[Applause] hello doesn’t it seem like our world
hello doesn’t it seem like our world
hello doesn’t it seem like our world gets more and more complex every day it
gets more and more complex every day it
gets more and more complex every day it seems like every day we are bombarded
seems like every day we are bombarded
seems like every day we are bombarded with these issues that impact our world
with these issues that impact our world
with these issues that impact our world or our nation or our community many of
or our nation or our community many of
or our nation or our community many of them can be very challenging to
them can be very challenging to
them can be very challenging to understand sometimes they can even seem
understand sometimes they can even seem
understand sometimes they can even seem overwhelming
overwhelming
overwhelming now when life gets overwhelming it can
now when life gets overwhelming it can
now when life gets overwhelming it can make sense to try and simplify things
make sense to try and simplify things
make sense to try and simplify things but when we try and simplify complex
but when we try and simplify complex
but when we try and simplify complex topics that can lead to over
topics that can lead to over
topics that can lead to over simplification oversimplification has
simplification oversimplification has
simplification oversimplification has brought us to a world where today much
brought us to a world where today much
brought us to a world where today much of what we take in as knowledge or even
of what we take in as knowledge or even
of what we take in as knowledge or even worse what we pass on as knowledge comes
worse what we pass on as knowledge comes
worse what we pass on as knowledge comes from sound bites that we hear on radio
from sound bites that we hear on radio
from sound bites that we hear on radio or TV or from Facebook posts from tweets
or TV or from Facebook posts from tweets
or TV or from Facebook posts from tweets limited to 140 characters or from catchy
limited to 140 characters or from catchy
limited to 140 characters or from catchy slogans that are designed to tell us
slogans that are designed to tell us
slogans that are designed to tell us what to think but not why we should
what to think but not why we should
what to think but not why we should think that way or even if it’s true
Albert Einstein was a man who knew a lot
Albert Einstein was a man who knew a lot about a lot of complex things right and
about a lot of complex things right and
about a lot of complex things right and his Albert Einstein who reminded us to
his Albert Einstein who reminded us to
his Albert Einstein who reminded us to make everything as simple as possible
make everything as simple as possible
make everything as simple as possible but no simpler you see if we really want
but no simpler you see if we really want
but no simpler you see if we really want to understand the pressing issues of our
to understand the pressing issues of our
to understand the pressing issues of our day we must be willing to embrace their
day we must be willing to embrace their
day we must be willing to embrace their complexities let me give you an example
complexities let me give you an example
complexities let me give you an example in the response to human trafficking
in the response to human trafficking
in the response to human trafficking it’s quite common that we see these big
it’s quite common that we see these big
it’s quite common that we see these big numbers about how many people are
numbers about how many people are
numbers about how many people are enslaved in our world you may have seen
enslaved in our world you may have seen
enslaved in our world you may have seen some of these numbers before for many
some of these numbers before for many
some of these numbers before for many years the most commonly quoted estimate
years the most commonly quoted estimate
years the most commonly quoted estimate was 21 million people this estimate was
was 21 million people this estimate was
was 21 million people this estimate was released several years ago by the
released several years ago by the
released several years ago by the International Labour Organization they
International Labour Organization they
International Labour Organization they are an agency of the United Nations but
are an agency of the United Nations but
are an agency of the United Nations but then a couple of years ago a private
then a couple of years ago a private
then a couple of years ago a private organization called the walk free
organization called the walk free
organization called the walk free foundation released what they call their
foundation released what they call their
foundation released what they call their global slavery index and they said the
global slavery index and they said the
global slavery index and they said the number was much higher as high as 46
number was much higher as high as 46
number was much higher as high as 46 million people enslaved but just last
million people enslaved but just last
million people enslaved but just last month the International Labour
month the International Labour
month the International Labour Organization in partnership with walk
Organization in partnership with walk
Organization in partnership with walk free issued a brand new estimate they’ve
free issued a brand new estimate they’ve
free issued a brand new estimate they’ve adjusted the number downward a little
adjusted the number downward a little
adjusted the number downward a little bit now estimating that 40 million
bit now estimating that 40 million
bit now estimating that 40 million people in our world are enslaved 40
people in our world are enslaved 40
people in our world are enslaved 40 million women men and children either
million women men and children either
million women men and children either enslaved or in what we call slave-like
enslaved or in what we call slave-like
enslaved or in what we call slave-like conditions now I have to ask you what
conditions now I have to ask you what
conditions now I have to ask you what does 40 million people even look like I
does 40 million people even look like I
does 40 million people even look like I have a very difficult time trying to
