- This week marks the official beginning of summer, and for many people, that means a favorite childhood campfire treat — the s’more. But as child labor, forced labor and trafficking continue to fuel the cocoa industry, traditional s’mores might leave a bitter aftertaste. That’s why chocolate lovers across the country are calling on some of America’s favorite celebrity chefs — Paula Deen, Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray and Emeril Lagasse — to post Fair Trade s’mores recipes and additional information on their websites to help raise awareness about potential solutions to the problems that plague the cocoa industry. Sadly, none of these chefs have made a Fair Trade s’more, yet.Across the country, campers and other people with a sweet tooth are participating in a fun summer action called “We Want More from Our S’mores,” where concerned consumers make their s’mores using Fair Trade Certified chocolate to support positive change in the cocoa industry. But they know that a gooey, delicious Fair Trade s’more treat made on the grill by Bobby Flay or with some extra Southern love by Paula can help inspire real change in the cocoa industry. That’s why they’re asking these chefs to put Fair Trade on their plate and stand up for kids in the coco industry.
Ask Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, Emeril for Fair Trade S’Mores This Summer
Facebook Rally: Ask Wyndham to Stop Child Sex Trafficking at Their Hotels
If you have two minutes to spare while playing around on Facebook today, you can help stop child sex slavery in the U.S. Despite recent high-profile cases of gangs pimping young girls at Wyndham hotels, the company has still not signed The Code of Conduct to Prevent Child Sexual Exploitation in the Travel and Tourism Industry. Will you leave a message on their Facebook wall asking them to sign?
Recently, police have busted two gangs for sex trafficking young girls at Wyndham hotels. At one California hotel, Wyndham staff acted as lookouts and accepted bribes from the traffickers, while they sold over a dozen girls as young as 14. At another Virginia hotel, Wyndham staff ignored 6-7 men per night coming and going from a room where a 15-year-old girl was being held in sexual slavery. Gang-run child sex trafficking at Wyndham hotels needs to stop, immediately. Here’s what you can do:
Valor Howell Goes Home To Canada
Valor Howell strolled up the driveway like he’d been there a thousand times.Without hesitation, the 10-year-old walked through the front door, and into his new world.Inside, Valor hugged his big sisters, and immediately took to the family dog.For what he’s been through the past week, it was an encouraging sign.”Group homes are boring, you can’t do anything,” Valor said.
Child Protective Services took custody of Valor after Chandler police arrested his mom, Jamie Howell, last week for an outstanding warrant in Canada.
Authorities there said she kidnapped the boy in 2003, breaking a joint custody agreeement with Valor’s dad, Garrett Taylor.
Taylor flew to the Valley this past weekend to pick up his son and take him back to Canada.
“A hole in our heart that’s been there for years is filled back in, and now we can get on with our lives and just lead a normal life,” said Taylor.
Three girls arrested in local sex trade sweep
Three girls were arrested on charges of prostitution during a four-day roundup of those involved in the sex trade industry in the valley, Las Vegas police said Thursday.
Sgt. Gil Shannon with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Vice Section said the sweep, which took place June 19-22, was intended to rescue children caught in the sex trade.
“Even one is successful when you’re taking children off streets who are engaging in prostitution,” Shannon said.
In addition, 61 adult prostitutes and five pimps were arrested locally during the sweep, dubbed “Operation Cross Country.”
Shannon wouldn’t disclose where the three girls were taken, saying only, “We have them in a safe location.”
He also wouldn’t specify the girls’ ages other than to say they were younger than 18.
Shannon said the arrests made only a small dent in the local prostitution market. He estimated that thousands of prostitutes work throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
Shannon said 37 agents with the FBI and Las Vegas police collaborated to make the local arrests.
Nationally, 345 people, including 290 adult prostitutes, were arrested in the sweep in Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami and other cities.
In Reno, agents arrested 13 adults.
Cjaye57's Weblog 