Sunday, 27 March 2022

The Hour of Dawn




A rabbi asks his students  ‘How can we determine the hour of dawn, when the night ends and the day begins?’ 

One says, ‘When from a distance you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep.’ ‘No says the rabbi.’  ‘Is it when you can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine?’ says a second student. ‘No,’ says the rabbi. ‘It is when you have enough light to look human beings in the face and recognise them as your brothers and sisters. Until then the darkness is still with us.’ (From ‘A Bundle of Laughs,’ by J John and Mark Stibbe Monarch books.)


That story really made me think. In particular I pondered a world where slavery is as much taken for granted as it was in the time of African slaves working on the sugar plantations.  If I could look into the eyes of the girl in the brothel, the man in the car wash or the worker in the nail bar, and really do what the rabbi said and see them as my brother or sister, I would move heaven and earth to free them. I have come a little way towards the dawn in that I have written a novel to help raise awareness of sexual slavery. Why not read ‘The Garden of Sparkling Delight,’ by Deborah Varen available from Amazon in hard copy or kindle or listen for free as you work or travel by downloading the free audio version from this site and You Tube. Maybe then for you too, the darkness will lift a little and the dawn begin to break.

The book tells two interlinked stories one of which is sad but the other is a very happy one.  It is available as a free download from this website and YouTube.  If you prefer to read a story then the paperback book and the digital Kindle e-reader version can be bought from Amazon.  Any profits made go to supporting NGO’s that work in this field.   

The novel tells the the story of 'Tis' one such sexual slave and the price she pays in terms of pain, suffering and trauma.  It also tells the story of those who helped her in her plight and the impact of her loving family.  Please read this and add your voices to a worldwide protest at this appalling modern trade in human beings.  No profit is being made from the sale of this book as all proceeds go to supporting named charities who work to rescue girls from slavery. 


To listen for FREE to the whole story and find out what happens to the main character 'Tis' her family snd friends you can use this link to The Podcast or go to the links at the top of this WEB page and select 'Tis The Podcast'. There you will find access to the 21 half hours episodes on-line or download for later listening and sharing. 

"The Garden of Sparkling Delight" on YouTube.


 

For up to date information from those working to end this trade and support victims contact:-

ECPAT  www.ecpat.org.uk [End Child Pornography and Trafficking] is active in the UK and several other countries.  It specialises is lobbying, campaigning and supporting rescued slaves. 

The A21 Campaign www.thea21campaign.org - this is a global NGO that fights to abolish injustice in the 21st century. Its focus is on those affected by human trafficking  and it runs prevention and protection schemes throughout Europe, Australia and USA. 

Stop the Traffik www.stopthetraffik.org - A global movement of individuals communities and organizations fighting to prevent human trafficking around the world. 

Meninadanca www.meninadanca.org - This society fights child prostitution along the remote arterial highways of Brazil. They also provide a place of safety where rescued girls can go and be rehabilitated.  

Plenty here to show your support and some of these charities need practical helpers. 

Thank you for reading this blog. Please share this blog with others.


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