have a very difficult time trying to
have a very difficult time trying to comprehend how massive a number that is
comprehend how massive a number that is
comprehend how massive a number that is if I try to make sense of it just just
if I try to make sense of it just just
if I try to make sense of it just just for my own use and I try to come up with
for my own use and I try to come up with
for my own use and I try to come up with some sort of analogy the best that I’ve
some sort of analogy the best that I’ve
some sort of analogy the best that I’ve been able to come up with and admittedly
been able to come up with and admittedly
been able to come up with and admittedly it’s not very good as I look at the
it’s not very good as I look at the
it’s not very good as I look at the entire state of California and realized
entire state of California and realized
entire state of California and realized that the population is roughly 40
that the population is roughly 40
that the population is roughly 40 million people if we’re curious about
million people if we’re curious about
million people if we’re curious about how many victims exist only in the
how many victims exist only in the
how many victims exist only in the United States there’s even more
United States there’s even more
United States there’s even more confusion the walk free foundation they
confusion the walk free foundation they
confusion the walk free foundation they estimated that there were about 57,000
estimated that there were about 57,000
estimated that there were about 57,000 victims in the United States but earlier
victims in the United States but earlier
victims in the United States but earlier this year the University of Texas at
this year the University of Texas at
this year the University of Texas at Austin they released their report
Austin they released their report
Austin they released their report examining human trafficking only in the
examining human trafficking only in the
examining human trafficking only in the state of Texas and they believed that in
state of Texas and they believed that in
state of Texas and they believed that in Texas alone there may be as many as
Texas alone there may be as many as
Texas alone there may be as many as three hundred and thirteen thousand
three hundred and thirteen thousand
three hundred and thirteen thousand victims of trafficking you see the
victims of trafficking you see the
victims of trafficking you see the numbers are all over the place the fact
numbers are all over the place the fact
numbers are all over the place the fact is is that we just don’t know yet we
is is that we just don’t know yet we
is is that we just don’t know yet we like to take these numbers without any
like to take these numbers without any
like to take these numbers without any other information or context and push
other information or context and push
other information or context and push them out to try and inspire people to
them out to try and inspire people to
them out to try and inspire people to respond against human trafficking do you
respond against human trafficking do you
respond against human trafficking do you think it works I don’t think so and
think it works I don’t think so and
think it works I don’t think so and there’s also some other problems with
there’s also some other problems with
there’s also some other problems with these numbers the first is that we have
these numbers the first is that we have
these numbers the first is that we have to realize is that they are broad
to realize is that they are broad
to realize is that they are broad estimates at best
estimates at best
estimates at best there are extrapolations based on very
there are extrapolations based on very
there are extrapolations based on very limited data one of the real problems we
limited data one of the real problems we
limited data one of the real problems we have in the response to trafficking is
have in the response to trafficking is
have in the response to trafficking is that we lack centralized protocols and
that we lack centralized protocols and
that we lack centralized protocols and mechanisms when we can report when we
mechanisms when we can report when we
mechanisms when we can report when we find an actual victim of human
find an actual victim of human
find an actual victim of human trafficking or we arrest an actual
trafficking or we arrest an actual
trafficking or we arrest an actual trafficker or we take that trafficker to
trafficker or we take that trafficker to
trafficker or we take that trafficker to court and prosecute them hopefully
court and prosecute them hopefully
court and prosecute them hopefully convicting them on actual human
convicting them on actual human
convicting them on actual human trafficking charges these mechanisms do
trafficking charges these mechanisms do
trafficking charges these mechanisms do not exist in the United States nor do
not exist in the United States nor do
not exist in the United States nor do they exist globally the second problem
they exist globally the second problem
they exist globally the second problem with these numbers is they don’t tell us
with these numbers is they don’t tell us
with these numbers is they don’t tell us that there’s actually a segment of the
that there’s actually a segment of the
that there’s actually a segment of the population that believe these numbers
population that believe these numbers
population that believe these numbers are vastly overinflated and that we have
are vastly overinflated and that we have
are vastly overinflated and that we have all been spending way too much time
all been spending way too much time
all been spending way too much time energy passion and money in the response
energy passion and money in the response
energy passion and money in the response to this problem but from where I stand
to this problem but from where I stand
to this problem but from where I stand the biggest problem with these numbers
the biggest problem with these numbers
the biggest problem with these numbers is they don’t tell us anything about
is they don’t tell us anything about
is they don’t tell us anything about human trafficking they don’t even tell
human trafficking they don’t even tell
