A 38 year old single mother posing with her son she believes that social workers provide assistance in pertinent times of need however she is seeking full independence for the future.

Picture #2 is the Family Independence Agency that assists families in need of medical, food benefits, and cash assistance. The goal of this agency is to provide those in need with the life skills and resources to become independent adults.

Suzanne the social worker I interviewed for my research paper. She is a kind woman who has aspirations to assist as many families as she can.

In the article “Beyond the ‘Natasha’ story a review and critique of current research on sex trafficking” (2009), Zhang suggests that human trafficking is the most horrific form of human slavery facing the world today. Zhang provides creditability to his suggestion by informing the world of the steps that are commonly completed by recruiters in different countries. He clearly points out how the victims of this heinous crime are vulnerable, naïve, and deceived. The victims are deceived by the recruiters who inform them that greater opportunities await them in foreign countries. The victims will provide travel fees or agree to a labor contract to repay their debt. Zhang also argues that laws must be set in place in order to combat the illegal act of human trafficking. He thinks the laws are not intertwined across the board from country to country which would allow for a large decrease in this activity.
Sadly to say, many researchers believe that human trafficking is the slavery of our time. Although, the premise of human dignity and natural law prevailed in the past many believe that these same concepts will assist in conquering this issue today. In the article “Trafficking and Human Dignity” Mark P. Lagon clarifies the differences between exploited men, women, and children. Usually men are coerced from their homes due to poverty, and the will to provide a better life for their loved ones’. Often times these men agree to bondage contracts simply because their recruiters have manipulated them. These men believe that travelling to another country for work would provide better wages, health care, and steady employment. However, the recruiters fail to inform these men that due to the fees they must pay for travel, also the fees for room and board the debt is so high it cannot be repaid once they arrive. Therefore the men are now vulnerable to less pay, harsh working conditions, and long work hours. Women and children are also naïve and oblivious to the cruel outside world of their homes. The women and children are also smuggled across borders into human slavery. Many are traded to brothels, or slave camps in exchange for currency. In the brothels sex is provided to multiple paying customers in order to pay for their freedom which often times they never receive.
Even though drugs and guns are the leading illicit global trade offenses human trafficking is the third largest. All reports show a rapid and steady growth in this area of global trade. The article “Global Crime Case: The Modern Slave Trade” Stephen Aguilar-Millan suggests that globalization has contributed the ease of human trafficking, while also giving credit to deregulation, open borders, and international banking as common contributors. Statistics show that the United Nations estimated that four million people generated revenue of seven to ten billion dollars annually. China reports one to three billion dollars and Mexico six to nine billion dollars annually. In the United States the trafficking in persons report (TIP) shows that 45,000-50,000 migrants were trafficked in for sexual or forced labor exploration. However, Southeast Asia is one of the largest ports for human trafficking with Thailand, Cambodia, Russia, Columbia, Italy, and Japan following behind.
Far too often, I believe that American citizens can also be considered naïve to the issues that surround them. One may hear of human trafficking and see movies based on the human slave trade however; we choose to believe that this illegal activity does not occur here in the United States. We would like to believe that it occurs in foreign countries or maybe the activity is being exaggerated and it does not happen often. Yet, by the research that has been completed a simple update on current events would inform us all to the contrary. Not only is this activity of human trafficking on the rise but it is also not a myth, we must educate ourselves on the commonly used schemes by these so called recruiters. American citizens can become victims also while travelling abroad to different countries, by becoming aware of suspicious activity and common schemes we may be able to avert a far too common disaster and save ourselves from harm.


Works Cited
Aguilar-Milan, Stephen, Foltz, E. Joan, Jackson, John, Oberg, Amy. “Global Crime Case: The Modern Slave Trade”. The Futurist. Washington: (November/December 2008) Volume 42. Issue 6: Pg 45
Lagon, P. Mark. “ Trafficking and Human Dignity”. Policy Review. Washington: (December 2008/January 2009). Issue 152: pg 51
Zhang, X. Sheldon. “Beyond the ‘Natasha’ story a review and critique of current research on sex trafficking”. Global Crime. Volume 10. Number 3, (August 2009): pg 178-195

Screen Capture

When I first saw my screenshot as a photograph, I began to understand the entire concept of digital composition. It is very easy to become distracted in my case I usually run four to five different programs at once. Usually I am consumed with checking my email, instant messaging, updating myself with world news, or just browsing the web. Digital composing can take shape in many different forms due to the fact that the Internet is vast system of information. The question mainly becomes how do you remain focused when you have access to so many distractions?

How does composing change shape in digital space?

Composing changes shape in digital space because you have an increased level of information right at your fingertips. If you are composing a piece for a specific course, you have access to google, yahoo, bing, and the encyclopedia to name a few which can allow for knowledgeable information to be added to your topic. Writing a composition by hand does not compare to digital composition simply because the process is mundane. Usually a writer needs inspiration in order to compose a piece of writing. If you have your itunes application available maybe a favorite song may give you the motivation you need to search your imagination in digital space. However a desktop background picture can serve the same purpose for inspiration.

Composing also changes shape in digital space due to the fact that many other resources are available to the composer. As an example when editing a composition you have the dictionary, and thesaurus readily accessible at the click of a button. This not only saves valuable time but it allows you to remain focused on the task at hand, the writing piece. Yet, you are able to italicize words of importance in your document, as well as place emphasis on a thought by selecting the bold option. These options allow for the composer to convey a precise thought or idea to the reader.

How can we better understand digital composing?

Digital composing is full of surprises I believe I learn something new every single time I compose a piece of writing whether it is simply editing, adding a header and footer, adding images to a layout, or setting a specific margin. I believe that as long as technology continues to grow we will always be able to expand our knowledge on digital space, as well as increase our abilities to perfect the digital composition.