, you can use your computer if you prefer. On some occasions I do, but I will confess I find the old-fashioned pen and paper liberating. Try both. Alternate. No rules. If you would like to purchase a copy of the Artist's Way please click here. I cannot emphasis this next point enough, do not worry about the quality of your work when using with these tools. The idea is simply to get that writing muscle working. Much like going for a run, there are days when you feel like you can run forever and other days when you may wonder why you even bothered putting your runners on. I'll keep saying this until you believe me...there are no rules, the idea is to experiment and have some fun. Your writing muscle will strengthen. If you walk away from your desk tomorrow without an idea for a best-selling novel be kind to yourself—the most important thing was to show up and try; the quality and ideas WILL come. You will not remain blocked. Happy Writing! How do you tackle writer's block? Better Late to the Party than Not @ AllConfession #1. Yes, I will happily admit I jumped on the Raptors bandwagon. And, can I just say...what a band wagon it was! I am so glad I jumped. In fact, I wish I had of jumped sooner. I really don't understand basketball but OMG! watching those final games my heart was pounding, I was lipping-off the TV, covering my eyes and making frequent trips to the bathroom because I couldn't stand the tension. Can you imagine if I understood the game? I'd need a pacemaker. There's Still Room on the BandwagonI don't know about you but whenever I become fascinated with something I hit google pretty hard. Confession #2. To say I dedicated a fair amount of energy to getting up to 'Raptors speed' would be an understatement. A BIG shout out to the Huffington Post for their article Toronto Raptors Players Have Many Talents Off the Court, Too to help get me there. (I can assure you it's worth the click). I learned about the player's linguistic abilities (impressive), their charitable activities (impressive) and what they do in their spare time (impressive). These guys are all around, you guessed it... 'impressive.' Here's a little sample from the impressive compilation...Serge Ibaka has a cooking show on YouTube it's called "How Hungry Are You?" Confession #3, I watched every single episode (b-i-n-g-e-d). You should see the 'lovely treats' Serge whipped up for his teammates Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry; he brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'how hungry are you?' Proud to be CanadianThere is nothing like a sporting event to pull the country together. I am a proud Canadian and it was fantastic to celebrate this pride with the entire nation as we witnessed the Raptors playoff journey and ultimate NBA Championship win.
On Monday, I could not peel my eyes away from their victory parade. To see Superfan Nav Bhatia and all the other fans from so many diverse backgrounds, young and old collectively gather was both emotional and uplifting. I LOVED IT! Confession#4. Next year, I will be watching basketball and learning why a player takes one, two or three foul shot(s). I have officially settled myself on the Raptors bandwagon and, have jumped on board with the rest of Canada in crossing our fingers, hands, eyes, toes, legs (anything that will cross) that the outstanding Kawhi Leonard will decide to STAY. That's enough confession for one day. A GREAT BIG thank you to the Raptors for uniting our country. |
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