human trafficking they don’t even tell us what it is human trafficking or
us what it is human trafficking or
us what it is human trafficking or modern slavery is defined as taking a
modern slavery is defined as taking a
modern slavery is defined as taking a person and then exploiting their labor
person and then exploiting their labor
person and then exploiting their labor or some other services they can perform
or some other services they can perform
or some other services they can perform or exploiting them through the
or exploiting them through the
or exploiting them through the commercial sex trade through the use of
commercial sex trade through the use of
commercial sex trade through the use of force or fraud or coercion force fraud
force or fraud or coercion force fraud
force or fraud or coercion force fraud or coercion now force I think is a
or coercion now force I think is a
or coercion now force I think is a pretty simple concept we can all
pretty simple concept we can all
pretty simple concept we can all understand we can all appreciate how the
understand we can all appreciate how the
understand we can all appreciate how the threat of force or the actual use of
threat of force or the actual use of
threat of force or the actual use of force might compel us to do something we
force might compel us to do something we
force might compel us to do something we would not otherwise normally do fraud is
would not otherwise normally do fraud is
would not otherwise normally do fraud is also fairly simple to understand because
also fairly simple to understand because
also fairly simple to understand because in the context of human trafficking
in the context of human trafficking
in the context of human trafficking fraud typically speaks to a financial
fraud typically speaks to a financial
fraud typically speaks to a financial arrangement between the trafficker and
arrangement between the trafficker and
arrangement between the trafficker and their victim it’s quite common to find
their victim it’s quite common to find
their victim it’s quite common to find situations where the trafficker loans
situations where the trafficker loans
situations where the trafficker loans money to the victim and then expects the
money to the victim and then expects the
money to the victim and then expects the victim to repay that debt through their
victim to repay that debt through their
victim to repay that debt through their labor but the trafficker has created a
labor but the trafficker has created a
labor but the trafficker has created a financial scheme an illegal
financial scheme an illegal
financial scheme an illegal scheme in which the victim may never be
scheme in which the victim may never be
scheme in which the victim may never be able to repay that money in some extreme
able to repay that money in some extreme
able to repay that money in some extreme cases that debt can be passed on to the
cases that debt can be passed on to the
cases that debt can be passed on to the next generation and even the next it can
next generation and even the next it can
next generation and even the next it can go on forever but coercion coercion is a
go on forever but coercion coercion is a
go on forever but coercion coercion is a more complex concept because coercion
more complex concept because coercion
more complex concept because coercion speaks to the victims state of mind
speaks to the victims state of mind
speaks to the victims state of mind what’s the victim thinking it’s
what’s the victim thinking it’s
what’s the victim thinking it’s important that we realize that in modern
important that we realize that in modern
important that we realize that in modern slavery very few victims are held
slavery very few victims are held
slavery very few victims are held against their will physically they are
against their will physically they are
against their will physically they are not tied up or in Chains they’re not
not tied up or in Chains they’re not
not tied up or in Chains they’re not blocked behind fences with barbed wire
blocked behind fences with barbed wire
blocked behind fences with barbed wire they are walking freely amongst us they
they are walking freely amongst us they
they are walking freely amongst us they stay in their situation of exploitation
stay in their situation of exploitation
stay in their situation of exploitation because of the powerful coercive control
because of the powerful coercive control
because of the powerful coercive control held by their trafficker they stay in
held by their trafficker they stay in
held by their trafficker they stay in situations that you are I would
situations that you are I would
situations that you are I would absolutely flee I only have time to give
absolutely flee I only have time to give
absolutely flee I only have time to give you one example of coercion but it’s a
you one example of coercion but it’s a
you one example of coercion but it’s a very powerful example and it’s also a
very powerful example and it’s also a
very powerful example and it’s also a very common example particularly in that
very common example particularly in that
very common example particularly in that sector of the human of human trafficking
sector of the human of human trafficking
sector of the human of human trafficking that that’s the commercial sex trade a
that that’s the commercial sex trade a
that that’s the commercial sex trade a trafficker will tell their victim that
trafficker will tell their victim that
trafficker will tell their victim that they love them they love and they will
they love them they love and they will
they love them they love and they will also tell their victim if you love me in
also tell their victim if you love me in
also tell their victim if you love me in return tonight you will go out and you
return tonight you will go out and you
return tonight you will go out and you will have sex with as many people as you
will have sex with as many people as you
will have sex with as many people as you can for money and you will bring me back
can for money and you will bring me back
can for money and you will bring me back that money so then I can provide us with
that money so then I can provide us with
