On August 15, authorities arrested the owners of 20 suspected brothels on the East Coast, where they rounded up 70 possible sex slaves from Korea. Experts and advocacy groups like Free the Slaves contend that slavery and human trafficking is alive and well, according to a recent AP story. The US State Department estimates that between 800,000 and 900,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders each year, 18,000-20,000 bound for the US.
In related news, I got my virtual "slavery still exists" tee-shirt created by Global Kids as an awareness-raising effort. Yes, I know, it’s rather pointless. But each one must pull one, as Alice Walker wrote.