Make The Change

The Sk8 the Netherlands group knows that it only takes one person with a goal to take a stand (or a skate) to make a change. But we have 4 people and tons of supporters already who are looking to help us along the way and be part of the change.

Sex trafficking is growing at such a large rate that if it continues at this rate it will be the largest illegal industry. Right now, sex trafficking comes in at number 2 right under drug trafficking.
It is almost unbelievable the amount of people that are in the sex trade and are being forced to have sex for money that does not even benefit them. As soon as you read that did you check of mentally? Did you think that doesn’t happen here? Or that would never happen to me? Of course most of you did. It is a human response to something so disgusting that we don’t want to believe is happening. But that is exactly how the problem got so big. We cannot turn a blind eye to this any longer. This could happen to anyone. Have you ever watched a show were the victim stated, “I never thought it could happen to me”?

I am not saying you will be trafficked but what I am saying is let’s help educated women on how to stay safe! Let’s not shove this topic under the rug anymore, let’s just talk about it so people can be aware that it is happening and we can save lives. Let’s help out those who have had to endure this horrible lifestyle. Let’s ban together and MAKE THE CHANGE!

The Sk8 the Netherlands group will be making a change, help us if you can, help us spread the word and be your own hero.

We thank you.
Mo Payne and Sk8 the Netherlands crew

Wake up.

When becoming involved with any project that hopes for an outcome of change, those involved must become educated on the matters at hand. I have been personally seeking out information on sex trafficking for quite some time and moral is: THE FACT THAT THIS EVEN HAPPENS SICKENS ME. As a human how and when did someone think this up?! Really, the thought process must have gone something like this as far as I can figure: “You know what would be a great idea, let’s steal individuals of a various selection, house them in prison camps, abuse them physically & mentally and then offer them up to other people willing to pay for them and we make a profit from it”. Who and where did this become ok?

This thought process is not ok. Individuals every day are being taken into sex trafficking rings and we as a society are none the wiser. Maybe we don’t even know it’s happening or maybe it’s the fact we don’t want to think that this could ever really affect us or perhaps it’s because it’s so mentally shaking of a concept that we as a society would rather not talk about it but in fact it’s happening in our backyards, front yards, next door neighbors and right down the street. Now I’m not suggesting or implying it happening EVERYWHERE you look but it IS happening. Face the music folks, this has been going on in our world right under our noses but yet we don’t want to talk about it or don’t even realize it.

The whole situation is for lack of a better word, disgusting. Recently I watched a CNN special on the woes of the USA on the matter and one gentleman caught purchasing a teenage girl of 13 stated how “It was just as easy as ordering a Pizza.” A PIZZA! He compared his purchase of a human being to a PIZZA.  Really America?! The girl purchased like a pizza gave an interview about how originally she had gotten into the realm on her own free will however over time when she decided this was not the life to live it was too late to retreat. The gentleman that currently “owned” her said he would kill her and her family if she even thought about it. She was beaten daily, rarely fed, and kept in a room the size of a closet until a new customer came along.  Now I ask you, how does that make you feel? Here are some possibilities: a) you are horrified and disgusted, b) you can’t wrap your head around it thus turn and look the other way or c) you don’t believe it or don’t want to for that matter… that can’t happen here or to anyone I know.

Here lays the problem:  The average person went with the answers B & C. When something disturbing is thrown in our faces we tend to either brush it off or dwell on it for a minute but go about our lives without skipping a beat. Those that answer A may go about their lives with this new information about what’s happening in the world today, casually bring it up in conversation, maybe research it a little and when they have problems sleeping at night because of how disturbing these situations are they put the thought process on the back burner and go about life having been a bit enlightened. There is another choice folk: The choice to help those affected by this form of inhumane actions. There are uncountable numbers of individuals that have been taken from their normal lives and forced without choice to become an item of lust for profit not of theirs. They are unable to speak for themselves and are quietly calling from the hole of a life they have been forcibly put it for help. Stand up for them. Make a difference to see a change. We are and here’s how:

 

Sum Mo Payne (30 years old) and PBR (25 years old) are founding members of the Sioux City Roller Dames (est. 2008), ambassadors for the Triple Threat Derby Girls, founding skaters of Sk8 the State for MS and also coaches for Sioux City’s Korn Stalkers Men’s Roller Derby Team. For the last 5 years these two have been making left circles and trying to change the world one skate stride at a time. Whether it be sk8ing states yearly in the US to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis, organizing large events to make money for local charities, hosting boot camps for leagues interested in furthering themselves competitively and much more is what their resumes are made of. The next point of interest for these ladies is strapping on their Vanilla skates and making a difference in the Netherlands.

