Smugglers dump human cargo overboard

[whirlygigspin]

-you would have thought this ended in the Amistad era- sick.

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003
Human traffickers threw 22 Chinese women into the sea yesterday to escape pursuing Coast Guard Administration boats, leaving six drowned and four missing.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/08/27/2003065396

[veganwitch]

1. just remember

prostitutes and other sex workers are in the industry of their own FREE CHOICE, they WANT to be there.

*end sarcasm*

[Spentastic]

2. National Geographic

Has an article about slavery this month. It's absolutely disgusting.

[lazarus]

3. Right......

Drop the sarcasm. Plenty of people are in the sex industry of their own free will. Slaves from China aren't.

If it was legal, it could be regulated. Notice how the criminal element had to find something else to do when Prohibition was lifted?

[Democat]

4. Are you one of those anti-freedom types?

Do you think that adults shouldn't be allowed to do certain jobs or say certain things because it offends you? The GOP has a little competition for their anti-freedom campaigns?

If you actually read the article, you will find that it doesn't mention sex workers, but rather construction, domestic, and low-skill jobs. Maybe the government should ban construction jobs?

Government tallies show there are some 300,000 workers from Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam in Taiwan to fill construction, domestic and other low-skill jobs.

[Spentastic]

5. I don't get whats going on here!

It doesn't matter what industry these people are being employed in, they are often effectively debt slaves. The smugglers are the only people getting rich from this.

Prostitution in Europe is severely affected by imported slave labour. Many women are duped into travelling abroad and then cannot escape. Their lives are effectively destroyed. This kind of prostitution is NOT a victimless crime. Regulation and legalisation may solve this problem.

What's free about any of this?

[Democat]

6. The person I responded to was using this article to attack prostitution

Read the article. The people who threw the women overboard should and will be prosecuted.

No where in the article does it mention sex slaves. For all anyone here knows, they could have been on their way to working in a sewing factory.

The user did not attack sewing factories, they used this article as an excuse to attack prostitution.

Everyone agrees slavery is bad, no matter what the slaves are doing. I do not think we all agree on whether prostitution, smoking pot, free speech, and other freedoms for adults are good or bad.

[Spentastic]

7. I concur

It was an odd association to make. However, it's not entirely without merit.

"Everyone agrees slavery is bad, no matter what the slaves are doing. I do not think we all agree on whether prostitution, smoking pot, free speech, and other freedoms for adults are good or bad"

This statement is fair enough BUT surely the key phrase is "consensual". Prostitution is often talked about as a "victimless crime" and of course in some case it can be. However, in the EU a substantial number of prostitutes are forced into it. People using prostitutes at least need to be aware that their consort is doing their job of their own volition. This is the reality now, not the utopia of regulated legal brothels that advocates wish to see.

[Democat]

8. Fair points

I do not disagree with your comments.

I have strong feelings when it comes to adults being allowed to do what they want to do, as long as it doesn't harm others, so sometimes I'm a little defensive, or even offensive, on certain issues. :)

[Spentastic]

9. Fair enough

I just think sometimes "harm" is hidden to make the consumer feel better. I'd be happier to see risk assesments published for some activities.

i.e

Drinking alcohol may may you talk bollocks or worse, make you dance like your dad.

[veganwitch]

10. cause that not a completely loaded question

*sigh*

regardless, while the article doesnt necessary say sex work, human trafficking and the sex trade in asian countries is a severe problem.

and the promises of "construction, domestic and other low-skill jobs" are often used by jockeys for the sex industry.


and about "freedom"--taking a degrading, low-paying (for the work done), dehumanising job--be it at walmart or sex work--so one can provide for their family is not a free choice.

and i find that most people who want to "defend the freedom" of sex workers and the industry, just want to defend their freedom to consume pornography (as a general term) guilt-free.

edit: for grammar and point clarification