that money so then I can provide us with a warm place to sleep and food to eat
a warm place to sleep and food to eat
a warm place to sleep and food to eat now this isn’t love it’s a perversion of
now this isn’t love it’s a perversion of
now this isn’t love it’s a perversion of the concept of love but we have to
the concept of love but we have to
the concept of love but we have to understand that this victim may have
understand that this victim may have
understand that this victim may have never ever known true love in their
never ever known true love in their
never ever known true love in their entire life they may have never known
entire life they may have never known
entire life they may have never known true caring and compassion and as a
true caring and compassion and as a
true caring and compassion and as a result they are deathly afraid of losing
result they are deathly afraid of losing
result they are deathly afraid of losing the love of their trafficker so as a
the love of their trafficker so as a
the love of their trafficker so as a result they will go out tonight they
result they will go out tonight they
result they will go out tonight they will have sex with as many people as
will have sex with as many people as
will have sex with as many people as they can and they will give that money
they can and they will give that money
they can and they will give that money to the trafficker
to the trafficker
to the trafficker we need to understand that modern
we need to understand that modern
we need to understand that modern slavery is it’s limited by only two
slavery is it’s limited by only two
slavery is it’s limited by only two things the imagination and the coercive
things the imagination and the coercive
things the imagination and the coercive skill of the trafficker if I can think
skill of the trafficker if I can think
skill of the trafficker if I can think of ways to make money by exploiting you
of ways to make money by exploiting you
of ways to make money by exploiting you or you or you then all I need to do is
or you or you then all I need to do is
or you or you then all I need to do is figure out what are the coercive buttons
figure out what are the coercive buttons
figure out what are the coercive buttons I need to push on you and you and you
this is why if my good friend and
this is why if my good friend and colleague Andy who is a federal
colleague Andy who is a federal
colleague Andy who is a federal prosecutor and who has successfully
prosecutor and who has successfully
prosecutor and who has successfully prosecuted cases of human trafficking
prosecuted cases of human trafficking
prosecuted cases of human trafficking reminds us that human trafficking is a
reminds us that human trafficking is a
reminds us that human trafficking is a state of mind crime and that we must all
state of mind crime and that we must all
state of mind crime and that we must all have an appreciation for the coercive
have an appreciation for the coercive
have an appreciation for the coercive power everybody involved in the response
power everybody involved in the response
power everybody involved in the response from the victim advocate who’s going to
from the victim advocate who’s going to
from the victim advocate who’s going to try and help that victim move on and
try and help that victim move on and
try and help that victim move on and life free of exploitation to the police
life free of exploitation to the police
life free of exploitation to the police investigator who’s going to be talking
investigator who’s going to be talking
investigator who’s going to be talking to that victim and probably wondering
to that victim and probably wondering
to that victim and probably wondering why did you stay in that situation so
why did you stay in that situation so
why did you stay in that situation so long to the prosecutor who has to
long to the prosecutor who has to
long to the prosecutor who has to explain this in court to the judge and
explain this in court to the judge and
explain this in court to the judge and ultimately to the public at large
ultimately to the public at large
ultimately to the public at large because it’s from the public that we
because it’s from the public that we
because it’s from the public that we gain our jurors you see we all have to
gain our jurors you see we all have to
gain our jurors you see we all have to have an appreciation for that coercive
have an appreciation for that coercive
have an appreciation for that coercive control that can keep some people in
control that can keep some people in
control that can keep some people in situations that you or I would never
situations that you or I would never
situations that you or I would never dream we could find ourselves in now
dream we could find ourselves in now
dream we could find ourselves in now before I leave you with my closing
before I leave you with my closing
before I leave you with my closing thoughts I’d like us all to pause for a
thoughts I’d like us all to pause for a
thoughts I’d like us all to pause for a moment and just think about some of the
moment and just think about some of the
moment and just think about some of the other pressing issues of our day that
other pressing issues of our day that
other pressing issues of our day that impact our world or our nation or our
impact our world or our nation or our
impact our world or our nation or our community climate change energy
community climate change energy
community climate change energy dependency health care immigration
dependency health care immigration
dependency health care immigration conflicts at home and abroad all of
conflicts at home and abroad all of
conflicts at home and abroad all of these and other issues have proponents
these and other issues have proponents
these and other issues have proponents and opponents based on our perspective
and opponents based on our perspective
and opponents based on our perspective right each of whom are trying to take
right each of whom are trying to take
right each of whom are trying to take these complex issues and distill them
these complex issues and distill them
these complex issues and distill them into simple choices of right or wrong
into simple choices of right or wrong