For almost 2 years Mo has been researching sex & human trafficking during her pursuit to be an adult educator of taboo topics as a Professor and Prevention Specialist. After many late night phone calls, the dynamic duo decided they would like to help make a difference and do it in a big way! Subject matter on a documentary frontier was tossed around and with the help of outside resources a plan was set into place in a ground breaking way to lead the way for this project. The planning stage is the most important and it is moving along smashingly. After reading about Holland and it's problems with sex trafficking, it was apparent that they had to sk8 and make a difference as well to let the country know there are women being forced to have sex while their freedom is at stake. These individuals and many more are being sold and traded against their will.

In September 2013, what better way to make a difference then by the way they and so many others are accustomed too. SKATING! With the help of Polkashot and the Dom City Dolls, the duo & others are going to take a stand or a skate rather across the Netherlands and bring awareness and information to the country by letting everyone know that slavery is still happening and growing right now. They will provide information for women who may be being trafficked and with options of ways for them to get help. This project is huge and the documentary will be even bigger. Their hearts are over whelmed with joy from this project and what potential of making a difference it holds. They also look forward to meeting the Dom City Dolls and other leagues along their way.

The overall Mission is to educate the world about sex trafficking/slavery through information dissemination and high profile activities in order to empower those in crisis to achieve the power of choice through freedom. If you have any ideas or questions feel free to contact them at: notforsale2013@gmail.com. This is just a spark of a much bigger picture and only the beginning to something of epic proportions. Ask yourself: If you could make a difference, wouldn’t you?! These individuals feel they can and so they will!

Why should you commit? By Polka

Not long ago we went to a play in Utrecht. It was called ‘Red Light’ and the actresses were former prostitutes (link: http://www.stut.nl/voorstellingen/rood_licht.php). They worked ‘het Zandpad’, the biggest red light district of Utrecht. The play was stacked with facts about prostitution, topped with a big layer of humor and emotion. How do you become one? Aren’t the guys that visit smelly and sticky? How much does a blowjob cost? But more importantly they told us what it’s like to be a prostitute. How they felt. Both were vulnerable, damaged women with a deep longing to be happy. Most important, one of them was forced. Her name was Mandy. While she was her most vulnerable, she got lured into it. Eventually she had the strength to break loose.

While Mandy was working het Zandpad, me and some others of our league used to live there. She was our neighbor without us even knowing it. At this moment, I ride my bicycle three times a week across het Zandpad to get to physical therapy. Many of the Dolls live in the neighborhood not far away. This means sex trafficking happens right under our noses. An estimated 85% of the prostitutes working at het Zandpad are believed to be the victim of sex trafficking. (Link: http://www.rtvutrecht.nl/nieuws/892162) This could mean hundreds of rapes take place in our back yards. This is the reason why Dom City Dolls has committed themselves taking on this project and bring awareness together with Melissa “Sum Mo Payne” and Libby “PBR“.

Here are some examples of sex trafficking throughout the Netherlands; In the province of Limburg not long ago a couple of girls with an intellectual disability were victims of loverboys (Link: http://www.nd.nl/artikelen/2012/juli/14/pooiers-ronselen-gehandicapten. The term loverboy has nothing to do with being nice and lovable as a boy. It is just a different name for the same concept. Limburg has the highest density of sex clubs and massage salons. In Eindhoven they think that at least 50% of the women involved in prostitution are victims of international sex trafficking (Link: http://nos.nl/artikel/355022-actie-mensenhandel-eindhoven.html. Groningen has two neighborhoods, de Nieuwstad and de Muurstraat of which are believed to host victims of sex trafficking. The best known red light district of the Netherlands must be the Wallen in Amsterdam. Who hasn’t been there as a tourist gawking at the women behind the windows? Did you see sex trafficking happening? Apparently not. But it’s there. (Link: http://nieuwsuur.nl/video/426662-naar-de-bron-van-mensenhandel.html) All links are in Dutch.

So why should you commit? First of all this is something that affects us all. Roller Derby is a place where women are allowed to be strong and independent. We choose freely to get hit, in a legal way I daresay. We have each others backs if something happens. We are self confident and if we’re not we learn how to be through the game. Therefore we are less vulnerable. And if we are so strong, we should have their backs.

Second, from north to south we find victims. In every city hosting a roller derby league sex trafficking takes place. It stays invisible. We should bring awareness to educate the masses. We should raise funds to help the victims. Our skating route takes us from north to south through the Netherlands, visiting as much leagues as we can.

Now you know why you should commit. But how can you commit? Send us an email at notforsale123@gmail.com if you want to help out in any way, organize fundraisers in your town, give us shelter or food, and above all help raise awareness in a combined effort. All will be celebrated in the end with a boot camp in Utrecht! Many more details will follow so stick with us.

-Polka