The Link Between Refugees and Human Trafficking

As Vox Culture begins its trimester on “Refugees at Home”, it is important to note how interconnected our world can be, specifically in terms of the social issues that occur around us every day.  We believe that symptoms from one social issue can be closely linked to another and our goal is to help our audience grasp a better understanding of these connections. September is Houston’s Human Trafficking Awareness Month.  Appropriately, the goal of this post is to describe how Vox’s current focus on the issue of refugees is connected to human trafficking.

The below points were drawn from a 2007 United Nations High Commission for Refugees Report, written by Kaori Saito, that addresses the new issues in refugee research.

(1)    Victims of human trafficking can be refugees.

While some trafficked victims are able to go back to their native homeland after having gone through their ordeal, some may be unable to return for fear of further reprisals by traffickers, without much state protection. These victims would fall within the definition of a refugee according to Article 1A(2) of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

Trafficked persons and those who fear being trafficked can be defined as refugees under the 1951 Convention if they meet all the elements defined in Article 1(A). These individuals would also be entitled to international refugee protection as long as there is a well-founded fear of persecution based on one of the Convention grounds and their homeland cannot (or refuses to) provide protection against further re-trafficking or reprisals by traffickers. Saito further states that, “there is no reason why a victim of trafficking who fears returning home due to the real possibility of being re-trafficked, targeted for reprisals, or threatened with death, should not be granted refugee status where the state of origin is unable or unwilling to protect that person against such harm.”

(2)    Refugees can also become victims of human trafficking.

Refugees and internally displaced individuals fleeing from persecution are also targets for traffickers. Due to having been displaced and other related vulnerabilities, refugees and internally displaced individuals are put at a greater risk of exploitation and abuse. Saito further adds that, “to access countries of asylum in an environment of tightening visa regimes and border controls, some refugees may resort to desperate and even illegal measures in their search for a safe country and of livelihoods and can fall prey to trafficking.”

If Saito’s argument in this report is to be summarized, the connection between human trafficking and refugees is seen as coalescing around the term persecution. In order to learn more about the overall discussion, I highly encourage you to read this UNHCR report… you will be amazed as to how the causes that Vox Culture focuses on are truly interconnected.

http://www.unhcr.org/research/RESEARCH/476652742.pdf

Field Trip to The Last Organic Outpost

To continue our "Green at Home" trimester, Vox Culture took a field trip to The Last Organic Outpost on Sat, Aug 25th. This continuously expanding urban farm started as a simple backyard garden of refrigerator maintenance, Joe Nelson Icet, aka “Farmer Joe”. Looking for direction and a sense of community, Farmer Joe studied permaculture and with the help of his son, Keldren, created what officially became known as The Last Organic Outpost in 2003. His vast vision is to infiltrate urban farming into the communities all around Houston, so that there will be “food everywhere” and for everyone.

The farm itself is quaint, yet stunning in its own personality. Juxtaposed by the giant onion painted on the chimney, colorful window frames dancing throughout the garden beds and even a gazebo made of old car license plates, the area was bursting with lush greenery. It is hard to believe that only a few years ago, this life producing arena was a car lot sitting on top of a slab of concrete.

We were in for quite an adventurous and interactive day.  Farmer Joe and his team taught us how to weed, till, plant, and water. All together, the team planted three plots in three hours, which we deemed as “Vox Boxes”! We planted leafy parsley, pickled cucumbers, dragon kale, swiss chard, arugula, straight squash, and crooked squash. At the Outpost, “we pay in greens”, Farmer Joe beams. You reap what you sow, and get paid ten-fold.

Farmer Joe’s charisma and passion can be seen both in the way he teaches as well as in the creative design and use of items found at this urban farm in the 5^th Ward. For example, he uses the pickup bed of an old abandoned truck as a location for vermiculture, or using worms to turn compost into refined soil. Instead of purchasing wooden posts to mark the garden beds, he takes broken window blinds which does the job just as well.

The volunteers enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and friendly environment at the farm. Many of us had no idea of how to properly till, plant, or water, and did not want to make a mistake, but Farmer Joe encouraged us with a few meaningful phrases: “Nature is very forgiving”. This is a place where “you can never make a mistake.” Now who doesn’t love the sound of that?

Imagine what we would strive for in life if “we can never make a mistake”.

While the trip to the Last Organic Outpost left a deep impression on all of us, in my personal opinion among the greatest highlights was getting to know Farmer Joe. While there are many good people in the world, it is not every day that you meet someone who has as much passion and love for what he does and the people he aims to serve.

If there is one thing that this trip has left us with, it is a sense of ownership and empowerment.  Together, people can make great change. It simply starts with a bag of seeds, hands to plant and hearts to sow.

1. See more pictures on Vox Culture's Facebook page.
2. To read more feedback about Vox Culture's visit to the Last Organic Outpost, also visit unSimply Celia’s Blog.

The team will be heading back to the farm to check out the fruits of our labor on Sun, Sept 30 @ 2PM. Live concert by Carrie Ann and the Apocalyptics!

Vox Conspiracy Goes to the Movies: "Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry"

On the evening of Friday, August 3rd, Vox Culture invited some volunteers and friends to the advanced screening of "Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry" at the Sundance Cinema in downtown Houston. Directed by Alison Klayman, the documentary gives that audience a closer look at, and greater understanding, of China's most celebrated contemporary artist and its most outspoken domestic critic.

Following the screening, Vox Culture hosted an informal Conspiracy discussion, at The Blue Fish Restaurant, with the participants that led to a lively exchange of thoughts and opinions (for nearly two hours!) as to the message and powerful images that were attained from watching the screening. While all agreed that Ai Wei Wei's story was very moving, the participants (some of who were born and raised in China) were left with varying points of view and feelings towards it.

If there is one thing that the Conspiracy discussion highlighted, it is that, one's culture and life experiences will shape the way they think about and view Ai Wei Wei's message: to be a voice for what you believe in.