Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade-- And How We Can Fight It

When Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade-- and How We Can Fight It was published in 2007, over 27 million people were victims of the global slave trade, an industry which saw profits of $31 billion dollars annually. This book sought to put names and faces to those who are victims of the slave trade and those who are fighting to stop it.

"This book aims to be a handbook for the modern-day abolitionist. As such, it does not pretend to be an exhaustive study of the global slavery in the twenty-first century. Rather, it follows the trail of a select group of extraordinary abolitionists into their respective settings. We get a feel for the people around them who have fallen into captivity. We delve into the historical antecedents and social forces that frame their time and place. We learn how the slave traders they resist use power and violence to exploit the weak. And we gain an insight into the specific strategies abolitionists deploy to bring about emancipation for the captives" (Batstone, 15-16). 

The book was eyeopening. Beginning in Cambodia and Thailand, each chapter progressively drew closer to North America-- South Asia, Uganda, Europe, Peru-- until finally Batstone is speaking of the slave trade that is occurring around North Americans today. Human trafficking is not only an issue "over there", but indeed it is one that is an issue on in our stores and in our neighborhoods.

• In the USA alone, it is estimated that sex trafficking is a $9.5 billion industry! 
• In 2010, reports estimated that 10,000 prostitutes were brought into Miami for the Superbowl.
• In West Michigan, it is estimated that 2400 children are in slavery, according to the United States State Department. 

Batsone's book is an important read. It draws attention to a global issue that Christians ought not ignore. An important feature of the book is that it does not just highlight the plight of those enslaved, but it demonstrates the value and power of an individual or group to free those who are in bondage. Batstone speaks clearly and honestly about the captivity of children in the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, where children are kidnapped and forced to serve as soldiers in a mad man's army (click on the link to listen to an NPR feature on the LRA from November 2003). Only a few pages later, readers are told the story of a priest who created a shelter for women who were forced in prostitution. He protected these women even in the face of threats from organized crime thugs.

These stories must be heard. I highly recommend Not for Sale and your continued prayers and efforts to stop the trafficking of men, women, and children around the world. May Christ bless our efforts. 

Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade-- and How We Can Fight It by David Batstone

Published: 2007 by HarperOne

Length: 293 pages

Thesis Statement: Human trafficking is a current global issue that we have the ability to respond to.

Difficulty: Readability- One; Emotional Difficulty- Five.

Rating: Nine and a half

Recommended For: Everyone over the age of sixteen

Cheapest Place to Buy: $10.19 on Amazon

As always, your comments and feedback are appreciated. I would especially like to hear from anyone who has studied this topic or who, like me, is really beginning to open their eyes to it.