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Readers with a keen eye will note that I was AWOL for a bit and that you received this on Friday, not Wednesday. I’m excited to be back after a bit of a late summer hiatus and free of some distractions. I got feedback that the newsletter is more of a Friday/weekend read. Publishing on Hump Day was somewhat clever (at least in my own mind) but not optimal. So, look for Bruised Camels fortnightly on Fridays. In this edition, I want to share thoughts on a topic from the dark side of business: human trafficking. I hope you’ll consider what you might do to attack this unspeakable evil. Journey On, Business | Action HerosBusiness Against TraffickingMy wife and I recently saw Sound of Freedom. If you haven’t heard, it’s an action adventure’ish movie inspired by the work of Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad, or O.U.R., an anti-trafficking non-profit. To say the least, it’s been a sleeper hit. People LOVE it. I loved it for a weird reason. Perhaps you can relate. Problems can seem abstract and far away when they’re so huge. Sound of Freedom brought a global problem down to the scale of a little girl and her father. But a minor character, Paul, personalized the solution for me. Paul is a businessman who is critical to a sting operation. The action hero leading man and his redeemed villain sidekick had everything they needed. But, they lacked credibility. Only a real-life wealthy businessman could convincingly set the trap. I loved this plot point. So often, TV and movie businesspeople are cast as villains exploiting people and dishonestly pursuing greedy goals. Seeing Paul step up encouraged me. Sound of Freedom drove home both the enormity of human trafficking and the ability of a single person to make a difference. It juxtaposed the pure evil of the business of child sex trafficking with an honest businessman using his reputation and resources to make a difference. Most of us aren’t called to anything nearly this dramatic. But like the Good Samaritan, we are called to pay attention on the road we travel. And we are called to stop and respond. Perhaps that means helping a federal agent. More likely, it means looking at your daily activities and asking how you can go about them in a redemptive way. You should see Sound of Freedom if you haven’t. You may come away wondering what you can do. Jim Caviezel, the lead actor, invites the audience to take action by spreading the story and raising awareness. You should certainly do that. But, as businesspeople, we have the skills, positions, and resources to fight the evil we see. Listen to hear if God is calling you to do more through your professional life and consumer choices. And consider the investing and giving options below that directly address trafficking. Investing | Invest in JusticeThe Eagle Freedom FundTrafficking is big problem because it involves big money. Like any immoral business, it succeeds because of secrecy. Sound of Freedom shines a light on the larger problem. Real change depends on exposing specific instances of slavery and trafficking. Eagle Freedom Fund invests in early stage companies that do exactly that. The fund’s website says it well: “The lack of transparent economic systems is responsible for a large share of trafficking, and businesses are well-suited to go to war to solve this problem. We invest in highly scalable business models that are addressing supply chain transparency, purchasing transparency, and systemic demand and attack.” You need to be an accredited investor to invest. And as with any investment, you need to do your own analysis to determine if it’s right for you. You can find out more on their website. They also produced a fantastic two minute video that’s on YouTube. End Human Trafficking? First We Have To See The Monsters. Philanthropy | Give to Direct ActionInternational Justice MissionSince 1997 International Justice Mission (“IJM”) has been raising awareness about and directly fighting human trafficking. They have a hard-earned reputation for a deep understanding of the problem and solutions that make a difference. They attack trafficking on four fronts. First, they directly rescue enslaved people. Second, they pursue prosecution of traffickers. Third, they provide restorative services for those freed. And fourth, they work to expand awareness of slavery and public demand for solutions. IJM offers multiple ways to get involved. Check ‘em out at IJM.org. Kitchen Sink | Welcome!New Here?Did a friend forward this to you? Get your own subscription with one click.
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