Stop the Traffik: People Shouldn't Be Bought & Sold

by Steve Chalke, Cherie Blair

Human trafficking is the fastest growing global crime, second in size only to the illegal arms trade. It involves the movement of people through violence, deception, or coercion for various purposes, among them sex, forced labor, and even body parts. Collected in this moving volume are real-life stories from individuals exposed to and working to stop human trafficking, each accompanied by stirring photographs. Along with information on the history of trafficking and its status today, practical action points for working to stop its progress are also provided.

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2009

About the author

Steve Chalke is a British Baptist minister, social entrepreneur, author, and speaker widely recognized for his work in promoting social inclusion and justice. He is the founder of the Oasis Charitable Trust, an organization he launched in 1985 with the vision of building inclusive communities where everyone is valued and empowered. Under his leadership, Oasis has become one of the UK's largest charities, operating across a wide spectrum of services including housing, healthcare, education, and youth and community development—both in the UK and internationally.
Chalke's commitment to education is reflected in his founding of Oasis Community Learning, a multi-academy trust responsible for over 40 schools throughout England. The trust seeks to support not just academic achievement, but whole-community transformation through education. He also serves as the founding minister of Oasis Church Waterloo in central London, a place of welcome and inclusion for people of all backgrounds.
In 2006, Chalke launched Stop the Traffik, a global coalition working to end human trafficking through awareness, education, and systemic change. The organization has mobilized tens of thousands of activists in nearly 100 countries. His work in this field led to his appointment as a United Nations Special Adviser on Human Trafficking.
As an author, Chalke has written extensively on theology, faith, and social justice. His notable books include The Lost Message of Jesus, Apprentice: Walking the Way of Christ, and The Lost Message of Paul, among others. He has also written numerous articles and is a frequent speaker on topics related to spirituality, ethics, and public life.
In recognition of his tireless efforts, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to social inclusion and has received multiple honorary degrees and fellowships. He also holds the Guinness World Record for the most sponsorship money raised by an individual marathon runner, having raised over £2.3 million during the London Marathon.
Throughout his career, Steve Chalke has consistently challenged societal norms and church traditions in pursuit of compassion, equality, and justice, making him one of the most influential voices in contemporary British Christianity.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opening.

[Andrew Mull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of what human trafficking looks like today. Lots of survivor stories and notes from organizations working against it. Reads more like a magazine than a book

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book, because I felt I should read this book. I can say that this was not an enjoyable read. It was disturbing, sad, and it hurt my heart. Though it was not an enjoyable read, I can say it was a must read. Stop Traffik awakens the mind with what is going on all over this world. There are millions of people out there who are being forced into slave labor in some of the most horrid and perverted sense of the word. Stop Traffik will give you the facts and put in your face real stories of the damage that is done in this world where man still believes they have the right to buy and sell and enslave others for profit. It is a tale of the hopeless who are doing all they can for hope and getting tricked into degrading circumstances. But there is hope and there is help, but we all need to do our part. We all need to see with our eyes what is out there and not just assume all is well in the world if it is well with us. We can put pressure on the higher powers that have turned a blind eye to the issue of human trafficking. If this was happening to someone you loved, if it was happening to you, what would you hope that someone would do? Page 152 of this book gives you ways to get started in helping eliminate this crime against humanity. You can also get information on their website www.stopthetraffik.org

[Christy Trever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop the Traffik by Steve Chalke is a heartbreaking expose of the growing industry of slavery around the world. Chalke is an expert on human trafficking, and Cherie Blair is the wife of former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Together they have created this consise and informative primer on how human trafficking works in the sex industry as well as the exploitation of workers. My heart broke again and again reading this book. It's filled with pictures of women and children who have been rescued, as well as statistics about the amount of people who are trapped. Reading the sheer magnitude of the millions of people, as well as the billions of dollars based on this industry, it's easy to see that the only way to shut it down for good is by the combined effort of people around the world. Along with the heartrending stories of the victims, Chalke includes ways that everyone, even those of us in small towns, can make a difference. Buying Freetrade chocolate and coffee, forming community groups to raise awareness, and recognizing the signs of trafficking are just a few. It's impossible not to be inspired to want to stop human trafficking after reading this book.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say that I didn't care for this book; it wasn't the subject matter that disturbed me but rather the format of the book. It was set up somewhat like a magazine but was even more disjointed. It was like sitting in a theater and having multiple 15-30 second commercials flashed on the screen but never actually seeing a full length movie.
I much preferred two other books on the subject of human traffiking: The Road to Lost Innocence and Jantsen's Gift.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel a little wrong about giving this only 3 stars as the subject matter is so pervasive and destructive to millions of people. But this really isn't a book as such as a very long magazine article. It has very short "chapters" and lots of short personal stories, statistics and resource information. But it certainly is a subject more of us need to become aware of and involved in.

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers all the various forms of trafficking and highlights the traps, dangers, etc. It also lets you know what you can do regarding advocacy and understanding where the products you use are coming from. There are personal accounts and photos throughout the book too. Stop The Traffik is a wonderful UK based NGO and I'm glad to have finally read this book!

[Claudia Osmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who wants to raise their voice for those who are treated unjustly. We must stop modern-day slavery, people!

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explains clearly how and why people are trafficked today. There are more of them than ever and there is probably one near you, even on the same street.