into simple choices of right or wrong good or bad just or unjust
good or bad just or unjust
good or bad just or unjust true or false they they try to paint us
true or false they they try to paint us
true or false they they try to paint us into corners where seemingly our only
into corners where seemingly our only
into corners where seemingly our only choices are to either completely agree
choices are to either completely agree
choices are to either completely agree or completely disagree they neglect to
or completely disagree they neglect to
or completely disagree they neglect to tell us about the good work that happens
tell us about the good work that happens
tell us about the good work that happens when people meet in the middle and share
when people meet in the middle and share
when people meet in the middle and share their passion and their knowledge and
their passion and their knowledge and
their passion and their knowledge and we’re real effective change can happen
we’re real effective change can happen
we’re real effective change can happen so I would urge you if any of these
so I would urge you if any of these
so I would urge you if any of these important issues that we’re talking
important issues that we’re talking
important issues that we’re talking about many of which we are talking about
about many of which we are talking about
about many of which we are talking about today if they resonate within you
today if they resonate within you
today if they resonate within you embrace their complexities study them
embrace their complexities study them
embrace their complexities study them really learn talk to other people that
really learn talk to other people that
really learn talk to other people that have different opinions or perspectives
have different opinions or perspectives
have different opinions or perspectives than yours and don’t talk about Facebook
than yours and don’t talk about Facebook
than yours and don’t talk about Facebook slogans or snappy slogans talk about
slogans or snappy slogans talk about
slogans or snappy slogans talk about actions and solutions actions and
actions and solutions actions and
actions and solutions actions and solutions I’m afraid I have to leave you
solutions I’m afraid I have to leave you
solutions I’m afraid I have to leave you with a confession I do not know how to
with a confession I do not know how to
with a confession I do not know how to respond to the problem of 40 million
respond to the problem of 40 million
respond to the problem of 40 million people being enslaved in our world today
people being enslaved in our world today
people being enslaved in our world today that number is too big it’s too vast
that number is too big it’s too vast
that number is too big it’s too vast it’s too complex but what I would like
it’s too complex but what I would like
it’s too complex but what I would like to leave you with is this it’s what I’ve
to leave you with is this it’s what I’ve
to leave you with is this it’s what I’ve learned from my work and what I’ve
learned from my work and what I’ve
learned from my work and what I’ve learned is that these are not the
learned is that these are not the
learned is that these are not the numbers we should be focused on we
numbers we should be focused on we
numbers we should be focused on we should be focusing on the number one
should be focusing on the number one
should be focusing on the number one because when my colleagues and I come
because when my colleagues and I come
because when my colleagues and I come together and we share our expertise and
together and we share our expertise and
together and we share our expertise and our passion and we commit to working
our passion and we commit to working
our passion and we commit to working together even though we don’t always
together even though we don’t always
together even though we don’t always agree on everything then together we
agree on everything then together we
agree on everything then together we come up with real actions and solutions
come up with real actions and solutions
come up with real actions and solutions actions and solutions that will help
actions and solutions that will help
actions and solutions that will help that one victim we’re trying to help
that one victim we’re trying to help
that one victim we’re trying to help today or that one prosecutor or the one
today or that one prosecutor or the one
today or that one prosecutor or the one investigator who’s investigating that
investigator who’s investigating that
investigator who’s investigating that one case that might make a really big
one case that might make a really big
one case that might make a really big difference we can help that one
difference we can help that one
difference we can help that one community seeking the one initiative
community seeking the one initiative
community seeking the one initiative that will reduce the prevalence see in
that will reduce the prevalence see in
that will reduce the prevalence see in their communities we
their communities we
their communities we make a difference one at a time you see
make a difference one at a time you see
make a difference one at a time you see this is real this is effective and this
this is real this is effective and this
this is real this is effective and this is the best way to respond to modern
is the best way to respond to modern
is the best way to respond to modern slavery so we can all make a difference
slavery so we can all make a difference
slavery so we can all make a difference if we’re just willing to embrace these
if we’re just willing to embrace these
if we’re just willing to embrace these complexities because don’t you see it’s
complexities because don’t you see it’s
complexities because don’t you see it’s only when we embrace the complexities
only when we embrace the complexities
only when we embrace the complexities that we learned the truth about human
that we learned the truth about human
that we learned the truth about human trafficking and other things – thank you
trafficking and other things – thank you
trafficking and other things – thank you very much
very much
very much [Applause]
”
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