Fellow Ozians, Wickipeeps, and Tuckmanions, this week I am producing an interim blog. A blog I would like you to share with as many people as you can and via as many ways possible!
We all know that this week saw the release of the Love146.org flash mob video which featured our beloved Rachel Tucker amongst 146 West End performers. The flash mob performed to a specially arranged Annie Lennox track and we have all been wowed by the talented singers and dancers on show. Trafalgar square was filled and entertained on the evening of the 11th of April and we as fans of Rachel waited with baited breath for the resulting video release. How many of us realised what this video was all about or what issue Love146.org are promoting?
Please read on and understand why these performers gave up their time to be a part of this wonderful Spectacle...
Christian Elliott, Love146 UK Director said: “It’s a cultural misconception that Child Sex Trafficking only exists in developing countries, it lives and breathes here on our doorstep in the UK”
This statement could not be more true, I for one, upon hearing the words Child Sex Trafficking automatically associate them with the rest of the world and not the country that I have lived in all of my life.
The statistics are shocking, in 2005/6 48 victims of child sex trafficking disappeared from social services care across Manchester, Newcastle –Upon – Tyne and Birmingham. Not shocking? Well not only did they disappear but to this day they have not been found, and it is believed that most of these children will have been re trafficked. Of the 80 trafficked children living under the care of 5 local authorities this number accounts for 60%. 60% of children lost and failed by the system.
(These statistics are taken from the Missing Out report 2007 ECPAT.org.uk)
Love146.org are commissioning an independant report to highlight the needs for safe accommodation, specialized aftercare and therapeutic services for trafficked children. The charity will shortly be releasing the findings of a survey of local authorities’ responses to trafficked children in their areas.
The project is dubbed ‘Can You See Me?’ in reference of course to the fact that the problem of child trafficking appears to go unnoticed in the UK and only associated with underdeveloped countries. In truth boys and girls as young as 11 are being trafficked into Britain from all over the world. Love146.org director of communications Christian Elliot stated ‘For a country that promotes human rights around the world and has some excellent services for children and young adults, it is a scandal that in 2011 the UK has no designated aftercare or re-integration services for trafficked children’
We all enjoyed watching the video, we all shared it on twitter and facebook but did we know the cause that was being promoted? We all love Rachel Tucker and if she support Love146.org then surely we all can too?
Our current Elphaba said of the project; ‘All of us were shocked to hear the terrible fate of children even in our home towns and cities. This is our way of trying to raise awareness and getting people behind Love146.org’s campaign to make a real difference to some of the most damaged children in the country.’
Please visit Love146.org to find out more about the work they do, you can also text a donation from UK mobiles by sending the word ‘LOVE’ to 70777, this will donate £10 to Love146.org (Texts cost £10 + your standard network rate)
Thank you for reading my fellow Ozians, I know this strays away from the regularities of my blog but this is too much of a serious concern to go overlooked! Keep your eyes peeled on Sunday for the next instalment of No Good Blog Goes Unpublished!
Katy x
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